This afternoon I'm heading to Sydney for the Hillsong Men's Conference. Mal Fletcher is one of the guest speakers so I'm looking forward to a great 24 hours! I'm heading down with a friend from school who I haven't spent much time with for years, so will be a great trip.
Get back Saturday night in time for our huge morning on Sunday as we do "Church for Others", round-table, brunch style. Then moving house Sunday afternoon, and on Monday...camping at Double Island Point for a week!
What a great weekend coming up!
October 31, 2008
Lessons from the Building Trade
Last night at KTC we hosted guest speaker Corey Passey, Managing Director of Smith & Sons. Smith & Sons is a new business launched by G.J. Gardner Homes, which focuses on home renovations and extensions. I invited Corey to speak to demonstrate to our students that ministry is not about what's in your hand, but what's in your heart. Ministry is not a vocation to which some are called; it's a calling which Christians fulfil through many vocations.
At age 21 Corey and his wife purchased a G.J. Gardner Homes franchise in New Zealand and moved from the Sunshine Coast to have a shot at business. Starting from scratch they grew the annual turnover of the franchise from zero to over $10,000,000 in ten years, positioning them in the top three G.J. Gardner franchises internationally.
I picked up some great thoughts from the night:
"Satisfied customers is not enough. You've got to create raving fans."
"Leadership: Guide. Energise. Excite"
"Leadership is not about making yourself more powerful, it's about making those around you more powerful."
At age 21 Corey and his wife purchased a G.J. Gardner Homes franchise in New Zealand and moved from the Sunshine Coast to have a shot at business. Starting from scratch they grew the annual turnover of the franchise from zero to over $10,000,000 in ten years, positioning them in the top three G.J. Gardner franchises internationally.
I picked up some great thoughts from the night:
"Satisfied customers is not enough. You've got to create raving fans."
"Leadership: Guide. Energise. Excite"
"Leadership is not about making yourself more powerful, it's about making those around you more powerful."
October 28, 2008
October 15, 2008
The Highest Calling
I am always frustrated when I hear people joke about the ministry as a being a job for soft headed slackers. This perception may have been caused by the thrusting of ill-prepared people into the ministry who possessed a nice heart and little else. I believe that Christian leadership is the highest calling and therefore deserves the highest calibre of people available!
History tells us that the Egyptians held the role of priest in such high regard that a person for this role could only be chosen from the most learned of their philosophers. Further to this, when the nation chose their kings they would select from the priests. They recognised that the best of the best should be given to the work of God!
I love the fact that Kings is filled with some of the most outstanding young people in our community. As Christians, let's be of such quality that should our government want leaders they could do no better than look to the church.
History tells us that the Egyptians held the role of priest in such high regard that a person for this role could only be chosen from the most learned of their philosophers. Further to this, when the nation chose their kings they would select from the priests. They recognised that the best of the best should be given to the work of God!
I love the fact that Kings is filled with some of the most outstanding young people in our community. As Christians, let's be of such quality that should our government want leaders they could do no better than look to the church.
October 14, 2008
Self Watch
1 Timothy 4:16 writes: "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."
On this verse Spurgeon commentates:
"We are, in a certain sense, our own tools, and therefore must keep ourselves in order. If I want to preach the gospel, I can only use my own voice; therefore I must train my vocal powers. I can only think with my own brains, and feel with my own heart, and therefore I must educate my intellectual and emotional faculties. I can only weep and agonise for souls in my own renewed nature, therefore must I watchfully maintain the tenderness which was in Christ Jesus.
It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organise societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service..."
On this verse Spurgeon commentates:
"We are, in a certain sense, our own tools, and therefore must keep ourselves in order. If I want to preach the gospel, I can only use my own voice; therefore I must train my vocal powers. I can only think with my own brains, and feel with my own heart, and therefore I must educate my intellectual and emotional faculties. I can only weep and agonise for souls in my own renewed nature, therefore must I watchfully maintain the tenderness which was in Christ Jesus.
It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organise societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service..."
October 8, 2008
On Human Dignity
So where does human dignity comes from? There is no way to contrive it or to enforce it; human dignity must be essential. Here, the Christian teaching is unique. Professor Peter Kreeft of Boston College has lucidly pointed out this difference between Christianity and secular thought.
In the economy of God's creation, there was intended an egalitarianism among human beings; that is, each person was equal in essence and dignity. On the other hand, there was to be an elitism in ideas, meaning that not all ideas are equal - some ideas are clearly superior to others.
Antitheistic thinking has inverted that economy - indeed, it is compelled to - because its starting point leads to the opposite conclusion; people have been rendered elite, and ideas are egalitarian. As a result, we exalt some individuals or races while rejecting others and at the same time foolishly argue that all ideas are equal.
If the scourge of racism is ever to die, it will only do so on the biblical basis of who we are as human beings as we learn to respect each person in his or her distinctive and essential splendor - granted by virtue of creation. Ironically, in rejecting any part of humanity we essentially reject ourselves.
- Excerpt from "Can Man Live Without God" by Ravi Zacharias
In the economy of God's creation, there was intended an egalitarianism among human beings; that is, each person was equal in essence and dignity. On the other hand, there was to be an elitism in ideas, meaning that not all ideas are equal - some ideas are clearly superior to others.
Antitheistic thinking has inverted that economy - indeed, it is compelled to - because its starting point leads to the opposite conclusion; people have been rendered elite, and ideas are egalitarian. As a result, we exalt some individuals or races while rejecting others and at the same time foolishly argue that all ideas are equal.
If the scourge of racism is ever to die, it will only do so on the biblical basis of who we are as human beings as we learn to respect each person in his or her distinctive and essential splendor - granted by virtue of creation. Ironically, in rejecting any part of humanity we essentially reject ourselves.
- Excerpt from "Can Man Live Without God" by Ravi Zacharias
October 7, 2008
On Worship
"Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. All this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of all expressions of which we are capable."
- Archbishop William Temple (1881 - 1944)
- Archbishop William Temple (1881 - 1944)
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