Ps 62 - I rest my soul in God alone...

This song is an anthem I tend to live with for the rest of my life. What about you?

Look at me Dad...

My youngest son Mitchell loves to get my attention and does some wild things. I will often hear him shout, 'dad' and by the time I have turned to look at him, he is in action. He is brilliant and I love his spirit. He always brings a smile to my face no matter how I feel and makes me feel proud and happy.

I love the thought that I can bring a smile to God's face. Not that we have to impress him or even do anything to get his attention because we have it already. However, I like to think that as I go through life there are some things I do that just make God smile and say, 'that's my boy.

Surrender....Nice one Abundant Life, Bradford

I sat and wept as I listened to Rick's prayer...

As Useless As A Screen Door On A Submarine...

Christians need to release good works! We were saved for this purpose.

Check out this brilliant song by Rich Mullins:



"Well there's a difference you know
B'tween having faith and playing make believe
One will make you grow
The other one just make you sleep
Talk about it
But I really think you oughtta
Take a leap off of the ship
Before you claim to walk on water
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine

Faith comes from God
And every word that He breathes
He lets you take it to your heart
So you can give it hands and feet
It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive
You gotta put it into practice
Otherwise....

It's about as useless as a screen door
On a submarine
Faith without works, baby
It just ain't happenin'
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door
On a submarine."

An environment of growth (part 2)

....Some thoughts on creating an environment of growth in your life.

1. You should have models and mentors in your life. These are crucial because all of us need to be inspired. What and who inspires you?

2. You need to be challenged in life. What is a challenge in your life right now? What gets the creative juices flowing or the adrenaline pumping? Anything?

3. Ensure you keep your focus forward. The future is before us and we need vision to draw us forward to possess it.

4. Commit to building an atmosphere of affirmation. Wherever you are and with whoever you are with.

5. Be committed to personal study and development.

6. If you are married, love your wife passionately and work hard to keep things fresh in your relationship. If things are healthy at home they will be healthy elsewhere.

7. Plan fun times with your kids and do a few more spontaneous things once in a while. Don't get to old to fast!

8. Ensure others are growing around you. Your greatest assets are the people around you. Invest in them.

9. Ensure there is a willingness to change in your life at all times.

10. Walk in humility, hate evil and love justice.

The list could go on and on..... Send a few thoughts to me.

You need to thoughtfully consider this and implement a few things to monitor your own personal growth. Always remember no-one will ever be as passionate about your own growth and development than you. Selah!

Thought this was a brilliant speech by Obama..

Friendship...Check this out

An environment of growth....

I couple of weeks ago I bought a small catfish as a gift for my Son Wesley to have in his tropical fish tank. The attendant told me this fish will grow to around 6.5 centimeters, and then he added, however, this can vary depending on the size of your tank.

It got me thinking! Just as the growth of tropical fish seems to be limited by the size of the aquarium in which they live, we also are affected by our environment. If your current circumstances do nothing to help you grow, you are going to have a hard time enlarging yourself and reach your potential.

That's why I think it is crucial for us to create an environment of growth around us. I will list a few of my thoughts on this in my next blog. Maybe you could think about the kind of place you would want to create and feedback to me some of your thoughts.

Thought this was great and well worth a read...

There's a method to the madness
by John Fischer

Yesterday, God spoke to me through a Jackson Browne song. Then someone pointed out that there are some questions about Jackson Browne's alleged treatment of women, his current or former drug use, and his New Age beliefs.

I am glad this came up, because it allows me to extrapolate on one of my favorite and freeing worldview principles: All truth is God's truth. If something is true, it belongs to God regardless of the source, and God is not stingy with His truth. He doesn't only let good, upstanding, righteous, God-fearing people access to it. (Actually if that were true, we'd all be out of luck, but I won't go there!) Anyone can play in the big pool of inspiration. In fact, severely imbalanced people are the ones who historically seem to have more access to what's there than others.

I used to have a T-shirt that read, "Conform, go crazy, or become an artist," meaning being an artist somehow legitimizes borderline madness. Artists are traditionally imbalanced—the consequences of paying attention to only half of your brain. It's part of the requirement.

Over and over it's true that the great masters led troubled lives. Alcoholism, abuse, depression, asylum are common among brilliant artists including even some of the more famous writers of hymns.

I share this with you not to burden or judge, but to set us all free to celebrate the truth wherever we find it, and learn how to train ourselves to expect God to speak at all times, through anything or anyone. He does not limit Himself; we do.

The ability to write a song that has truth the Holy Spirit can use in someone's life has nothing to do with the songwriter's own spiritual condition, and even if it did, we are not anyone's judge anyway.

I have always found lots of truth in Jackson Browne's songs. I have no idea what is going on in his head and heart. I have a feeling it's quite a lot.

Listen to this and worship Jesus by total surrender today

Called to be generous..

Let's face it, in the present economic crisis everything would tell us to keep hold of our money, to hang on to what we have, to store up more to protect ourselves in case things get worse and we have something to fall back on.

However, I believe for those of us who are believers and are determined to follow Christ and extend the kingdom, we should continue to honour God with our wealth and continue to live a life of generousity. Giving to God for me is a pleasure and I see it as part of my worship. It tells shows God that I love him, want to obey him and that I trust him in my life.

As we seek God's kingdom first and his righteousness, God assures us that all we need in life will be added to us. I firmly believe this and as we build God's house, he will build ours.

Know this, that Jehova Jireh - God our provider, is with you and will sustain you as he has promised. Be ready to experience the miracle working God in your life.

One thing I know for certain in 2009 is God is with us! 'Emanuel'

If you are a dad you have to listen to this

Sunday thoughts..

1. This is the first Sunday of the New Year and all three services seemed well attended. Kidz church and our youth programmes kicked off and are back in full swing.

It was great to see everyone and chat a few about the wonderful time they have had over the Christmas holiday.

2. Although we were light on musicians Ian did a great job. We sang, 'I surrender' and the words impacted me again 'everything I am and ever will be I surrender to you.'

3. We started a new series called surrender. Billy designed a great intro bumper video that worked really well.

4. We explored two Key thoughts regarding Surrender (1) True surrender is a condition of the heart. Where is your heart entering 2009? Are you just going through Going through the motions? (2) True Surrender involves pursuit. We are called to follow Jesus. As we follow we will learn, grow and develop in or relationship with God.

5. It was great to see 100's people at the end of our services kneel with me in total surrender to Jesus. We gave our heart and all it represents to Jesus and commited to pursuing him in 2009. Whatever the next year brings we will trust in God, pursue his ways and know that he is with us.

6. It's Life Groups this coming week so we will continue to talk about Surrender there. I encourage you to be creative in helping each other grow closer to Jesus!

7. I am grateful to God to be apart of a wonderful church.