Mea Culpa

Oh my, has it really been THAT long since I blogged? I'm really not good at disciplining myself. There's been so much going on in the months that have passed. In a nutshell - going to Northern Ireland...England...the amazingly crazy and fabulous New York...big changes in work and church worship...assignments...late nights...the launch of 'I Am Woman' events...'Ablaze' events...5th wedding anniversary...my new diet regime....trips to the Gold Coast...the rapidly approaching Breakfast Point Christmas carols. You see, I really should blog more often. Oh, and how can I forget? The new car. My sunstroke is reminding me. Sunday was such an unexpectedly glorious day (in between all this rain), so a short drive with the top down along the Putty Road was a must-do after church. And I drove! I have photographic proof too. I scared David as he is accustomed to me slowing down to, say, 20km slower than the recommended speed when on a winding road. Oh no, not now - try 20 kms OVER the recommended speed - must be my latent Thelma and Louise tendencies coming out (without the driving over cliffs). Seriously, I never knew that I'd have such issues with my hair. Admittedly, I always have issues with my hair, but it felt that I was being scourged by hundreds of tiny whips while having zero vision because of my bouffant. A headscarf was out as I'd look like a convert to another religion, so - a headband it was. Not my best look, but effective. Perfect for those Amy Winehouse impersonations...no, no, no...

It was a great day - Dr Ivan Herald speaking at church in the morning on relationships (great communicator) and then a chill-out after such a hectic week.

So, to recap on some of the other subjects:

NYC - it took me a couple of days, but I think I'm in love with this insane place! So much to do and see, the people are funny and honest, the food great, the shops..ooh the shops! Hopefully only the first time we'll go there together. I need to catch up to David!

Northern Ireland - it's always good to see your mum. We had fantastic weather, and the opportunity to catch up with old friends, even those we didn't expect to see there (hi Roy & Sandra!). You just cannot beat the Norn Iron humour, and it was good to not have to slow down my speech or have people look at me like I have two heads. It was a real blessing to catch up with my greatest mates, Valerie, Corrina & Rob in sunny Manchester, and Dawn & Steve in Essex. I miss how easy it is to travel around the UK!

5th wedding anniversary - The whole family (me, David and the furkid Maebh) took the little drive down to Narooma on the NSW south coast. Just how beautiful it is down there! So green and lush, and every time you turn a corner there is something beautiful. We stayed at a great cottage (Pub Hill) and basically chilled out with a roast chicken, some wine and a vast range of Tilba goodies! Sooo good.

I Am Woman 2 - the 2nd and the best so far. Everyone had a great time and was made to feel special. The stage looked fantastic, and we were told that the worship was great too (must learn to take compliments!). Pastor Lissa had a great message on time and priorities, that we need to make God the centre of everything, the importance of realising when you are in a particular season, and how to use whatever is in your hand to do. She was passionate, direct, funny and enthusiastic. Awesome! The mini gelato were a hit. Now to think of the next one..maybe..in a wee while!

IAM Conference in October - this was an interesting event and an object lesson to me on how to balance time with wanting to go to all the meetings, and still meet an assignment deadline while the sun was shining and the beach was calling to me. Very happy to report I managed pretty much everything and a swim on the Saturday morning. Yay, I CAN be focussed. Highlights of the conference:- Pastor Gary (I'm not biased) - I could see people's heads spinning while he flew through his message. I guess we're used to it after the past few years. Pastor James MacPherson from Townsville (formerly of Steve Penney's church on the Sunshine Coast) was fantastic. I got so much out of what he had to say, and I really appreciated his approach and way of thinking - apologetics max. I felt he had quite a British way of preaching, he reminds me of pastors & teachers who came to IBTI.

Ablaze II - wow this was fantastic! Despite me feeling very elderly, I just about got through by being the barista for the evening. Note: young people don't drink coffee. They just don't. The dancers from Hillsong were great, and fair play to them for trying to get the rest of us to 'bust a move' as the young'uns say. Pity I alway look like Kath Day-Knight. All I'm missing is the pair of control tights in American Tan. Or am I.....?

Breakfast Point Carols - OK, I'm scared now. Did you say 5,000 people? *faints*

More to follow!

Like a rolling stone

Yes, it has been a while since my last post - I've had quite an eventful week. I had an appointment with a surgeon on Friday to schedule when my gallbladder was going to be removed. I didn't think it would be done before my holidays at the end of the month, but he surprised me by arranging it for Monday!
So - I went to the hospital at 10.30am, and had a nice looooong wait until 4pm when the surgery was carried out, and I came round in surgery after 5. My first conscious thought was "God is good", followed by the strains of "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the radio!
I came home yesterday (Tuesday) morning, feeling a little worse for wear. Hooray for painkillers...4 nice little cuts on my abdomen, and a monster of a stone in a little jar. The doctor was impressed.
So - let the healing continue - feeling a bit better today than yesterday, so hopefully that's how it will carry on...

Thunderstruck!

Wow - what a night. Sunday was our first evening meeting for the year at church - I have to admit, it DOES get very easy to come home from church in the morning and think 'well I can rest now' - especially after energetic worship! (hey, I'm being honest here!), so to go back to knowing you need to be there at 4pm again was a challenge. Especially as it was SO hot in the building, and even hotter under the stage lights (I know, I know I'll appreciate them in the winter when everyone else is rugged up). Soundcheck & practice went well, apart from us all needing a cold shower, ice cold drink and a lie down after - it was nearly fisticuffs in front of the fan heheee....saying all that...thank God for shelter, electricity and all the benefits we have - we're not exactly standing under the hot sun in a field somewhere.

We kinda went for it when the praise & worship started. I think we were aware that the congregation would probably be feeling a bit drained because of the heat, so there was a need to be MORE energetic, MORE communicative, so that people would really be able to enter into worship and connect with God. That's our job, to show people the freedom in Christ that they have, to give opportunity for them to leave all their baggage at the foot of the cross, and that in coming to God openly, the Holy Spirit can impact them in the biggest way.

All through 'The Freedom We Know', I remember thinking "I REALLY need to get fitter than this!" I don't think I've ever jumped around so much....well, not in public anyway! We then did an AMAZING song written by one of our fantastic worship leaders (thanks so much Marg) - every time we do her song 'Redeemer', something happens in the hearts and minds of the people - the Holy Spirit touches people every single time, the song helps to open the congregations eyes to who Jesus is, to what God has done for us....awesome. The Spirit of God was really tangible from that moment on. You know sometimes you feel like you are banging your head against a wall during worship, that people aren't getting it, but sometimes there is a hunger, people are ready and willing to hear from God and to have Him change their lives, and BOOM! The floodgates open and worship becomes the most natural thing in the world to do, and very, very easy. Last night was one of those nights. We were singing in the Spirit for an hour at least - the sweat was dropping off us, but we didn't seem to notice - we were aware of how many people were at the altar for prayer and to reach out to God, it was amazing. You could feel the ebb and flow of the Holy Spirit - it's just something else when you can sense when you need to sing more fully, and when you need to be soft - I can't really explain it any better...Afterwards, I think we were all a little thunderstruck - I guess in awe of being in the presence of God. It's been on my and David's thoughts all day. As David said on the way home 'Now THAT was it!" I know what he means. A new song was birthed last night, a song of praise that came straight from God, and it is SO GOOD to have God reiterate - THIS is who I AM, THIS is what I can do, THIS is the power of the Holy Spirit, and THIS is just a taste of what's to come. Truly a glimpse of the Kingdom.

And then, later that night, the biggest, best and most welcome storm we've had in Sydney! Wow - it was huge - lots of banging and crashing for what seemed like hours..(pic from www.news.com.au) - I sat there, looking out the window in awe of the stunning light show, and thanked God for sending more rain on this parched land - more Lord!

I pray that we'll be even more 'thunderstruck' in the days and weeks to come. When I read of thunder in the bible, it always seems to signify the power and might of God. In today's society and in many churches, God has become anaemic, emasculated, watered down. People are scared to talk about the power of God as it disagrees with the concept they are trying to push - love, compromise, tolerance....good if they understood what those words actually meant...I think we need a reminder of God's power. If we believe in a weak God, then we will have no faith, and we will have little expectation. If we believe that God is truly omnipotent, then it's no holds barred, faith wise. If this is who God is, then we know what He is capable of, and we know who we are as His children.

With that in mind, I've just read 1 Samuel Chapter 2, and verses 1- 10 have jumped out at me. Hannah was praying prophetically, but it was a prophecy with a double impact - her son was soon to anoint a king who would deliver Israel, but not only that, she spoke of the true Deliverer, Jesus the King, who would bring salvation to the world.

So, I'll leave you with the scriptures. I'd be interested to hear what you get out of it.

1 Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.
2 "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
4 "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

At last!

After a year of thinking about it, I have a blog....I finally feel I've joined the rest of known society in doing so hehe....

Well, let's hope I can keep going and that this isn't a one off. To come: my random thoughts on God, missions, service, work, church, relationships...could get dangerous!