The Chaplaincy side to Bathurst.

In a day of great tribulation, amazing intensity, will power and edge of the seat action there was also a reflective and heart breaking side of Bathurst Race-day.

The day started with a moving tribute to Peter Brock. 8 of the 9 Bathurst winning cars (10 actually if you count the 24 hour Bathurst race Brocky won in 2003) ran a lap of honour, driven by Peter’s past co-drivers (including Jim Richards, Larry Perkins, Craig Lowndes and Greg Murphy) and his son and brother. After the lap the cars were parked on the pit straight with the drivers and Brocks family standing by the cars. V8 Chaplain Garry Coleman read a tribute to Brock, which also encouraged us all as Australians to live with an attitude of service to others, something Peter did during his life. Garry then lead a moment of silence in remembrance for great Australian Motorsports Icon and closed in prayer.

I felt a chill as Garry prayed, he asked for comfort for Brocks family, safe and fast racing for the day ahead, protection and diligence for track officials and healing and comfort for the two drivers hurt in the Friday Development V8 race and their family. He asked all of this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

I felt the chill as I realised that over a million people had just witnessed a powerful prayer backed with the name of Jesus. There is certainly power in that name, and I felt in awe as I heard it called upon on live TV. Sports chaplains have an impact on the field they work in, but in this case Garry was able to minister and speak to the whole of Australia, a great responsibility.

It set a sombre mood for the following race, and Craig Lowndes himself said that he wasn’t sure if his mind was totally on the race, because of the emotion of paying his respects to his mentor.

Obviously he did alright winning the race.

However that made for very emotional scenes on the winners podium, with Lowndes being presented with the Peter Brock trophy. I don’t think there was a more fitting outcome for its inaugural winner. Lowndes may drive a Ford, but he was the Brock protégée, and some people do remember Brock drove a Ford Sierra for a little while himself.

There was a dampener on the whole day as well when it was announced Mark Porter had passed away from his injuries caused in the Friday accident. Mark was living on the Gold Coast as part of a Qld V8 Supercar team, so I am unsure whether or not Dad and I will now get involved in the counselling that will need to be provided for team members and family.




Also Paul Radisich had a terrible accident and spent the night in hospital with abdominal pains. He to is a Qld based driver so we will need to talk to Garry Coleman and see if any chaplaincy counselling needs to be followed up with that team as well. As well as other V8 teams who had quite large accidents (eg: Steven Johnson from DJR).

At the very least we will meet them at the Indy event in 2 weeks to see how everyone is feeling, so keep them and us in your prayers during this tough period in Australian Motorsport.

P.S – I am a visually challenged person, so I felt an impact by placing some images in this post… The first of Peter Brock's winning XU1 Torana with Craig Lowndes and Bev Brock, next - Lowndes' emotion when winning the Peter Brock Trophy, next - Mark Porter's Holden V8 Supercar, and Mark Porter's profile shot from v8supercars.com

5:30 Race Day - Fords Win!

5:15: What a day, what a mind blowing ending! 0.5 of a second between first and second place, and Craig Lowndes does it! FORD WINS BATHURST!!

So the only day of the year where I spend the whole day in front of the TV has paid off this year, enjoying a race of stops and starts, big accidents and one of the closest finishes in Bathurst history.

This year brought a new element to my viewing experience too, figuring out and logging into the V8 Supercars Live server on Bigpond so I had live telemetry, lap times and videos on the laptop as well as the TV coverage.

Though all this does is make me want to be there in person again next year!

11:30 Race Day

9:20: Fantastic work by V8 Supercar Chaplain Garry Coleman, with a heart felt and compelling testimony to Peter Brock. Adding to the tribute 8 of Brock's 9 Bathurst Winning Cars did a slow lap of honour driven by some of Australia's touring car greats.

10:00: Race Start - gooooooooooooooooooo FORDS!!

10:00:30: Mark Skaife is out of the race. First lap, first straight! The Holden died, clutch slipping, and he was drilled from behind and axed the wall! 30 seconds of Bathurst for HRT, great start to the race.

11:30: Lots of stuff going on. Second HRT car is out, Bright in the FPR car is out, Lowndes is cruising and looking good... and best news, young Courtney in the SBR Genweld car #4 is moving through the field like a rocket. His co-driver is Glen Seaton, and it would be awesome to see him win the race.

Deano's Fav Weekend of the Year

Bathurst 2006 is going to be the biggest ever, and with such a huge push for Ford to win this year, I'm ready for a charged weekend in front of the TV.

This year brings a whole new dynamic to my viewing. Actually being at the event in 05 means this year I've had personal experiences with what I'm seeing on TV.

Make sure you check out Sunday morning from 9:20, V8 Supercar Chaplain Garry Coleman will be doing a small rememberance service for Peter Brock, before opening the race with a prayer. Watch and support the work of the SCA Motorosports Chaplains.

I'm set with my new Bigpond account details to use my laptop to view all the live telemetry and video from V8 Supercars Live

Bring it on - GO FORD!

Mutto drawn to Spotlight

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20517525-5000660,00.html
Another article on news.com about our mate Mutto.

The Gold Coast-based bald rocker said he was enjoying his new-found stardom.

"I think fame is a privilege and it's a great opportunity to have a voice ... I think people with celebrity status should use it for good,'' he said.

"Unfortunately or fortunately the western world is a pop culture and kids are listening to those who get famous, for whatever reason they get famous for, and if celebrities can see that I think they can influence them (kids) for good.''

While the English-born youth worker and school teacher had guided many struggling teens, he said little prepared him for the stress that came with the Idol journey....

...Mutton's musical strengths were realised while supporting a friend who didn't want to sing solo at church.

His good deed got him noticed and local band, Soulframe, offered him the role as vocalist in the act.

It has been six years since he joined the band which is now a well-known rock outfit on the local Gold Coast scene.

www.soulframe.com
www.myspace.com/soulframe

Most reviews I've read this week have said what a great performer Mutto is, and why he was voted off Idol now is a mystery. He's also given Australia a small look at the service side of Christianity, the unselfish willingness to help Australia's youth.

Confessions of the Confused

Hmmm had an interesting conversation with a friend last night, which opened a floodgate of feeling and emotion I’ve been mulling over for a while….

What is it that we really want? I’ve been thinking so much lately about what I want out of life. All I really know is that where I am at the moment is somewhere I’m not content with, I want to do more, be more, have more, but I just can’t figure out exactly what that is, or how to obtain it.

I’m not talking material stuff, I don’t want more stuff – I want more LIFE, more SERVICE, more opportunity to share my FAITH. I totally respect people’s call to the ‘mission field in their workplace’ but I’m suffocating trying to pull that off. I feel a more permanent occupational call to ministry, to make it my soul calling, build my skills in ministry and make my living from serving the body of Christ.

Interweaved with that is a desire to build meaningful relationships, eventually start a family, feel connected and comfortable with a group of friends and family and find fulfilment with the relational aspects of my life. These past few months I’ve come to feel very lonely, my social life is almost non-existent and I just get this feeling that the friendships I hold so dear are slowly whittling away. Why I don’t know, but as people’s lives move on I feel stuck in this rut that is causing me to be left behind.

But my main struggle is this… does my loneliness matter? Does my desire to do more come from a servant-like attitude to Christ, or my own need for personal fulfilment? I know God says in his Word that he wants to give us the desires of our hearts, and that his plan is to prosper us and keep us from all harm. But Jesus says that service of him doesn’t come easy, he says that people will hate us because of him, but if we come to him he will give us rest.

I know that as I serve God my desires become his desires, I just want to know if I’m being selfish wanting this stuff in my life at this time.

I guess this verse comforts me and keeps me going through my struggles

Hebrews 10:23,24
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

I’ll just concentrate on the love and good deeds and everything else is a bonus.

Millions all from a Garage

http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,20516443-31037,00.html

GOOGLE has bought the Silicon Valley garage where the internet search colossus was born, the company said overnight. The garage came with a house, yard and outdoor hot tub where Google's famed founders Larry Page and Serge Brin were known to soak as the company took shape in late 1998.

Google did not disclose how much it paid for the property just a few kilometres from the
company's campus in Mountain View, California.

"We were pleased to have the opportunity to purchase the place where Larry and Serge did early work," Google spokesman Jon Murchinson said. "We bought it to preserve it as part of
our legacy.".....

It's amazing how so many of todays HUGE Technology Companies began their life in a local Silicon Valley garage. Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Google... the list goes on.

The article also mentions that the lady who rented Larry and Serg the garage is now a Google Vice President. I'm sure a decent pay packet comes with that position.

So any budding I.T geeks want to rent out my garage???

From australianidol.com.au

Just saw this on the idol website. Nice testimony, and free plug for Soulframe!

Luckily, Jessica gets a reprieve and her fans breathe a huge sigh of relief. But that means either Mutto or Lisa will be leaving tonight. “After months of sacrifice and dedication to the show,” James Mathison announces, “it ends tonight for you Mutto.”

It’s been a remarkable journey for the inspirational role model and charismatic rocker but his band, Soulframe, will be happy to have their front man back in action. Expect to see plenty of Mutto on the live circuit and make sure you get off your butts and go to a Soulframe gig. Mutto treats us to an encore of Dream On and the audience farewells the enigmatic performer with a standing ovation. Rock on Mutto!
-www.australianidol.bigpond.com.au

Mutto out of Oz Idol

Yeah it's sad to see Mutto go from Australian Idol - but you know what... I think he did an amazing job of living Christ on that show, he didn't preach, he didn't press his faith all over TV. What he did was live a Christ-like life, and people noticed.

All the judges had nothing but nice things to say about his as a person, and the final idols still in the comp were pretty saddened to see him go. He had an amazing effect on them as people, and to see him standing in the final 3 with the 2 youngest girls, you could see he was still encourgaing and holding them up.

Good stuff mate, you did a real good job. And DUDE you got to sing at the AFL Grandfinal!!! Awesome!

Recharge ~ Radical Discipleship!

Tim Mander, former NRL Referee and all round top bloke. I think the sporting connection really helped me as a male to get sucked into his message. I also enjoyed the fact that he spoke straight from the Bible. He straight up opened the Bible and dove into what it had to say on discipleship.

And he started in the Old Testiment.

Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his
ways and revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good
land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys
and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates,
olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack
nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the
hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise
the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do
not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his
decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are
satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds
and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is
multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD
your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led
you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with
its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He
gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to
humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may
say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this
wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you
the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to
your forefathers, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget
the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I
testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations
the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD
your God. (Deut 8:6-20)

His main points were as follows.

• Don’t Forget – verse 11 and 18 – It was easy for the Israelites to remember God in the desert, He was always present, they will they remember God once they are comfortable and rich?
• A Proud Heart – verse 14 and 17 – Who needs God when we can look after ourselves? To prove we think this I think (and Tim mentioned) you only need to look at the 3rd World Church, they have such an unashamed dependence on God, because they have no one other than God to depend on. Here in Australia we are so comfortable we feel we can get along on our own… in a way we can, but it just doesn’t compare to living the life of a disciple.
  
  Verse 18 – if we’re rich, if we’ve got a lot, and we are comfortable, verse 18 reminds us where it all came from.
  
• Our Spiritual Demise – verse 19 – Look at the parable of the Sower… some seeds fall on rocky ground, some amongst the weeds. Whatever the story some people fall under the curse of spiritual demise, we all have at one point, the only difference with some of us is that we’ve let Jesus pull us out of it.
  
• An Attitude of Gratitude – verse 10 – this is where Tim turned it around. In a world where everything comes across as negative us as Christians need to have such gratitude that we are set apart from the rest.

Why should we be so grateful?

John 18:2-7 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked
them, "Who is it you want?"
5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.
"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When
Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

What’s this got to do with it? Look at what happened when Jesus said ‘I am he”. For a brief moment those soldiers experienced the fully glory of God. It was so powerful they fell to the ground

Simple fact – God is Holy! Look at David’s servant and the Ark (2 Sam 6:1-7) and Ananias and Sapphia (Acts 5:1-11)

God calls us to be holy, because He is holy. And it’s through realizing this holiness that we get that amazing outstanding different Attitude of Gratitude. And from that attitude we become the believers and disciples that Jesus called us to be.

Um hoping you got through all that – it’s long. But 3 sermons cut down a lot. So hope it’s not too wishy washy.

Jeremy Clarkson on Inquiries into Top Gear Safety

Off the Recharge topic for the minute, have a look at this. Here's a part of an article written by Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear presenter, on the back lash from Richard Hammond's Jet Car accident last week. Shows some good points on the liability silliness we've come to experience these days.

It therefore seems likely that soon, in a matter of weeks maybe, the Hamster will be back on his feet and ready to start work. The question is: will he have a show to go back to?

As I write, swarms of bureaucratic bluebottles are nibbling away at the crash site on a York airfield, desperately trying to find some reason why Top Gear should be banished from the screens.

Well, contrary to reports that he was put there by ratings-hungry producers, it was his idea. He wanted to know what it would be like to go really fast. And I know exactly why.

If he’d been interested in flowers and vegetables since a young age, he might very well now be standing in a pair of wellingtons on Gardeners’ World, talking about compost. But he isn’t interested in compost - he’s interested in speed.

Some people are born with a physical need to take risks. Steve Irwin was one. Christopher Columbus was another. And Ellen MacArthur is a classic case in point too. Telling her to stop sailing round the world is as daft as telling a black person to be white, or a blind person to look where they’re going.

But of course, we have a whole industry nowadays designed to do just that. To ensure that nobody ever falls over, that nobody ever hurts themselves, that nobody ever dies. And that if someone does, then the system must have failed and a head must roll…

How can this be a problem for anyone other than Mrs Hammond and their children? Because he crashed and tied up the emergency services? Oh come on. Are we to tell DIY enthusiasts who fall off a stepladder that no ambulance will be forthcoming because they should have called in a
professional plumber? Perhaps you might argue that Hammond is setting a bad example and that kids might try to copy him. What? In their jet cars? On their airfields?

In the last series, while attempting to build an entire car from scratch in one day, the nearly completed project fell from its stands onto the floor.

“Who’s fault was that?” I barked.
“Oh for God’s sake, how’s that going to help?” said Hammond.

He’s right. How can blaming someone help? We just need to make sure the little guy keeps getting better and that when he does, he can get back in a car, get back into Top Gear, and go 316mph.

Get well soon, Hammond. We all miss you greatly.

I'm with you Hamster, strive for speed, strive for adventure. It's the people who don't understand those feeling who are now looking to try and can your show!

Recharge ~ Elective... McChurch

Last elective, seems like this blog is going to be overflowing with Recharge charged material. This is actually providing a really good release for all the stuff I’ve been thinking about from the weekend.

McChurch – ahhh it was the name of the elective that drew me in. After going to Bel’s first elective I’d decided to skip this one, in fact I was going to skip the 4th elective session all together, and just hang out with some mates who I only get to see a couple of times a year. In the end though I was walking with Jono and he had decided to go to McChurch. (Sidenote: My friend who broke his neck, suppose to never walk again, has been out of hospital a week and came up to Recharge for the whole weekend. It was great to see him getting around almost normally. Still so much healing to happen though. I was able to spend a lot of time with Jono and I enjoyed every moment of it – end Sidenote)

So in the process of just walking with a mate I ended up at the elective anyway.

Should all Christians operate & look the same? Is it possible to have a church that offers a real experience that suits the community, or must every service be pre-packaged? Is Christianity just a franchise – like Maccas, convenient & easy, rather than healthy? Discuss how “McChurch” might actually be keeping people OUT of the Kingdom of God, in contrast to the lengths Jesus was willing to go to in order to get them IN!

Great topic, so much potential for great discussion on how the Church really is meant to function, and how we do things wrong in the West; however I really felt the way the elective was done it failed to deliver.

Again a good story, a travel story about trying to find a lookout in Indonesia, in the pitch dark, to watch an amazing sunrise. Not having a clue where they were going there was much pain, fear and eventually help from a local man and his horse. Eventually they found their way to this lookout just as the sun came up. As they got to the lookout she sees a tour group arrive, driven by bus and shuffled out to the lookout to witness the sunrise.

How pre-packaged and boring is the tour group idea! I know I would have preferred to be in Bel’s shoes and even though it wasn’t the easiest way to find the lookout, she got to experience so much more, and interact with the local community.

Is that what the church has become? A pre-packaged deal where people know what they are going to get, they can turn up sit for an hour then leave. Or in most cases, know what the package is so not bother turning up at all.

Does that church then pre-package itself and go off on a mission field, and expect people of a totally different culture to accept the Gospel on the pre-packaged terms. Do they even think that your standard Aussie will be drawn in by the McChurch? (Sidenote again: That’s almost a mute point, what is a ‘standard’ Australian! So much multi-cultureism there’s about as much cultural differences in different parts of Sydney than there is going to Africa! – end sidenote).

That’s about where the elective ended it’s prepared speech – after that there were more promos for Global Interaction with a DVD about work going on in Kazakhstan. I found their DVD very ‘Getaway’ and not really showing what the organisation were doing in the country.

The open discussion at the end started churning up some good stuff. We outlined that there was a pre-packaged church, and that wasn’t totally Biblical. She mentioned we need to find a different way of doing things so we meet people where they are already at (the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman), but she didn’t really give any ideas on how to do that. And also how the McChurch can involve itself in getting into the communities around it.

My personal beliefs are that McChurch needs to change… is Whitehill a McChurch?? I think it’s been trying to break away from the pre-packaged stuff, but there’s more to do. However larger developed churches need not sell their land and become emergent, there is still a place for the traditional church, but it needs to be community service based. It’s another personal thing, but I hate programs, rosters and planning meetings, I think they develop this pre-packaged McChurchiness which I find so bland.

Anyway back to the elective discussions. A friend of mine (who just happens to be the director of WEC Australia) opened the discussion about asking what role the McChurch had in this scheme of things. He was playing a little ‘devils advocate’ sounding like a pro-McChurcher and there were a couple of ‘emergents’ in the crowd and they bit.

There was much discussion about how the church should be relationship based, how it should be community centred and that they need to be visible. But through all of it no one mentioned how the large established churches could continue to be involved in Gods work.

I love the emergent church idea, but I find it hard to accept when they are so condescending of the established church. The people in this elective that bit to my mates comment were very anti established and pro emergent.

I missed the part where my friend answered his own question (we left when the time came for the main meeting to start), but someone told me later that he explained how WEC works with its church planting.

Working with the established church to grab support to go into a unreached community. The people who feel the call move in, live with, establish relationships and join the community they want to reach, all the time with the support of established churches in the area. This allows for shared resources, a sending base as more people become in tune with the new outreach and a fellowship with the greater body of Christ. I’ve personally seen this at work in The Gambia, as the Evangelical Church of the Gambia (ECG) works with WEC to plant churches in different villages. WEC missionaries live in the communities, but it is also through ECG that the church is established.

I don’t think that people in that elective realised that the director of WEC ( a church planting organisation) was amongst them. He never said exactly who he was, and never mentioned WEC (which is pretty humble I think), but he did explain a good Biblical plan for planting churches in new communities, being culturally sensitive, meeting needs and spreading the Gospel.

Recharge ~ Elective... God of the Car Park

Second Elective, another by Stan Fetting. I enjoyed his first elective, and the conversational direction he took with it. God of the Car Park sounded intriguing as the following blurb demonstrates.

Whilst people in the 3rd world are dying of hunger and are praying to stay alive till morning, we are praying for car park spaces. Western comforts have reduced our vision of prayer and destiny and reduced God into a genie for our laziness. This elective invites us to upsize our view of God.

I’m always up for ‘upsizing’ my view of God so here are my thoughts.

A bit of a lead in first, Stan started the discussion off with the following story. (well my memory of the story)

-All around the world these events happen at the same time. Julia is in Brisbane, she’s 19 years old and driving into the Chermside Shopping Centre car park at around 8pm. Suddenly she starts praying to God with as much passion and faith that she can muster, because she has a situation that needs prayer.

At the exact same time Sara is waking up and getting her brothers and sisters ready for school. She is in Bulawayo Zimbabwe, and she spent all last night making some little craft items to take and sell at the now illegal market place just outside of town. She needs to make these sales to help feed her siblings, whom she looks after now that both her parents have died from AIDS. Sara is only 16. Before she leaves, she kneels and prays to God, please help me sell my items today, please don’t let me get arrested by President Mugabe’s police because he has tried to stop us from making money. Please keep my brothers and sisters safe while I have to leave them alone.

Back in Australia, in a Western Australian Aboriginal community, Lisa is sitting on her back porch. The ambulance has just left, taking her mother to hospital. Her father came home tonight, after going to a secret binge party. Lisa hid while her father beat her mother until some of the elders came and pulled him out of the house. The ambulance picks mother up, but her father has just returned inside and though Lisa has gotten use to the beatings, tonight her father seems even more violent. In fear she cries out to God to help her survive the night safely.

In a remote refugee camp in Somalia, Wilfred is standing in line. He’s been there for 2 hours already, and there are still so many people in front of him. But today may be the day. Today he might get to the front of the line and find out his name is on the list, the list of families granted asylum in a foreign country. Wilfred has heard Australia is a good place, and that is his first choice, but anywhere away from the war and hunger, anywhere where his 3 children can grow up safe will be fine. Wilfred stands in line and prays his name is on the list, he prays that God will save his family from all the troubles of his country.

Back to Julia, she’s still driving her 2002 model Hyundai Accent through the car park, and praying hard. You see she heard at church last Sunday that God wants to be part of every aspect of our lives, and tonight is Thursday. She’s meeting some friends for a quick dinner before heading to see a movie, and she’s a touch late. So she prays… Please God, give me a car park close to the entrance, I don’t like walking much anyway, and I’m already late. Please let there be a park, near Myers would be best, cause that’s close to the food-court… As she turns the corner she sees a white Magna reversing out of a parking spot, about 6 away from the door. “THANK YOU God!” she exclaims, waits for the space to clear, parks and walks in to meet her friends.
------------------------------------------------

I think from the whole weekend, this elective was the one I took the most from. That story tugged at a certain part of my heart. I realised that we take a fair bit for granted, and in the context of the story, I class Julia’s request as insulting, considering the prayers others were speaking to God at the same time.

The church in the West has it too good. We have our houses, grocery stores, cars, money, air-conditioning, and so much more. It’s made us so comfortable, and honestly looking down our street, you couldn’t tell who were believers and who weren’t. The way Christians live in Western societies today is just as materialistic, just as consumerist as everyone else.

Stan told of a prayer meeting he was at where a couple were praising God because they had finally decided what colour to paint the outside of their house, and this had been causing them much pain. People in Africa are just praying to have something over their head while they sleep.

From my time in The Gambia, I saw a lot of poverty. And coming home I felt so ashamed of how much we have, but 2 years on I see I’ve fallen back into the Western trap, the consuming, materialistic world of the West. I’m ashamed.

Why do we feel our trivial needs are so important, we ask the God of the car park to provide for us, and don’t give half a thought to those in the world who are truly in need of God’s deliverance and help.

As a conclusion (because this has become quite long), Stan mentioned he had made a pack not to ask God for a car park space. Instead of asking God to provide something he probably really doesn’t need, now he focuses on thanking God for what he already has. A car to drive to the shops, the ease of a shopping centre, freedom to leave his home.

Man we take a lot for granted.

Recharge ~Elective... Christocentricity

Next up, electives. Now I really wanted to try and engage in some discussion in these electives, and so decided not to take my notebook with me.

So all this is coming from what I’ve remembered, and seeing as though the 4 electives I went to presented by 2 different people, I hope I don’t mix some of them up.

I’ve recently been looking into some ‘alternate’ ideals of the Church. And so chose electives at Recharge which I though would stretch my thoughts on what the Church is.

First up…

Christocentricity - putting Jesus back at the centre of our agenda's

Stan Fetting is a Zambian born Baptist Pastor, having worked in South Africa, the UK and Australia. Someone mentioned to me before I went to his elective that he’s known to be a bit controversial and ‘left wing’. Honestly that excited me all the more to go to his electives.

The Recharge booklet had this little blurb about this elective.

Within the church, fashions come and go, fads rise and die, agenda’s wax and wane. When all the hype dies down we sometimes as Christians and churches find ourselves off-centre, with our energies and passions directed at things other than Christ and His agenda setting teachings. This elective will examine how the Beatitudes contrast vividly with aspects of contemporary Australian spirituality and how we can recalibrate.

Straight off the bat we tossed up the dominant properties of today’s Australian spirituality. In the media, both Christian and secular, who are the main characters representing the Australian church. What do we within the church see as the main aspects that are seen about Aussies ‘religious spirituality’.

I put forward that Australian’s spirituality is music driven, we discussed the music/worship niche; it seems that churches these days are defined by their music. The fact that people can walk out of a church service and ask “How was the worship tonight?” – “Yeah it was a little off tonight hey…” Churches win new people from other churches because their music is better.

Stan (of course) had a list he had prepared earlier. Dominant Christian figures included mainly Anglican and Catholic Bishops, but of course you can’t ignore that these days Brian Houston is probably Australia’s most well known minister. He defined the major themes of Australian Spirituality to include some of the following, power, wealth, blessing, intensity, prosperity, (there were others but I’m sorry they’ve slipped my mind).

I think he was pretty well right on.

We then spent the remaining time looking at Jesus’ sermon. His big speaking opportunity when he takes the time to teach people about his Father.

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Does that fit with things like prosperity, intensity? People grieve the fact they are full of sin, sometimes to the point where they don’t want to let Jesus save them. But when they do they receive such joy, because they have come from such a broken spirit. Working from that poor spirit allows a truly humble and God lead Christian walk.

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Actually this links in with the first one, Stan told a story about a member of his congregation who heard the Gospel, and came right up to the point of conversion so many times, but never quite crossed over. When he finally did he told Stan that the main reason he hadn’t done it earlier was that he felt so dirty, so terrible about who he was that he knew he wasn’t worthy for Jesus. He mourned his past life, and came through it to find and serve Jesus.

The rest of the Beatitudes speak of the meek, the hungry, the merciful, pure, peacemakers and persecuted.

Do anyone of them fit what the majority of Australian Churches are known for? In the past few months I’ve heard sermons on Jesus the warrior (peace, meek, merciful???), God blessing us with good things (persecuted, meek, hungry, poor in spirit???) and the Church becoming the powerful establishment where famous people turn to, where politicians come for advice (meek, pure, mourning????)

I mean in the West, evangelical churches today look to the letters of the New Testament for their teachings, to the doctrines of the new church. Pentecostal churches take the majority of their messages from the Old Testament, the power and prosperity that God gives to the people who obey him.

But the Gospels teach of the humility, the meekness, the kindness of Jesus. In his own words God tells us how we should live, because these are those who will inherit the kingdom.

So churches, be they emergent, traditional, contemporary, evangelical or pentecostal need to forget the current trends of Aussie Spiritualism and instead take a stand and live the way Jesus spoke of.

Recharge ~ Worship

Ok, so I thought I’d start with my favourite part of the weekend. I got to play drums for Andrew Sercombe out at the Chinchilla Keswick Convention back in 2003. It was a simple but pumped youth camp and though we didn’t have the best gear, we had some good muso and some very passionate kids.

Andrew blew me away. His skills for leading a musical worship time were easily recognised. His guitars skills were good, but it was the way he lead people into a place where they felt free to shamelessly express themselves to God which was what made those times of worship so memorable.

These days Andrew works with Soul Survivor UK and also runs workshops and seminars on corporate worship in the Church.

For the last 2 years Andrew has lead worship at Recharge, and though it is musically driven, it really is a time of worship, not just a time for singing worship songs.

This year I was really drawn into the times of worship. As a drummer I am slightly musical – and so good quality music does influence my comfort in expressing myself to God (for example is I’m hearing off rhythms, beats or harmonies I find myself distracted from what I’m expressing to God and listening to the music). Andrew’s band were all fantastic musos, I in particular connected with what the drummer was doing. His skill were a level above anything I’ve ever played, but it was the joy on his face, the passion in which he played, and his sensitivity to everything else that was going on that really made me connect with him. As a drummer myself I felt when the music was going up and down, and I could hear what I thought I’d be doing on the drums at any point, and pretty well the whole time the drummer was doing exactly that (just with better skills).

Drumming for me is worshipful, so listening to someone else drum in worship can really focus my thoughts and life my praise to God. I don’t know who this guy was but he’s the best worship playing drummer I’ve ever heard, and somehow I’d love to personally thank him for the work he did last weekend.

All that said, the thing I really loved about Andrew’s worship times was the fact he could lead 500-1000 people into a time of meaningful worship through music, and not create the emotional hype which sometimes takes over, distracts and destroys peoples attitude of praise. How he does it I really don’t know, maybe it’s his humility which is evident even from the stage. But however he does it, it is a gift God’s given him and I praise God that Andrew uses it so well.

It’s probably got a lot to do with song choice. Instead of choosing songs which look at our individuality with God, most of the songs sung last weekend included lyrics professing corporate worship.

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all the world will see
How great, how great
Is our God.
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Almighty God, in every way
You are above and beyond understanding
If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out
Glorious God, high above understanding

Andrew’s leading in worship focuses the whole congregation on pointing their praise to God, not thinking about what God can do for us, but what we are doing for him. Throughout the Bible we come across angels sitting and continuously proclaiming Holy Holy Holy, a continuous repetition of praise. I think that’s what Andrew strives for, continuous praise of God through song.

And I truly felt I connected with God, not because I was singing of how he fills me up, and makes me feel good, but because I was telling him how awesome, fantastic, almighty and great he was.

Recharge 06

www.recharge.org.au

I spent this past weekend up on Mt Tamborine at the 2006 Recharge Young Adults convention.

I was really looking forward to the weekend, I've had some pretty stressfull weeks at work, and I was looking forward to a break. I also had some personal issues for wanting to get away, and specifically get to Recharge.

Looking back on the weekend, those personal issues weren't resloved, but inflamed. Not sure if I want to put too much up here about those yet. However the studies, speaking and opportunities to corporatly worship God were challenging, humbling, inspiring, inquisitive and mind/faith stretching.

Over the next couple of days I want to put up some posts about a few aspects of the weekend.

1. The key-note speaker Tim Manders' messages on Radical Discipleship
2. The 4 electives I took part in, Christocentricity - putting Jesus back at the centre of our agenda's (Stan Fetting), God of the Car Park (Stan Fetting), Risk and Love (Belinda ???) and McChurch (Belinda ???)
3. Andrew Sercombes attitude to Worship and leading the music for the weekend
4. Some personal reflection on the social and practical environment created at this Young Adults event.

Jump in my KIT2000

The Hoff has made a new music video. This played at the Qld V8 Supercar round on the big screens! So funny, so typical Hoff.

Will you turn to the Dark Side??

Hamo's got a great discussion going over on Backyard Missionary, about his ideas of maybe switching to an Apple Laptop.

Some good comments and feedback on the age old debate - PC or MAC!!??!!??

Top 10

Close call tonight for Mutto on Australian Idol. He was in the bottom 3, but was the first person back safe in the show.

It frightens me how much money people must spend on voting for this show, I don't think Mutto has the fan base willing to spend (waste) hundreds of $$$ on a TV show.

Going Home

Well today Jono is walking out of the hospital for the last time (emphasis on the word walking). In what only can be describes as a miracle from God, Jono is heading home to his parent's place in Gympie and leaving his time in hospital behind him.

It's been such a quick and painless recovery, and going to visit Jono every week has really allowed me to see the progress of his healing and just the amazing blessings God has given him.

I visited him last night, as he was getting ready to go home, and I was able to catch a couple of photos to stick up here for those who haven't seen Jono in a while. Also note he's wearing the Craig Lowndes Triple 8 Racing shirt Dad and I got him at the Qld 400 V8 Supercar round just after Jono's accident.

New Toys & Settling into new Job

Check out this little beauty! I've been a Network Administrator for just over 3 weeks now. And this is the first new toy I've been involved in purchasing.

It's a 17" LCD monitor with keyboard and touchpad attachment, it connects to a 32 Port KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch box. It allows you to use this one screen, keyboard and mouse (touchpad) to control 32 different computers or servers.

We spent about an hour installing and setting up the unit today, and plan to start playing with it tomorrow.

Apart from this, I've mainly been doing reporting and licensing checks, not the most exciting work, and it's taking me a while to feel comfortable in a new role. Going from somewhere where I knew it all, and was considered the expert, into this new place where I know basically nothing, it's certainly been a challenge.

Today though I headed out with a couple of the Network Support guys and went to the QUT Co-Op Education Recruitment Day. I started at RACQ as a Co-Op recruit (12 month contract as industrial training counting towards uni marks), and we hire at least 2 recruites a year. So I enjoyed selling the RACQ to a heap of uni students, making sure they know RACQ is a great opportunity for them to get some good, broad industrial training.

Oh and they put on a pretty nice lunch as well...

Brock/Irwin Cartoon...

I saw this in the Sunday Mail yesterday, and it made me smile. Some people at work were talking about it, and were pretty disgusted with it.

I don’t know? Is it offensive? It wasn’t in the typical political cartoon section of the paper, but in the Peter Brock tribute.

That’s why I like it, I think it’s a small simple tribute to the quality and personality of these two great Aussie Icons.

Let me know your thoughts?

A Note from Sports Chaplaincy Australia

My father and I work with Sports Chaplaincy Australia (SCA) as Motorsport Chaplains. As I'm sure all of you are aware, Australia's most iconic motorsports personality, Peter Brock, was killed in an accident during the Targa W.A yesterday.

I received this email from Cameron Butler, National Director of SCA this morning.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Your Prayer & Support
Can I please invite you to remember our many Motor Sports Chaplains who are currently serving across Australia at racetracks and events in the face of yesterday’s news. I have been informed that many of our Chaplains have been asked to help today to provide care, debriefing and comfort to the extended Motor Sports family.

Together with the Brock family, the Motor Sports Community, a close-knit group, is grieving deeply.

Can I please ask you to pray for:

• The Brock family
• Kim Van Keule who was the Chaplain present at the Targa WA race. He has been ministering to the family and many race officials involved.
• Terry Dorrington who is assisting with the Co-Driver and officials
• Garry Coleman and his team as they provide debriefing and God’s love
• Mark Bateman and others who are in contact with the Brock family and friends in Melbourne
• Race officials, CAMS officials and others involved in Motor Sports
• God’s mercy and comfort for the entire motor sports family
• Healing and transformation in peoples lives over the coming days and months
  

You can stay updated at www.sportschaplaincy.com.au.

Thank you dearly for your support, encouragement and commitment to our ministry at SCA.

Yours in Christ, our strength,

-----------------------------------------------------------------

(Photo from http://www.targa.org.au/)

So I don't think these prayers are just for SCA chaplains, and as a Motorsports chaplain I invite you to join in this prayer letter, and hold these people up during this hard time for the sport, and especially the familes involved

Zimbabwe Mission

A friend of mine, Ben Zambra, is joining 7 other people from Whitehill today and heading to Zimbabwe for 3 weeks to do missions work. Right at this moment Ben and the others would be sitting on a Boeing 747 probably somewhere down near Antartica as they make their way to South Africa before heading on a smaller plan to Zimbabwe. (Sidenote- why over Antartica? Well cause the winds provide a better flight path when flying west, better to go far south first - end sidenote). It's actually the same flight I took on my way to The Gambia.

Pray for the team as they minister to AIDs orphans, famine effected villages and some of the poorest people in the world. I'm sure it will be emotionally draining on the whole team, witnessing such poverty and the corruption of the government is a heart breaking experience.

Pray also for the people of Zimbabwe, that God can provide their needs, and work within them.

Tribute to Steve

Where were you when you heard the news of Steve Irwin's death? I think that will be a question a lot of us will be asked (and will remember the answer too) in years to come.

I had a lot of respect for the Crocodile Hunter, and I had the privledge of meeting him back in 1994 when I was 12. My grade 7 school camp included a visit to Australia Zoo, which at the time was a modest Crocodile Park (in fact I'm not sure it was even called Australia Zoo back then,) and part of the tour was getting to meet the owner, Steve.

Crocodile Hunter aired in the USA from 1992, but even in 1994 he wasn't well known in Australia, but just after our visit was when the first of his documentaries began to air on Aussie TV. At the time though I was drawn in to this amazing man, who took a lot of time to show us kids some stuff about Aussie animals. He made each one of us feel real special, even stopping his prepared talk when a Huntsman Spider crawled up the wall. He grabbed the spider with a 'Crikey look at this' and proceeded to tell us what an awesome creater this spider was. He took every chance to educate people on conservation.

That was the only time I ever met Steve; but from that one encounter I've always felt I've 'known' him; as I'm sure many of people around the world felt. To hear of his death yesterday really shocked me. A stingray of all things took the life of the crazy crocodile wrestler in a freak accident.

Makes you reflect on our lives here, how quickly they can be gone, and how quickly we enter eternity that lasts forever. Where do you want to spend eternity? Doesn't that matter more than what you do on earth?

My prayers are for his family. Bindi, Bob and Terri, it must be so hard to loose a Dad and husband, especially with the whole world watching. I pray you are comforted with the love only God can give, and that you can find a way to trust in him that all will be alright.

PHOTO - taken from www.australiazoo.com.au

Rain Down

Praise God we've had some much needed rain here in South East Qld this week. However we didn't even get enough in the Wivenhoe Dam catchment area to make any difference in its levels at all.

We're told that for the Dam's percentage level to rise even the tiniest bit, 55mm of rain needs to fall in the catchment areas. Now a friend told me that in the last two days he received 60mm of rain at his place in Ipswich, but out in the catchment area they only received 22mm.

I feel compelled to call anyone reading my blog to ask God to send rain to the Wivenhoe area. We need over 500mm to get the levels all the way back up, but I feel an urge to ask God for 100mm throughout October.

Please join with me in prayer.

Qld State Youth Alive Concert

Last Saturday was the annual Queensland State Youth Alive concert. Over the years I had become quite critical about Youth Alive events – be them the huge state concerts or the local Ipswich, Brisbane or Gold Coast events – however this year I spent a bit of time evaluating the night, and coming to some conclusions.

It’s BIG! There was thousands of young people filling the Boondall Entertainment Centre, the place was packed. And the concert was worthy of a crowd that size. It was a professional, loud, entertaining concert. But I’m not too convinced of its ‘outreach’ potential.

It was definitely not a church service, there was worship music, but I still think the emphasis was appealing to young peoples wants for entertainment, not giving them a humble and honest chance to worship God. The message was incredibly wishy-washy. Paul Geerling spoke on Jesus our Hero. Basically he gave the dictionary definition of a hero, and then proceeded to tell us that Jesus fitted ever part of that definition. (Sidenote~ I wonder how Jesus fits the part where a hero is a skilled and champion warrior, Paul just said that he was and went onto the next point. Sounded like he couldn’t really say anything on that point cause it’s a real stretch of any Biblical truth – end sidenote)

Paul did a great job of going through the crucifixion story with screen shots from Passion of the Christ for emotional effect, and I actually warmed to this part of his message, until he skipped the part where Jesus did this to pay the price for our sins, and jumped straight to the resurrection. His main point for doing the whole cross reflection was to talk about Jesus rising from the dead, and because Jesus can do that he is a superhero (like it was some superpower or something). Telling the story leading to the cross is great, but I think he missed the point big time with making about a superpower instead of the forgiveness of our sins.

All in all the message fed the emotional need young people have to be pumped and entertained. There was little bits of biblical truth in there, but they were watered down so much by other hype I felt it really wasn’t worth it.

The Guy Sebastian side of the night was pure entertainment, but being a closet Guy fan I really enjoyed it.

Which really points to my main reflections on the whole night – it was very entertaining, but is that a good thing?

Yes I think it is. All the money and hype that went into that night created a great place to bring young people. Is a Youth Alive concert along going to bring people to Christ, I really don’t think so, I really don’t think it provides an atmosphere or the teaching to let someone know who Jesus really is and what he did for them. But Youth Alive used as a ministry tool, in conjunction with the local youth groups is a fantastic thing. The WHY leadership team hadn’t planned on going to YA as a youth activity, but when a heap of the young people wanted to go we organised some cars and headed down. Using the concert to get people excited and then to start discussions in future weeks is a great strategy to start sharing the Gospel with some of the un-believers in our group.

And all the money that goes into it – I think even if one person is saved and their lives turned around, then it was all worth it – who can put a price on one person’s salvation??

Spinal Ward

Jono was moved into the Spinal Ward last Friday. All this time he's been in the general inpatients wards because the SIU was full. But now he's down getting the specific care he needs to get better. Instead of doing 30 minutes of physio a day, he's now doing 2 hours in the morning, pluas an hour of OT later on.

He's the only 'walker' in the whole ward and has really come to a realisation of how blessed he is. Seeing people who have been in the SIU for 13 months and still only have the smallest use of their hands really makes you see the amazing miracle of Jono's healing. Some of these people had accidents which look miniscule beside Jono's moto-cross accident, yet he's walking. Praise God.

Continue to pray that he now regains the strength he once had, and the movement which is yet to return.

Jono Update...

Just a quick one for those following along at home. I visited Jono again last Thursday, he's continuing to improve, even though the progress is slowing a little. He's moved into a different ward, in a different bed so has lost the room to put up most of his cards and gifts. His left arm is gaining more movement, as is his hand -there is not much strength there though.

He is walking quite well and hardly uses his wheel chair anymore. He had a day out on an SU training conference a few weeks ago, and it drained him completely, Jono himself said it showed he wasn't quite as 'well' as he thought he was.

God is continuing to work though - keep praying.

New Job

As of today I am no longer a Network Support Officer for RACQ; I am now a Network Administrator (still for RACQ). Basically now instead of looking after individual computers and printers, I am looking after the servers, network communications gear and user settings. New experiences and more training, I'm sure it will be good.

Gettin' Around...

Ok so it's been just over a week since I've blogged, that's not due to me having nothing to blog about though.

It was a bit of a mixed up week for me. I had a busy/nothing sort of week... you know where you find yourself with no time, but can't really figure out what you got done.

Last Sunday was great. Dad and I headed out to the Nostalgia Drag meet at Willowbank Raceway. It has to be my favourite event of the year (well it happens twice so my 2 fav events). Only pre 1972 Aussie and Pre 1980 US cars are allowed to compete, and it has also turned into a huge Hot Rods and Customs car show as well. I think there are about 120 pictures up on flickr of just some of the most awesome old cars Qld has to offer.

Dad and I spent nearly the whole day on the start line, chatting with the marshals, helping out the track starters, pushing broken cars off the track and cleaning up oil spills - as well as enjoying some decent burnouts from the old muscle cars.

The week was turned upside down slightly because I was suppose to start a new job on the Monday. However there was a mix up and won't start until tomorrow (I'll post on that later), so I had pretty well left my old position, and couldn't start my new one. I felt like I was in no-man's-land so I took a couple of days off, giving myself a few days rest, and a chance to get some stuff done at home.

This weekend was my Grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary. So I headed up to Hervey Bay with my parents to visit them. My cousins were there, and my uncle for a short time. Last night we went out to 'Decks' on the Hervey Bay Marina for a seafood buffet feast! 2 dozen oysters, 3 crabs and about half a kilo of prawns later I was feeling pretty good. And even after travelling home today I still haven't needed anything to eat...

These last few weeks have been a touch mixed up as well because I have had a friend from the USA visiting. Natalie came from California in 2004 to work at Whitehill as a volunteer office intern for 9 months. She decided to come back and visit these last weeks, and it's been good catching up, as well as cruising through Brisbane and a few different things to allow her to soak up as much Aussie atmosphere as possible.

Hopefully life may settle down again now so I don't have to blog about everything all in one post again...

My Achilles Heel.

You may remember back in May I mentioned I'd injured my ankle quite badly. Post Here . I've mentioned it on and off when posting about different activities I've been involved in.

Honestly, I think this has been the toughest injury I've ever had to deal with/recover from. I've done a few silly things in my 24 years, like break wrists and collar bones... I even dislocated this same ankle when I was in grade 11. But this time it really took me down. I think mainly because it's been such a long and slow recovery process.

For those who don't know, I did it playing soccer, and due to my busy life, and the fact I thought it was just my generic "I've hurt my ankle" problem, I didn't go to the doctors for about 7 weeks. When going to the docs, I was told I'd torn all 3 ligaments on the outside of my right foot. The doc said I should have been on crutches for at least 3 weeks (when I only used them for 2 days), and that I can't play any contact sports for at least 12 months - and I should consider never playing soccer again.

I did it on the 21st May, and even now I'm still in some pretty intense pain at times. Thankfully I've gotten past the stage of being in constant pain, and just this week I have started jogging again, and was able to join in games at WHY last night.

So 12 weeks of pain and recovery, and totally changing the way I've had to live my life. Stopping soccer was a big thing, and knowing I'll probably never play again was even bigger. I've tried to stay involved in the team, being a lines-man and different things, but I still look out on the field and feel like I'm missing out on being part of the team.

I haven't been able to do much exercise at all, but I've tried to keep active doing really non-stressful stuff.

The biggest thing though has been the emotional drain, caused mainly through not being able to give 100% in things like WHY and the WEC camps I'm involved in. It took a lot of self restraint to say I can't join in most activities, and even though I had that self restraint I started hating myself and my abilities that were forcing me to do this. It wasn't that I wanted to have fun, it's more that I really value the connection you can have with young guys when partaking in something physical. I reckon the best relationship building time with young blokes is through working together, or sometimes even competing against each other in some sort of sport or game.

On WEC camp I had to find other ways to build relationships, and found it in really listening to the guys and having to take the time to give them enough opportunity to share bits of their lives with me. I learnt a lot about my boys, but I also found it took a lot longer to build those friendships to a point where they were willing to share the 'real' stuff in their lives.

At WHY (Whitehill Youth) it's been slightly different. I've had my boys in my group all year, and have already built good relationships with them. Here I've felt like I've been letting the leadership team down. I haven't been able to run or even join in games. Some times I've even had to leave early, just cause I twigged the ankle and been in so much pain I had to go. But mainly cause after 3 months of constant pain, sometimes I just couldn't be bothered doing anything but sitting down cause I wanted no change of causing any pain. Meaning I was no help at all at WHY on those nights, which got me emotionally down, which probably made me even less helpful.

I've felt I've become pretty useless, due to the limitations I've had to place on myself to let my ankle heal. It felt great last night to play some indoor soccer with the guys, even though I was really careful. But just being able to run, and kick a soft ball was so good.
We're going ice skating next week, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that, but with the progress this week, maybe I will.

Happy Snap (gone wrong).

Was checking out the images on my phone last night. And found one of the co-leaders at youth group had been taking a few pics with my phone.

So I guess just to teach her a bit of a lesson, I thought I'd post it up here for the whole world to see.

That'll learn ya Emma!!

My Heart Christ's Home

I can remember the first time someone gave me this little Christian tract. I was on a WEC Camp in grade 12, and someone just handed me this book and told me it was good. It wasn't some huge 'spiritual' moment or anything, just in passing saying that it could help me out with my Christian walk back at school.

And they were right. This book really changed me... it's only about 30 pages long, but it's so simple, so honest and so deep all at the same time.

The story is of a young man, who has just invited Jesus into his heart, and is bringing Christ into his new home (his heart). They tour through the rooms of the house and Jesus helps him clean up, repair, wash and work in each room.

If you can find it, read it. It truely is a great way of expressing how Jesus changes lives, and wants to interact with you on a personal level.

I've just bought a heap of these tracts, and a study book, and over these next 2 terms will be looking at it closely with my grade 10-12 guys at WHy? on our study nights.

I pray they get as much from it as I did when I was their age (woah now that makes me feel old!!)

Progress...

Next Update on Jono.
Thought it was about time I sent another update. Jono's progress is still coming along. A little improvement each day. He can walk now with the aid of a stick. Praise God! The physio said he can walk unaided whenever he wants to but he has to take it real easy (getting his balance) and just going slow, but Praise God! it's great he can walk. Also his left arm is still very weak in the upper muscle so he can't move his whole arm much, he said it still just flops in the shower. He can move all of his fingers now, but he says he can't grab anything yet. But., as I said he sees improvement every day. He's enjoying getting around on his wheel chair going for races with a girl, who is also a Christian in another ward. (No, not girlfriend, I can hear him saying,) but fun.

Anyway, thankyou so much for your prayers. Paul & I are back at work now. (my first day) so it'll weekend visits from now on which I find hard. Anyway, I've really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with him. and am thankful my boss let me.

'Bye for now. love from Jenny

Jono's Walking

I saw Jono last Thursday, and that day he'd been with the physio and had taken a few steps using the parallel bars.

Today I got this email from his mother.

Yesterday Jono walked from the bathroom to the bedroom. It was SOO exciting! About 6 metres. He also is getting around in a wheelchair - driving with one hand - Tricky stuff - even around corners, using his foot to maneuver the front wheels. He's fun to watch. His left hand is getting stronger but he still can't move his middle two fingers. God has been so good to us. We Praise Him. The doctor said he'd never walk again so this has now been proved wrong and we are very thankful.
He is a great witness to everyone in the room including the nurses, cleaners, etc.

Anyway, 'bye for now. Love Jenny

Amen, Praise God!

Hird's Return Sets things in Motion

What can I say, the man is a legend! James Hird returned from injury this week, and for the first time in 4 months (16 rounds of footy) the Bombers get a win!!

I was out, so only caught the end of the Essendon/Brisbane game, but what I saw from the end of the 3rd quarter on, was a vast improvement from what's been happening in previous weeks. The Bombers sent the ball forward, they kicked in confidence instead of handballing back into compromising situations like we've seen most of the season.

Hird's presence was hard to miss, 4 goals, the teams top possessions for the match, and he moved himself around wherever needed. There's no doubting the leadership role Hird filled last night.

It was also slightly satisfying seeing the Bomber beat the Lions, there's been a fair bit of competitiveness there over the last few seasons, with the Lions usually coming out on top. On Brissie TV this week, the Lions v Bombers game was advertised with a slogan "Lion's have got this one in the bag." Spoke too soon didn't you guys!!! :-)

Queensland Bigpond 400.

Last weekend was the local round of the V8 Supercars at Queensland Raceway in Ipswich.

Dad and I have been involved in motorsports chaplaincy for almost 2 years, but this was the first V8 Supercar event we have done the main chaplains job. Usually Garry Coleman travels with the V8s as their series chaplain, Dad and I are usually his 'helpers'. However this year Garry had a bad back and didn't want to make the trip up to Qld, so Dad and I inherited the soul responsibility for the event.

It was a really easy weekend actually, no big accidents (unlike last year....) and the officials were great guys. Dad gave a quick talk and a prayer at the official's briefing on the Sunday morning, and we stood with the officials in the pits for a few of the Fujitsu Development Series races. Other than that we cruised through the paddock, speaking with a couple of teams, mainly Formula Ford and the other support categories. The Sunday we spent most of the day as spectators, sitting on Turn 1, where all the action was.

Love the V8s, pity about the Holden win, but we had a great time - and I believe we gave glory to God in our care and attitude to the drivers, teams and track officials (which was the whole reason we were there).

Jono Update

I vistited Jono again last night. He's doing well for someone who had such a bad accident. He showed me how he can move a finger on his left hand now, it's the first movement he's had in that hand/arm.

His progress is coming along quickly, he's got a lot of strength in his right arm, and can pull himself up on his bed. He can move his right side very well, including his leg, at physio he can stand with assistance, putting nearly all his weight on his right leg. His nervs are still a little shot, he told me about how in the shower he can put the water on his left leg and it feels hot, but when he puts it on his right it feels cold. He's also got this one sweaty patch on his forehead, which seems to be some nervs just playing up and telling him it's too hot in that one spot.

For old time WECcers you may know Jono's physiotherapist, Joel Dunstan. How amazing is God!! He has put Joel (WEC leader from about 3 years ago) right there to help Jono recover, and have a good mate with him most of the day. I spoke to Joel on the phone last night, and he's confident Jono's condition will continue to get better.

Jono's got lots of stuff, cause he's had lots of visitors. There's a nice 'tiger print' cowboy hat, a stuffed emu, couple of teddy bears, a dog, and a bunny. I'm sure he thinks the best prezzie is the model of Craig Lowndes' V8 Supercar which I took him last night :-P There are also cards ringing his bed, a couple of bunches of flowers and a few balloons. It's like partyland around his bed!

Keep praying.

Belly-flopping Bomber

No this isn't about the Essendon Bombers, though belly-flopping may be a good descirption of their season so far....

Qld news was full of stories on Tuesday about the RAAF F1-11 Bomber which lost a landing gear wheel on take-off and was forced to do a 'wheels-up' landing at Amberly.

My Father works at Amberly, and watched the landing take place. The pilot did exceptionally well to land so cleanly without his landing gear. Dad reckons that there probably isn't too much damage to the jet and they'll have it flying again eventually.

If you saw the footage on the news you know what I mean when I say it was amazing to watch, and Dad caught all the little stories the news missed, like where the wheel ended up, and how fast the pilot and navagator exited and ran from the jet.

Anyway here are 2 photos taken just before the jet hit the ground, I love the one where it's just been caught on the sling.

A Friend's Bad Accident.

A great mate of mine, Jono, had an accident during a Motocross race out near Chinchilla last weekend.

He was on a jump and missed his footpeg, falling off the bike and landing on his head. He broke his neck. The doctor said that the injury is very similar to someone diving into a shallow pool. First up the doctor said that Jono would never walk again. He had a piece of bone floating near his spinal chord so he was in surgery at the Princess Alexandria Hospital for around 6 hours on Sunday.

Waking up he had sensation in his toes. Something that probably was not expected, but something we can thank God for.

I received this email from his mother this morning.

Yesterday Jono was sleepy a lot of the day. They had increased his morphine, but also he didn't sleep well the night before. He talks to us just like normal and is great to be around (as usual) He cheers everyone up who comes ( and therefore us too ) He has lovely flowers - 4 bunches - and a balloon and a teddy holding a balloon. The nurses say he's the most visited person in the hospital and the other men in the room are enjoying it too - He's having morphine every 3 hours.

He can lift his left leg off the bed 4 inches and his arm 6 inches but can't move his fingers. He can rotate his hand. His right hand he can scratch his head with as he has more strength also his right leg is pretty good. Yesterday the physio had him sitting on the side of the bed. He balanced there by himself for 1 minute. She was very pleased.

Thankyou so much for your prayers. Love from Jenny & Paul

Praise God for healing miracles, it's still too early to know if Jono will walk, but with his attitude and the power of God I'm sure he will.

Keep him and his family in your prayers.

MY!! Car

I received a letter in the mail yesterday. I have made my last payment on my car loan. So the XR6 really is MINE!!!!!!!!

I worked really hard to keep the payments up, and have knocked off the loan in just under 18 months. Funny enough they included options for housing loans with my letter, but I don't think I'll be using those for a while.

Random Shots of Life

Well I've had my Nokia 3250 for 2 months now, and am loving it. It's such a versatile little unit, and very handy to have on you all the time.

It's also allowing me to take many a photo just because I have a camera with me all the time. So I thought I'd share a few from over the last couple of months.








Elijah Zambra, my youth Pastor's son, what a little dude.









My cardboard models on my desk at work. Not that exciting, but hey go the RACQ/NRMA promo!







Ok Seriously, what would happen if this truck rolled!!! What a clean up effort that would be.











Elise and one of her youth group girls at Amped/WHY? one Friday night.

A Season to Forget

13 straight losses!

Um, I really don't know what to say, I knew the Bombers have been out of form, but this season is becoming a nightmare.

And just look at the injuries in last nights game, more players sitting out.

It doesn't look like it will get much better.

WEC Camp - Take 2

The second week of WEC Highschooler's Camps is over. And I am wrecked! 1 week is usually a tiring time, so 2 weeks has been a big push.

This week I wasn't a cabin leader, but what we call a 'floater'. Basically I 'floated' around doing all the behind the scenese stuff that needed to be done. This also included being a Dorm Inspector, it was nice to be on the other side of inspections for once.

It was a great week, God moved on our Wednesday night Gospel Presentation, and most of the camp felt moved to either accept Jesus as the Saviour of their lives, or to realign their lives with their creator. There were a few tears, and lots of deep conversation as 60 young people got their lives right with God. It was a priverlidge to be able to help them through all that.

We had basically the same layout as last week, with mostly the same activities. The music videos were awesome this week, very professional, and the ice slide got a little widler with a few surfers trying a few tricks on the slope.
There's over 100 photos just of camp B on the WEC Campsite Photos blog but here are a few of my favourites.

WEC Highschoolers Camp Photo Site

As a spin off to WEC Camps this week... I was asked to put up a site for photos from camp.

I did this back in 2003 and was surprised to find the site still active - check out www.geocities.com/wec_photos

I don't have the time to create a site from scratch like that one... so what better to use than blogger, and flickr!!!

I whipped this site up in a couple of hours... http://weccamp.blogspot.com so to see photos from Camp check it out - I think I'll put a link to the flickr account on my side bar as well.

I'm also hoping that the campers will make use of the c-box I put on the site to keep encouraging one another now they are back in the 'real world'.

Here are a small sample of some of the camp A photos... HOW AWESOME IS THAT ICE SLIDE!!!


Camp Bornhoffen, nice quite place in the middle of the mountains!

Riding a Boogie Board down the ice slide, nice!

A little style on the Ice Slide

See the ice fly

Bush Dancing

The cool drummer boy!!! (me :-P)

Group shot of Camp A

WEC Camp 06 - Great Cabin Group

I had a great group of grade 10 guys this year. We learnt all about the missionaries in our chosen country (I need to be a bit secretive about which country it is due to its political views on Christianity).

All I can say though is that the couple we learnt about come from Southport on the Gold Coast and are doing amazing work where they are. They've been in country for 3 years, have learnt the language and are now working on building relationships with the locals and ministering to them so they can see you Jesus Christ really is, and why it's the true religion, not Islam!

Camp was so much fun, we had an ice slide, bush dance, video hits competition and as always the room inspections. My cabin did well, coming second and only loosing by 2 points to the girls cabin from India. We nailed our memory verses (Psalms 139:14, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:19,20) and our Field Focus' were creative and informative.

On Thursday we were doing our bible study sitting on the grass, I was bitten by what I though at the time was a green ant on my toe, painfull but not really a problem I thought.

By the end of the study I felt a pain just above my left eye, I could feel what I thought were more bites on my eyelid. Strange, but I just asked one of the guys for some sting cream cause I thought I must have been bitten there too, and it was quite painful. Well when I realised that my eye was puffing up big time, and I was getting blotches all over my face, arms and back I got a bit more worried.

It turns out I had a pretty violent allergic reaction to whatever bit me, or it was a poisonous spider or something. I took some antihistamines and went to bed. I felt pretty crook for the rest of camp, but all the swelling and most of the blotches went away after a couple of hours. I still have a big red mark on my toe where I was bitten though.

I've just found out they need someone to help out on Camp B for general leading and music stuff so I'm taking next week off work as well and heading up to Mt Tamborine for another week of WEC Camp!

Yeehaw!

Weekend roundup.

OK so it was a BIG!! weekend, but unfortunatly I don't have enough time to write it all out. I'm off to WEC Highschoolers Camp tomorrow, my 8th camp (6th as a Leader).

Vanessa's wedding was priceless! Just a totally amazing day, check out my flickr account for a whole heap of photos. I'll be getting nicer ones, but this is the best I can do for now. There were lots of tears (including me), but the day was just perfect, everything went to plan, and Vanessa looked gorgeous.

Anyway I have to go pack for camp, and get all my leading stuff together... see you in a week.