Sunday Reflections

Some thoughts on Church this morning before I take a long good night sleep.

• I love the House of God!
• Both services were energetic, intense and passionate. There is an amazing sense of celebration and anticipation in church. Gone are the days of trying to rev up people to worship God.
• There was a real sense of awe in the 9am service we reflected on the greatness of God.
• The second service was off the hook!! Celebration and dance, dance in the freedom we know in the freedom we know…!!!! (words one of the songs we sang today)
• I was blessed today with Tana’s playing. He made that guitar work extra hard today.
• Every Year we have a special prayer time for all the children before they start another year at school. When the kids went up, there were a lot of empty seats. More than half of the congregation is children and young people.
• Prayed for Mabel Pele. She starts tomorrow at ‘Headspace’ – Bible & Mission Training. After her training she will travel to Thailand on a mission.
• Blown away with our Courtyard and foyer set up this morning – Thank you team for not just talking about ‘another level’. Very Impressive! The team had a new plan and executed it very well.
• OK we have moved ‘Pokeno’ to LifeChurch. $1 a scoop! Good job Lisa!
• Part 2 – Pursuing the Heart of God. The Heart of God is the House of God
• Awesome story Geoff. Love the Butcher challenge and Geoffs paraphrase of ‘I am the Way’… BTW I am going to steal your ‘Passionfruit’ illustration. Fantastic!!
• Love Connecting with new people at church. Love hearing their stories, where they have been and where they are at in life. I get excited because when they encounter Christ they will never be the same again.
• Last year, a new guy came to church and told me his story about his ‘messed up’ life. Watching him growing in God and serving the House is such and exciting thing to see. Pay day for any leader and more worship to the throne room of God.
• Its Vision Sunday this weekend!!
• I am pumped! Bring it on 2010!!

Weekend Reflections

Had breakfast with our leaders at our place 6am Saturday morning. That’s crazy…. Great fun… we probably woke up the neighbours…… time to catch up. Our guys are so pumped with what God is doing at church and our next season as a church.

Spent the whole Saturday thinking, preparing, studying, reading, praying…..……..

Sunday morning on the way to church I prayed, “Holy Spirit bring conviction to our hearts”

Overwhelmed with the presence of God during worship.

There was a great sense of freedom and excitement. During worship I looked behind me and on the bleachers!! What a joy it is for any pastor to see young people worshipping God HARD OUT!! Church is the place to be on Sunday mornings!!

Preached my heart out.  Spoke on the heart of Jesus for the lost and the role of the church as representatives of Jesus …..along those lines…… Initially I planned to preach on the ‘Christ in the Community’ but after Saturday …..in my sermon preparations it ended up in a different direction…  The Holy Spirit answered my prayer and definitely brought conviction to our hearts.

On Sunday, we also launched our new season of Outreach. 2009 we will only be doing a few ‘Bridge Events’

Servolution: 3 days of Serving the Community

$2 Christmas.

Weekly Bread Run – Free to Randwick Park Community

Rubbish Collection – monthly

Paint Out – monthly

Global Day of Prayer

Prayer Walk

Guest Blog: Liz Muliaga, Worship Leader

If there is ever a place to be on a Sunday morning it is at church! 

What an amazing service we had over the weekend.  .  It was Vision Sunday at LifeChurch- passion was stirred in our hearts for God, People, this generation and the next to be reached and changed in Jesus.

As  a Church we believe that the Church should no longer stay within the four walls of our buildings, but that we must once and for all BE THE CHURCH out in our community.  We cannot stay quiet anymore while our parents, young people and children are being won over by the things of this world.  We can no longer just talk about the poor, the needy, the homeless, but we must act.  We the Church of Jesus Christ hold the answer. JESUS.

Church was packed with young people and kids.  What an awesome thing it is to have young people ON FIRE for God.  To have real purpose, a God purpose for a young persons life is a beautiful thing, because they hold in their hands the power to change a generation.  Starting with them, with you, with myself we are able to change this world as we know it through Jesus.

SWITCH2LIFE was unveiled as the SWITCH ministries new vision statement.  Gosh, it sums everything up! Its all about young people SWITCHING from wherever they were without God to LIFE in Him. yup yup! The call this year to for every young person to encounter, meet God! 

We have a saying in our worship ministry that ‘worship is 5% on stage and 95% off’.  This concept is totally different from what the world generally teaches.  Where what you do in public and on stage is a lot more important than what you do in private.

I have learnt over the last few years that WORSHIP is our response to what we value the most.  It means that worshipping God is not a ‘Sunday’ thing or something you put on and take off. Instead it is our lifestyle.  The way we live, the way we talk, the way we act, and our thoughts. 

Man! So then the question is, if God is not what you value most- what is it then that you are worshipping?

We finished our 21 days of fasting as a Church over the weekend (yay), the testimonies that have come out a truly incredible.  What an extraordinary God is doing in the lives of ordinary people is amazing!  For myself as a young person (is 22 young?- the jury is still out hehe), i have never had such a heart for God or people as I do now.  He is GREAT!

It really is all about Loving God, Loving people, Loving Life.

Bless you!

 p.s. my first ever blog..woziz!

Silence & Solitude

Notes from Craigs  Sermon on Sunday

• But I’m too busy to take time out to pray!
• “We live in a noisy, busy world. Silence and solitude are not twentieth-century words. They fit the era of Victorian lace, high-button shoes, and kerosene lamps better than our age of television, video arcades, and joggers wired with earphones. We have become a people with an aversion to quiet and an uneasiness with being alone” Jean Fleming

How to:

a.  Minute retreats: A spiritual pause.  looking to Christ, listening to His Spirit

b. A daily time with God:
Outward Silence and Solitude:  A time of reconnecting with God. Bble, Prayer, Private Worship

c. A few extended times of Silence and Solitude each year

d. Have special places where you can go for Silence and Solitude

Sunday Reflections

 

·         I walked into a worship atmosphere and I was so ready to worship God.

·         The worship team tried some new stuff and it was great! I love the Salsa piece!!

·         A guest said to me, ‘I can’t believe you have so many kids at church!’

·         I can’t believe myself we have so many kids at church.

·         I kept looking up the bleachers. It’s a wonderful sight to see people worshipping God.   

·         The Holy Spirit was definitely doing something and when you are in that atmosphere you can’t help but worship God.

·         Sua preached a powerful Word on ‘How to increase your faith’. Love the real life stories and illustrations. Great response to the Word!!

·         I was the first person to respond to the altar call.

·         I was so relaxed on Sunday! Yes I took a break from preaching and I didn’t feel guilty about it. It’s a healthy thing to do, both for the church and for the pastor.  This coming Sunday we have a guest speaker and I am so looking forward to another great /resting weekend.  

·         The Communion Service was special. Again the worship team tried something different ‘Communion Unplugged’. (move over Eric Clapton) I wish I had a camera.

Michael Guglielmucci – Faked Terminal Cancer

Today I received sad news about Michael Guglielmucci that he faked his cancer illness. After the initial shock I started asking myself questions. You may have some too. I have included a great response from Pastor Mal Fletcher. I found this article helpful. Please pray for Micahel, his wife and family that God continues to be their healer even at this difficult time. Pray for the Edge Church International, Hillsong and the Church in Australia.

Lui.

Why do Christian Ministers Fail?

This morning, I received a call telling me that a young minister friend of mine, a man who has influenced thousands of young people for good, has confessed to living a lie for the past two years.

Pastor Michael Guglielmucci had claimed to be battling a deadly form of cancer. He has now confessed that these claims were untrue. Even his mother and father – close personal friends of my wife and I – were unaware of the truth of the situation.

I have known Michael since he was a little boy and have always loved him – I still do. Our hearts, of course, go out to those closest to him.

Though Michael is not a household name, his music gift and speaking talent, along with his very charismatic personality, have made a major impact on many young lives, in a number of nations.

I write about this here, with some discomfort, because some regular readers of this editorial will know Michael and will be trying to understand the situation.

I write also because the issues here are bigger than this individual case. From time to time, Christian ministers and leaders will fall. People of faith must be able to face the inevitable question: ‘How can this happen – and how should we respond?’

We must learn what lessons we can from these situations, for our own sakes and for the sake of the wonderful message of hope that we represent.

Perhaps the first thing we must take from the fall of a leader is the fact that the frailty of the messenger does not negate the authority or truth of the message.

Every faithful believer and church leader should continue to share the Christian message without fear or cant. Though God’s messengers may sometimes fail (and haven’t we all, though perhaps in less public ways?) the message remains as hopeful, reliable, trustworthy and life-enhancing as ever.

In fact, it is often only when we see the scale of human frailty laid bare before us that we can appreciate the true power of redemption.

And the failure of a particular key figure should not taint our picture of all Christian leaders. (In fact, I know personally that some of the people closest to Michael are among the finest Christian leaders you will ever meet.)

As Billy Graham poignantly noted some years ago, in reference to the moral problems of certain American televangelists, thousands of aircraft land safely at the world’s airports every day – but the only time the media will take an interest is when one crashes.

Secondly, we need to remind ourselves of the importance of keeping a close circle of friends and counsellors; people who know us well enough to spot trouble before it arrives.

Of course, this won’t necessarily prevent us from hiding our problems – human beings have a special talent for that.
But if we build around us an inner circle of wise and responsible friends, to whom we’ve given the right to speak honestly at all times, we can be open without losing our sense of dignity.

A third lesson, particularly for leaders, has to do with the dangers of seeking public affirmation.

Personally, I often find it easier to crave the love of the crowd than the love of God. At times, the crowd can seem quicker to respond and easier to find, while God can sometimes feel so distant.

Yet, while the acclaim and affirmation of people are valuable – we can’t live without encouragement – our first calling is not to please people. We are living for something bigger than our own reputation.

People’s deference to gift and talent can be both a blessing and a curse for a leader.

It’s a blessing because it breeds respect for the message and vision, which allows the leader to lead. It can be a curse because it can set the individual up for a fall – people start expecting leaders to be saints without flaws rather than flesh-and-blood human beings.

Finally, I think, when a minister falls we are presented with a marvellous opportunity to demonstrate the meaning of grace, that most precious of all divine gifts.

Many people will look at the fall of a leader or prominent voice and feel great disappointment and even anger. That’s to be expected. That, however, is grace’s opportunity to shine.

Grace signifies the inclusion of people who were previously excluded, which is the core of the Christian faith.

The fall of an individual leader is very regrettable, and wrongdoing will not go unanswered, but his or her past achievements are not wiped out for all time. Their credibility may be shredded, but God keeps the works of faith they’ve entrusted to him.

Whether or not you know my friend Michael, I ask you to pray for his wonderful family, for the churches that are directly impacted and for the people who will be impacted most by these revelations.

His family are facing great personal pain – and if we are people of faith, we would do better to use our words to pray for him and for them, than talking to friends about the situation at every opportunity.

What the future holds for Michael, no one can say right now. His ministry credentials have been revoked and he is, apparently, seeking professional help.

But with personal repentance, a fundamental change of heart and direction, comes a time of spiritual cleansing. The mind and emotions of a damaged brother or sister can take a long time to heal – and the healing is no less important than healing of cancer.

In the end, there can be a new place of effectiveness for even the fallen ones, though perhaps not in the sphere they previously occupied.

If you’ve ever known a leader or prominent Christian who’s fallen, keep yourself from bitterness which eats away at the soul. Determine in your heart that should you meet, you would be able to say, ‘I’m praying for you and for your family. God has a great future for you and it is good.’

The Biblical God is the God of a second chance – with accountability, healing and gradual restoration. CR

 

Sources:

http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/life/Why_Do_Christian_Ministers_Fail/33139/p1/

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24212817-5006301,00.html

New Series!

Join us Next week as kick off a new series ’Lose the weight!! Don’t worry I won’t bring the treadmill to church

Presence of God 2 – He is your Father

One of the saddest stories in the Bible was King David’s rebellious son Absalom. He sinned and ran away from his father. When he returned to the city of his father, he had difficulty getting into the throne room to see King David, his Father. The Bible says that ‘Absalom stayed for two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the kings face” (2 Samuel 14:28). How sad! He was in the city but couldn’t visit his father in the throne room. Something kept him away from the presence of his father. It is possible to go to church and not in the presence God. You can pray and not experience the presence of the Father. Sin is the number one barrier that prevents us from experiencing the presence of God in our lives especially in times of worship.

Presence of God 1 – Go right in!

I found Psalm 16:11 back in 1994 where it says “In your presence there is fullness of joy”. From that time I have always been longing to be in the presence of God especially in times of worship. In my own journey with the Lord, being in the presence of the Lord is a truly humbling experience. You come face to face with the Almighty God. You realise you are so, so tiny and how insignificant you are compare to this magnificent, omnicient, omnipotent, awesome omnipresent God that is beyond description and he is indescribable. I have passed the stage in my life where I go to church to sing songs. I want to encounter God in a fresh way everytime I worship Him. When you are in the presence of God, you just don’t worry about other people and what they do and what they say, you just fall flat on your face and worship as if the only people present is you and God. Next time…don’t just go to church. Encounter God. Don’t just sing a few nice songs, Enter his presence. You will return home with Joy because in his presence there is fullness of it. Go right in!

Sunday Reflections

 ·         I continue to Praise God for His Grace and Mercy. It’s been long year but God’s faithfulness endures forever.

·         Praise God for new people who have found LifeChurch a home/ family for them. Welcome and it’s great to have you.

·         Saturday was our last prayer walk and rubbish collection for 2007. A great team effort! And a good BBQ after. Had fun in the swimming pool.  

·         Very encouraged to see men rising up and take leadership. In their own lives, at home, at work and in church.  Way to go Boys.

·         I was challenged not to fall into the trap / sin of complacency. God help us especially leaders never to settle in that comfort zone.

·         Sunday Message: 2^nd week in the Series: Jesus Son of God, Son of Man. My Sermon Title: Why did Jesus Come? The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

·         Drama: This is your Life – Jesus being the honoured recipient. Great work Team!!

·         Membership Class 101: This is an introductory class for all new members and those who just want to find out more about LifeChurch.

·         I asked 10 new people on Sunday this question;  “What was your first impression of LifeChurch? Here’s the reply:  7 said FRIENDLY, 2 said FAMILY ATMOSPHERE and 1 said DIFFERENT.

·         In the beginning of this year we set a target group to reach this year: Under 35. It seems to be working because more and more young people and young couples are coming to church especially in the 11am service.  

·         Arrived home very tired but also grateful to God for opportunities to invest in people’s lives, knowing  they have eternal consequences. Preached at the 9am & 11am service and taught the Class 101 for 3 hours. That’s a lot of talking for one day.

·         Sunday morning worship: I was just in awe of the Greatness of God. He is all powerful and all knowing and majestic but somehow he is interested in me and he wants to come into my small world even though I have failed him miserably, he still loves me and never fails me. That’s an amazing truth of how deep Gods love is that no one can fathom.