1. What is your church like?
2. How do you get so many young people to come to church
3. Where is your church building
4. Is your church Charismatic?
5. What are you doing that is growing the church
6. You do a lot of Community programs, where do you get all the money from
7. How long have you been pastoring?
8. How do you balance family time and church time?
9. How old is the church?
10. What is your church denomination?

I ask new people who come to our church from other churches, “Why are you leaving your church? Most often I get the reply “I’m no being fed at the other church”.

Let me get this straight. “No one is responsible for your spiritual replenishment and growth except for you. Don’t blame the church.

If you weren’t able to feed yourself at the other church, what makes you think that I am going to do that for you.

You can lead a horse to the water but can’t force it to drink.

If you are old enough to open the fridge then I am sure you are old enough to open your Bible.

It was 3:00pm yesterday. We were at a funeral reception. My wife had to leave to pick up the kids from school. We didn’t communicate well because the speeches were on and she quietly sneaked out. I waited outside on the other side for her to pick me up. She came back to the where we were before. I wasn’t there. I didn’t see her. Tried calling her several times but didn’t have her cellphone on. My daughter rang from the train station to say that she saw mums car, she drove passed her and didn’t stop. I was getting annoyed.
I was confused with what was going on, my daughter was confused my wife was confused………..Everyone was confused!

We finally connected………..and blah!blah!blah!!…. you know what happens in a situation like this. With that in the background I decided to take a taxi home. I hopped in and told the taxi driver to take me to Papatoetoe (where I live). The first thing he said….. where is Papatoetoe??. I said ‘You are a taxi driver and you don’t know…. he said….’sorry I am very Confused around this area’! Confused!! Don’t you have a map!!! I’m now starting to feel the love for this taxi driver……..

Anyway……..I calmed down!!!

He then asked me…….’Are you a Real Estate agent”………….I said no I am not. I had my brand new suit on …BTW I was not in the mood to talk……….. He asked again. Are you a priest?……..yeah right!!! A Priest!! ummm. I wasn’t wearing a robe or a cross!

OK this guy really wants to talk. I asked him “What makes you think that i am a priest!! he said oh sorry! I always get confused with real estate agents and priests…… I thought to myself this guy is really confused!!!

The next 10 minutes we had an interesting conversation

Me: ‘Do you believe in God?
TD: I’m a Buddhist.
Me: Are you a good Buddhist or a bad one
TD: Good one.
Me: Describe for me what a good Buddhist is like?
TD: You keep all the 5 Principles of Buddhism of not telling lies, not stealing, do good works…….and so on then when you die you go to Nirvana.
Me: So are you going to Nirvana?
TD: Oh no! This is it.
Me: What? I thought you were a good Buddhist?
TD: Well we all tell lies and steal……..but you know thats what they say about Buddhism but I am confused about it……………..I don’t know…….I just try not to eat red meat……..
Me: Can I share with you what I believe?

TD: Sure?

I was able to share the gospel with him for the next 10 minutes and he was quiet all the way home until he said…. $23.50 thank you!!

• How have I grown as a person this year?
• What one thing that stands out for me?
• What have I learned this year that I didn’t know before?
• What mistakes have I made so far?
• What were some of the challenges I faced / am facing?
• What is it that makes us unique as church?
• What have we achieved so far in 2009
• What are our (potential) weaknesses?

Purging some stuff on my old hard drive this morning and found this.

A LEADER’S PRAYER

Leadership is hard to define.

Lord, let me be the one to define it with justice.

Leadership is like a handful of water.

Lord, let me be the person to share it with those who thirst.

Leadership is not about watching and correcting.

Lord, let me remember it is about listening and connecting.

Leadership is not about telling people what to do.

Lord, let me find out what people want.

Leadership is less about the love of power

and more about the power of love.

Lord, as I continue to undertake the role of leader let me be

affirmed by the servant leadership I witness in your son Jesus.

Let me walk in the path He has set and let those who will, follow.

Let my greatest passion be compassion.

My greatest strength love.

My greatest victory the reward of peace.

In leading let me never fail to follow.

In loving let me never fail.

Amen

Notes from Leaders Retreat

• ENVISIONING: Paint the Big Picture. Help people to see the possibilities for great contribution to the cause of Christ and to His kingdom. This is what Leaders do. They cast vision.
• INFORMING: Too many times we give people information without a vision and our teaching becomes stale and dry. It is even hard to swallow at times. Information – necessary – the details needed to fulfil vision.
• ENLISTING: Recruiting is what leaders do. People want to do something. People want to know what their roles, responsibilities and authorities will be. Help them by giving as many specifics as possible.
• INVOLVING: Delegate Tasks! Give people hands on opportunities to be involved. Max Capacity. When people do not sense that they are really making a valuable contribution they tend to move on to something where they can find meaning, worth and a sense of purposeful service.
• ENCOURAGING: Lit. ‘to put courage into’. 4 most powerful words from a leaders mouth ‘YOU CAN DO IT!
• EQUIPPING: Paul wrote, “Equipping the saints for the work of service for the building up of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11,12) Leaders are resource suppliers as well as spiritual inspiration to help people accomplish what they are called to do.
• EMPOWERING: A continous prayer: Ask God to infuse us with His power, might and authority to accomplish everything related to His great commission.
• ENTRUSTING: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others also.” (2 Tim. 2:2) Find a Timothy. Be a multiplier of the grace, love and truth He has given you.

We are in a Series called ‘God Questions’. We asked LifeChurch to txt questions they want answers for. This is our third series from those txt messages anwering those questions.

Last week we talked about the ‘Existence of God’. Last Sunday we talked about the ‘Sovereignty of God’. Here are some highlights from Pesio Siitia’s Sermon Notes:

God is absolutely Sovereign

• Sovereignty refers not to the attitude of God but the reality of who God is.
• God is not someone with a dominating personality; he is a person who is absolutely dominant.
• God is not a controlling person; He is in absolute control
• God doesn’t need to take charge; because he is always in charge!!

God is Greater than and exists above his creation

• God is greater than Place
• God is Greater than Time…
• God is greater than circumstances

I am sitting here in my home office in a complete state of exhaustion. If you are a pastor then you will completely understand what I mean when I say that today. It’s Monday morning I am not in the mood to do anything. But I still need to take my little girl Roanna to skating this morning. My son Canaan is off for a weeklong camp. I need another 4 hours of sleep.

It’s late Sunday night. I was supposed to be in bed 2 hours ago but I am too excited with all that happened this morning and weekend that I can’t go to sleep. Adrenalin is still keeping me up.
Let me start by telling you what happened today at church:
• I arrived at church this morning and the worship team is already on the roll. I walked into an atmosphere of worship and was expecting God to move.
• I agree with the Psalmist that ‘In his presence there is fullness of joy’. I was moved, blessed and in awe of God this morning. The Bible says ‘where there is the Spirit of God there is freedom’. There was so much freedom in expression of love for God in this mornings worship.
• In the 9am service, I did not preach what I already prepared. God had something else to say to the church this morning. I hate it when that happens, but Its God’s church, just need to obey, spoke about the’ voice of God’.
• Pesio preached an awesome Word ‘Sovereignty of God’ at the 11am service. It was her first time to preach at church but she sounded like she’s been preaching secretly down her house basement. Amazing journey with God over the last 7 years. Great stories!!
• Tasi continues to amaze us all with her creativity. I look forward to her floral arrangements Sunday mornings.
• Saw several young people that I haven’t seen at church for a while coming back!!
• One of our vision statements – ;We see a church of passionate worshippers’ – The worship team did an awesome job…their passion was definitely caught by the crowd. Pam & Jay – awesome work leading!!
• Several people commented today that it was one of the best services we ever had at LifeChurch. That scares me because I keep telling LifeChurch almost every Sunday that the ‘best is yet to come’. Praying now for next Sunday!
• Found myself worshipping God this morning playing air guitar!
• Worship Team had a special lunch today and I was invited. Our Lifekids team also had a special lunch. Nothing special just and excuse to have a big feed and a good laugh (It’s what we do best at Llifechurch – laugh and eat – he!he!…LOL – yum!! yum!!)………..
Lifekids team enticed us so well we ended up in their camp. 3 hours of food and laughter. These people laugh at anything!!! Crazy!! I needed that!!!

Dear Team

I am looking forward to being with you this weekend.

I am looking forward to a great time of fellowship

I am looking forward to having lots FUN

I am looking forward to hear your stories

I am looking forward to listen to you ideas

I am looking forward to hearing what God is doing in your life

I am looking forward to hearing what you are learning in ministry

I am looking forward to your vision and plans for 2010 and beyond

I am looking forward to praying and believing with you that ‘the best is yet to come and greater things are still to be done’

I am looking forward to sleeping on the Marae and enjoy the ‘Snoring Orchestra’

Ti Hei Mauri Ora!