tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626244495600482482024-03-06T00:19:45.105+10:00Confessions of a Worship LeaderA blog by a worship leader for worship leaders,worshippers, music directors, musicians, singers, sound techs, and anyone else who is involved or interested in being involved or just curious about what goes on in the mind of a Worship Leader.Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-21339001198149820292014-01-15T14:55:00.001+10:002014-01-15T14:55:23.227+10:00Honour God<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiSAgzMMc22M5CqC8Fv6XtbqtqkkwJfc8BoN3NnWIs4Nhghyl6NZXYcGiI3TStSdBCi7d-59oIltuxYOWgSBH4pXPJyhKJYIeaBUmZvLcZxNbkGQ3H2-zqIRSGlP4qrFF3lQLEUgWATw/s1600-h/prayer%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="prayer" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="prayer" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1TBoZkwkRcnvsnDhAdj1uCCD7AbOp_x9IX_Od-2YhQ6_epiBd5oPYh7hur5YXPw-OxDLQmFyIrDhiIfCceudPASMoPK6XsMqtheV2AdtlsXnuK4QkW5HrXGvWSskwe9kk6G1DIspMmU/?imgmax=800" width="580" height="313"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.edenlifemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/prayer.jpg" target="_blank">{image}</a></p> <p>Every morning as part of my daily prayer, I ask God to help me to honour Him with the words I speak, by my deeds, with my thoughts and my attitudes.</p> <p>I love my God, and appreciate everything He has done for me, and the way in which He continues to bless me and prosper me in what I do. I don’t say that arrogantly but with a humble, thankful heart. And I want to honour Him in every day life.</p> <p>There was a song years ago that went:</p> <blockquote> <p>Count your blessings name the one by one;<br>Count your blessings, see what God has done…”</p></blockquote> <p>It’s easy to let life pass by without recognising the blessings that our Heavenly Father pours out into our lives constantly. We take for granted the things that Christ has sacrificed His life for. He went to the cross and gave all He had so that we might live. Jesus said:</p> <blockquote> <p>I come to give you life in abundance.<br><em>John 10:10</em></p></blockquote> <p>God wants us to enjoy His generosity, His life, His gifts, this abundant life. I believe our part is to live a life of gratitude. Do you want more out of life? Get to know the life-giver. Be in relationship with Him, the One who can make a difference. And when you know him more, you will trust him more; and when you trust him more, it becomes easier to see how he moves in your life – guiding, protecting, opening doors and closing others. And why? Because you serve a Heavenly Father who is infinitely interested in who you are and everything you do. </p> <p>And that brings me back to my prayer. I pray, most days, that my last waking thought for the night and my first the next morning would be of Him. It has taken me 50 years to learn just how dependent I am on Him in every part of my life. From the moment I am awake to the moment I fall asleep, I want to be conscious of Him. Not in some super-spiritual, of no practical use to this world way; but in a way that leads me to live my life in honour to Him: by my words and my deeds, with my thoughts and my attitudes. Why? Because of how he loves me, and because of how he blesses me.</p> <p>When we honour God and put Him first in our lives, He honours us. He is faithful to his word, and faithful to His promise. James 4:8 says to:</p> <blockquote> <p>Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.</p></blockquote> <p>He longs to have fellowship with his people.</p> <p>I was asked the other day to describe worship. I explained it as the most intimate thing we can do with God. I went on to draw a parallel to the act of kissing. When I kiss my wife, I close my eyes and my entire being becomes focussed on my love for her. At that point I am not aware of anything else in my surroundings; my worries disappear, my fears, and the rest of my being follows into the “worship” of my wife.</p> <p>God loves you so much, and the act of bringing honour to Him, is no less than an act of reciprocal love. He thinks about us all the time, and He longs for us to have the best in life. I can honour Him with my words and worship. I can honour him with my thoughts, my deeds, my attitudes, my trust. </p> <p>When my father passed away wen I was in my early twenties, I remember crying out to God and asking him “Why??” His answer to me was a question: “Son, will you trust Me?”</p> <p>God places no demands on us for obedience or difficult tasks to earn our salvation. He simply asks: Will you trust Me? This becomes relational. We trust what (or who) we know. And this trust will never be misplaced when we place it in Him.</p> <p>Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8 is very clear on God’s commitment to us:</p> <blockquote> <p>What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one - for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Then who will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at God’s right hand, pleading for us.</p> <p>Can anything every separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecute, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your own sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.</p> <p>And I am convinced that nothing can every separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the Earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br><em>Romans 8:31-39</em></p></blockquote> <p>Isn’t that alone worthy of our honour?</p> <p>Have a great week!</p> <p>Erick.</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-59456244373361238342013-12-24T13:57:00.001+10:002013-12-24T13:57:43.755+10:00In Memory of my Mother<p><br><em><strong>I want to share with you something very personal.<br>Not that all my other articles haven't been personal, but this comes from my heart. This is about a woman who has been an integral part of my life for over 50 years, my mother. Mama passed away peacefully on the 27th of October, after a four-year battle with cancer.</strong></em><br></p> <p>In everyone's life there are people of influence. People who impact our lives to make us what we are, or rather, who influence us to make the decisions that make us who and what we are.<br>For me, one of those people is the person whose life I celebrate here today in this article.<br><br>Ann Buma Bruining left an amazingly rich heritage for this world; her 8 children. She was a mother who cared for her children, who loved them, who believed in them, who inspired them, and who prayed for them, every day. Not a faultless, flawless woman who never made mistakes, but a fragile, passionate, determined woman who, with the aid of an incredible husband raised 7 amazing kids... and me.<br><br><strong>This is my Mama's testimony.</strong><br><br>As I said, Mama was a mother of 8. Let me introduce my family from the eldest:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgnIYwz0yihTaoFxSfoG4kFkkOzP5BmP06eApJRQ_GlX-8hjgK6Muj6WWV39XQ5MD72iBc68YE6YjAmxR58JOnDRe_dxaFAZlpFu5HZ_zDa67G4w7CAy16U-zsHHIuDxg-AscJkdrck0/s1600-h/buma-3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="buma-3" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="buma-3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1hAhtBnCGGIQk9zD1kW-jzc0FAggzLbyY8LuPZvKNMUJz28ZHsa29KlDsozeDWUrNtZooYrr3pKCX9f4BJCqyh26U5zD3gKcIImElK9nkTgHFVMDs-H3EArhbll-454f6dpYTHf3s_s/?imgmax=800" width="552" height="373"></a></p> <p><br>Olaf: a husband, father of 6, grandfather of 7. A teacher like his own father, passionate about the things of God, and always eager to make a difference in people's lives. He has had influence in our communities not only through his profession as guidance officer and teacher, but also through Christian radio and in leadership in the church.<br><br>Cees: also husband and a father of 3. From a very early age he wanted to become a doctor of medicine so that he could use his skills in the mission fields all over the world. He has done that very successfully, having worked with <a href="http://ywam.org.au/">YWAM</a>, and on <a href="http://www.mercyships.org.au/" target="_blank">Mercy Ships</a>, and more recently with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joint-Therapy-Outreach-Incorporated/101323896660163?viewer_id=619086204" target="_blank">Joint Therapy Outreach</a>, he travels overseas regularly to use his doctoring skills in countries where medical services are scarce and unaffordable . Also trained in theological studies, he has and continues to make peoples' lives better; giving them hope, addressing their needs both physically as well as emotionally and spiritually.<br><br>Christina: wife, mother of 4, grandmother and major support to many mums out there who have been blessed by her skills as a Nursing Midwife. Taking hold of her own struggles in her battle with breast cancer, she has strapped on a determination to be a greater help to those who are also struggling with life threatening illness by adding to her skills counselling and Bible college training.<br><br>Karin: mother of 3, wife, and one determined lady, driven with the sole purpose of making a difference in people's lives, she is an academic who has used her skills in schools and universities.<br>Level headed, strong willed, her determination has raised her to excel to levels beyond where most of us could only imagine.<br><br>Ilse: mother of 3, and grandmother of 3. Despite the odds, and the many curve-balls that life has thrown her, she too makes a difference in people's lives.<br><br>Annechiena: wife, mother of 3, and carer of our mother in her final years. How can we ever thank you enough for what you have done for our mama? Juggling her care with a career in the classroom, as well as running your home and the many church activities that you have been involved with over the years. All due to a passion and a calling to make a difference and to be the answer.<br><br>And Barbara: Our other missionary sibling. Beautiful wife, Not yet a mother, and yet an adopted mother to the many children, hundreds, if not thousands whom you have made it your purpose to introduce to Jesus and a better life. Barbara and her husband Lukas spent years touring nationally and internationally doing children's out reaches and mission work. What a calling, what a heritage.<br><br>Oh, and then there's me. I, too have made it my purpose to be a blessing to people that I come across, and to make a difference in people's lives. I have had the privilege of being a worship leader, musician and recording artist. More recently I am co-producer of the Worship Leaders Podcast, a weekly podcast that reaches thousands all over the world. I boast an amazing family of 4 children, 2 grand children and 2 more on the way. Wonderful, mature young people who love The Lord with a passion, and serve Him in their own churches as Worship leaders, and wherever the opportunity arises.<br><br>We all spend our lives looking for acceptance and approval; especially from our parents. And at times all in my family found it difficult to gain that approval from our Mama, and yet I know that she was immensely proud of us all. She was proud of what we have achieved in marriage, with family, our careers and our various ministries. In her eyes, we all gave her something to be proud of and to boast about.<br><br><em>As I was reminiscing over what write here, my thoughts took me back to memories of our childhood.<br></em><br>I remember the near fatal car accident that Mama and Papa had after our youngest sister Barbara was born. I remember our local neighbours coming and farming us out to various families in our local community while Mama and Papa recovered in the hospital. The accident had left our father in a coma, and Mama with serious internal injuries. It was 4 weeks or more before they were well enough to come home. Barbara was so young that they kept her in with Mama so she could feed her.<br><br>I remember trips to Haamstede, a small farming village in the south of Holland, to go camping. All of us cramped into that blue station wagon, with some of us having to take it in turn to sit right in the back of the wagon. And there was no such thing as third row seating back then. There we were, stuck in the back squashed in amongst the luggage. I also remember us fighting over whose turn it was to sit in the back, and no one wanted to do that uncomfortable trip, and one day refusing and causing such a fuss that Mama in her anger yelled and said that she would travel to Haamstede in the back of the car. It was not long after that that Mama and Papa bought a Daf (a small Dutch built car) to alleviate the passenger congestion.<br><br>I remember some of our adventures camping. Going into the WW2 bunkers, me climbing trees and falling out and having to be carted to the hospital, Christina falling into a thicket of stinging nettles, wearing nothing but a bikini, and Mama was there for us, tending to us.<br><br>I remember building a trailer for my bicycle because I was going to ride to Albany some 400 km away, just for something to do, and Mama cleverly came up with an idea to send me to a Scripture Union canoeing camp instead (What was I thinking???).<br><br>Whenever we got into trouble, mama was there, usually with the wooden spoon. She was a great believer in that scripture in Proverbs 13:24 </p> <blockquote> <p>He who spares the rod hates his son,<br>but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. </p></blockquote> <p>I can honestly say my mother loved me very much!<br><br>I suffer from confused personality. My family constantly confuses me for someone else. Brother Cees almost only ever calls me Cameron (his son), the other day Olaf was calling me Zac (his son), and after Papa died, and Mama would come to Queensland we would go somewhere in the car I would get the sudden hand on the leg and the "Pas op Cor!" (Cor was my father's name).<br><br>I spoke earlier of our struggle to gain acceptance. One of the most memorable moments of my life was when Mama and Papa drove up to Lake Leschenaultia, north of Perth, where I was living and working after I finished high school. They sprung a surprise visit on me and brought with them my high school results. It is one of the first times I remember Mama and Papa saying they were proud of me. It was something I never forgot.<br><br>A survivor of World War II Holland, Mama lived a life full of challenges, and she was human enough and normal enough to struggle with them. Simply put, she wore her emotions on her sleeve, and everybody at some time got a taste of it. She struggled a little with the finer attributes of diplomacy and couldn't suffer fools, or for that matter anyone who she perceived was trying to have a go at her or just didn't understand her. And, rather than try to reason with someone, she simply told them what she thought of them and storm off... And later on she would regret it.<br><br>When she was just 53, she suffered the loss of the love of her life to cancer. This happening, and at such an early age, I think was one of the single most difficult traumas she had to face. It shook her world, as it did ours. He was her rock, and her balance. But, to her credit, and with the incredible help of my beautiful family over in Perth, especially Barbara who put her own life on hold to be with her, she was able to move on with her life.<br><br>She told me that God had been good to her over the years, and she wanted to do something for Him. So she went on a number of mission trips, smuggling bibles into China, and visiting churches in Burma. I was pretty proud of my mother for undertaking such adventures at this time of her life and on her own. She too, wanted to make a difference.<br><br>Mama loved to travel. When Papa was alive, they travelled everywhere together, and in later life she undertook many trips back to Holland and other places. Sometimes on her own, many times with others in tow.<br><br>She also travelled to Queensland many times to visit us. Sometimes these were good visits, other times we were relieved to take her back to the airport. Our children though, loved their Oma, and they were always sad to see her go.. When our kids were little, whenever they saw a plane up in the sky they would stop and wave and yell at the top of their voices "Bye Oma !" They always associated aeroplanes with the comings and goings of their Oma, and I share with you the deep sadness that our 2 as yet unborn grandchildren will not get to meet the Grand Old Lady who has headed up the clan.<br><br>Mama was a fierce woman, who was not to be messed with, as we witnessed once when we were on the Gold Coast at a bird park, and when it came time to feed the birds, our kids were there ready to feed the birds when all of a sudden, out of nowhere a bus load of tourists appeared and started to crowd out our little ones. Well, Mama was having none of that, and like a sumo wrestler, she firmly planted her feet apart on the ground, behind the kids and warded off the newcomers, elbowing them whenever they got anywhere near her grandchildren!<br><br>Mama knew what awaited her in death. She knew where she was going, and I remember after that major operation in late December 2009, we were able to go in to be with her in the ICU. We sang the Christmas hymn "O Holy Night" to her, and later when she came out of the ICU she told us that she was aware of our singing and thought she was in the presence of the angels. That's why the first words she spoke when she finally came out of her induced coma was "I am alive? Praise Jesus!"<br><br>Mama also had a great sense of humour and mischief, as we witnessed many times with the surprise visits, late-night arrivals for special occasions such as birthdays, sneaking in with the aid of my own wife and children to make it all the way across Australia just for us.<br><br>And who can ever forget the countless poses for photos with the traditional finger up someone else's nose, or that famous photo at camp Buma when we all posed for that funny photo and Mama had taken her wig off and held it high in the air!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60dQ7jwc-_huvpnVDFjGt5ck-4ZxZqVFT0o99njaiw2QFqi9ofULuDux9wzhcxOGIBj1DcRMbqOBewyPIsysgqV8ISSKiwq5yVhhYfJ4QhAC42CukQjdw7wzm8a807iNeIAMg74GY2zI/s1600-h/family%252520photo%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="family photo" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="family photo" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I0o-_VuxmIuW07V95TlJmVarUYEozOMX8LundOO_ZpxEx0hmq8mKgDh5nwsAwaFt9TL_anpne_sNlFOkc1V1_WnSS60Zb7xtv_hhtiTA7S4rSDINaTy4_dOwHQhGBr2MclsKzrRE-D0/?imgmax=800" width="512" height="752"></a><br><br>She loved her Husband, she loved her children, she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she loved her Saviour Jesus. I'm sorry she's gone, but I'm glad she's graduated. She didn't deserve to suffer, and fortunately she didn't suffer long. On October 27, 2013 after a 4 year battle with a rare form of cancer, Mama went home to be with Jesus.<br>The world may not know her, but the world is a better place because of her.</p> <p><br>Proverbs 13:22 says</p> <blockquote> <p>A good man ( or in this case woman) leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.</p></blockquote> <p>Proverbs 31:27-31</p> <blockquote> <p>She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,<br>and keeps them all busy and productive.<br> Her children respect and bless her;<br>her husband joins in with words of praise:<br> "Many women have done wonderful things,<br>but you've outclassed them all!"<br> Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.<br>The woman to be admired and praised<br>is the woman who lives in the Fear–of– God.<br> Give her everything she deserves!<br>Festoon her life with praises!</p></blockquote> <p>And right now we hear the voice of God saying "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest."</p> <p>There is so much more I could say; of cups of teas from porcelain cups, of puzzles on a rainy day, of adventurous picnics on hot a summer's day, of road trips to remote places.. I could go on, but time will not permit. So I will close with my children's words as she takes her final flight on the wings of the angels:<br>Bye Oma!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FFva-x2sJcU/UrkGMog-YrI/AAAAAAAAAOI/1wcY5pwBU_0/s1600-h/Oma%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Oma" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="Oma" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91j0DUaRNzFKOPIZZmZ0BJXzGLMlS_6YZJn_PDnebTE99NuhFdin-53BShIu74TSilpDTmGDqurOsGxRmhEtw1oU7Eez5Piz1HNOcGkTg6chXyC7ocoRniMkKfRR7iOfz1gf12xssvM4/?imgmax=800" width="572" height="386"></a></p> <p><br>Erick.</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-82543581027263742852013-08-31T16:21:00.001+10:002013-09-01T16:45:00.281+10:00Better Husband, Better Dad..<div>
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<i>For Peter</i>.</div>
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I was talking with my son in law recently and the subject came up;" I don't know if I am doing everything I can to be a good dad.. "</div>
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It got me thinking about my own journey through fatherhood I sometimes wonder: however did I make it to this place? I have 4 incredibly wonderful children who have all grown up into amazing adults who in their own rights are making a real difference in this world and in the lives of others. I really am blessed.</div>
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Over the years, my wifeTambrey and I have on numerous occasions been complimented on our children and what a great family we are. While that is a great head-swelling statement, the reality is that we have never really known any different. What you see is who we are. We have</div>
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nothing to hide, we aren't any different at home to what you see at church or out in public. And, to us, we are far from perfect. </div>
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We have our fights and arguments, our differences of opinion. In our eyes we are just an ordinary family. So it's kind of funny when so many people tell us we are different. This leads us as a couple to think; what could it be that makes us different to other families? How can we through our own experience of life encourage others to be different, and that what we have is not freakish or unattainable?</div>
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My heart has always been about family. In my life, family comes first and foremost. I purpose in my heart to make them the number one priority in my life. This is a decision, it is not something that</div>
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comes natural or even easy. The nature of a man is very much self-focused. I want what I want, and I know what I want, and all too often it doesn't include my wife or kids. The selfish me wants to go out and hang with my mates when it suits me. The selfish me doesn't want to be tidy, wash up the dishes because they are there to be done. The selfish me can justify coming home after a long day at work and sitting down in the lounge chair, watch the tv and waiting for dinner while my wife is trying to keep it all together with little ones making demands of her, others wanting help with homework, still others looking for clothes to go out in, and dinner on the go all at the same time.</div>
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<b>If I want a great family, it requires investment on my part. Just in the same way that if I want to succeed in my business I have to be prepared to put in the hard yards.</b></div>
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So what is it that I want to say to my sons in law and my own son about how to succeed in life and have a great family? How can I cram 30 years of experience into a short article? I probably can't, but I can share with you some keys that I have learnt along the journey.</div>
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I took a call from an overseas friend the other day who told me he was having some challenges with his 10 year old being a bit obstinate and unreasonable. He was giving his parents a hard time and most likely</div>
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his siblings as well. I suggested to him that maybe his boy was trying to attract his attention. There may be something going on in his world that he was having trouble coping with.</div>
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I gave him the following pointers that might help him help his son overcome the challenges that are facing him.</div>
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1) <b>If you want to show your child you love them, love their mother</b></div>
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Nothing gives a child stability in life like knowing that their parents love each other. I have even found in business that the most stable bosses I have worked for are those that have a great marriage.</div>
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I have to put her first in my list of priorities. The old saying goes: Happy wife, happy life. For me, that means that as part of the marriage relationship I have to pull my weight. In my home, I make the bed, make breakfast, empty the dishwasher, and clean up my mess in the bedroom. I learnt a long time ago that my wife is neither my slave nor my mother, and I should not expect her to clean up after me or do everything for me. </div>
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I also help with the cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. We are a partnership and my wife does enough around the house. The least I can do is help her and be an example to my children of how to be a good husband. I tell my wife every day that I love her. I tell her often, and I tell her meaningfully. I tell her for 2 reasons: I tell her to remind her, and I tell her to remind myself. Do I <i>have</i> to remind myself every day? Well, I have to eat every day...</div>
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Moreover, I tell my children I love them as well, every day, or at every opportunity.</div>
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2) <b>Be prepared to do your bit.</b></div>
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I mentioned before, marriage is a partnership, and it takes both partners to work hard to make the partnership a success. I don't expect her to mow the lawn or take out the rubbish. There are things</div>
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my wife does better than me. She knows better how to do the washing and hanging out. That doesn't mean I can't do it, and it's not unusual for me to iron my clothes or hang out or bring in a load of washing.</div>
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People think that marriage is a <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true">2 way street</a>, a 50/50 relationship with 50% give and 50% take. That is not God's way. He is about 100% giving, expecting nothing in return. That is God's way of loving, and</div>
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when both partners in the marriage relationship adopt this motto, your marriage is headed for a lifetime of great adventure and success.</div>
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3)<b> Be consistent</b>.</div>
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When it comes to discipline it is important that both parents agree. My wife always made it a point to never disagree on matters of discipline or decision in front of the kids. I would hear about it in the bathroom though! There is this saying that goes: "If mum says no, ask dad". That doesn't work in my family. If I disagree about a</div>
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decision, we will talk about it in private, and if we then agree on a common decision, we would go to the child. Also worth a mention here is: <i>Don't say no just because you can.</i> It is important to communicate with your child why you have made the decision you made. They may not like it or even like you, but they will know the reason why. And "because I said" is not a valid reason.</div>
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4)<b> Princes and princesses.</b></div>
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I treat my wife like a princess. (Or at least I'd like to think I do). My wife is royalty, and I expect my children to treat her the same way. I have never allowed my children to get away with speaking down to my wife or treating her rudely. In telling them my expectation of having them treat her like a princess, I am teaching my daughters that their prospective husbands must also treat them like royalty. I am telling my son that the woman he marries he must treat like royalty. I like to think that I treat my daughters like royalty. The way a man treats her wife, and the way a woman treats her husband sets the framework for how their children will treat their spouse in years to come. We do not have to be the result of our upbringing, we can change</div>
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what we came out of. If my daughter marries a man from a dysfunctional background that does not mean she is doomed to a bad marriage. It is my privilege to be a positive influence on him and allow him to see</div>
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that there is a better way.</div>
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5) <b>Quality Time.</b></div>
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I have a wife, 3 daughters, 1 son. Each of them have different likes, needs, desires and dreams. I found especially when the kids were younger every now and then it was important to take them out on a date. The girls loved the Papa dates. We would go somewhere to eat, buy some clothes, and hang together. As they got older my wife would take them for coffee on a Saturday morning, somewhere nice. Recognising their individuality and acknowledging it is very important to a person. My son and I love doing life together. When he was about 14 he came to me and asked me if I could teach him how to be a man. We do man stuff together, and I can honestly say that I couldn't be more proud of how he has turned out. Quality time is when we can be driving 1000km to somewhere and spending time talking, sharing, laughing together with the opportunity to speak into his life. I love those times. And, by the way, I love doing the same with my sons-in-law, who I refer to as my boys.</div>
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My beautiful wife also needs quality time. Infact this is her number one love language. There is nothing she loves better than just being together, whether it is in front of the tv, holding hands, cuddling or going on a road trip together to anywhere. For her it's not about how much money I can spend on her, it's about how much time we can have together.</div>
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I am blessed. I started out with 3 daughters and one son. I now have 3 daughters, 3 sons, and 2 grand children. God is good!</div>
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6) <b>Words of affirmation and celebrate success.</b></div>
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Everyone wants and needs to be acknowledged for a job well done. I love being paid for the work I do, but I glow when the boss says "Well done!"</div>
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Peter and Lachlan are my amazing sons in law. When Peter got his first appointment after finishing his Uni degree, I piled my wife and daughter and son in the car after work and drove one and a half hours to the town they are living and took the whole family out for dinner to celebrate. Then we drove home again. Some months later when Lachlan got his job after finishing his degree we did the same thing again.</div>
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They were both stoked that we would go to such an extent to help them celebrate their achievement. To me, I was stoked at what they achieved and wanted them to know how proud I am of them. I often tell my wife and kids I'm proud of them. I want them to know that I value the effort they put into life. The result? It builds</div>
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them, and encourages them to do even better.</div>
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7) <b>Be honest</b>.</div>
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It's important to be honest with other, to have an open book policy in the home. In our family we really don't have any secrets from each other. Not the important stuff, anyway. If my children got into trouble at school, (on the rare occasion ) they would usually blurt it out to their mother as soon as they opened the door. My kids have always shared every thing with us, but we also have been honest with them it has saved us from a lot of heart ache and trouble. My wife is always an especially good listener, and very slow to judge. The result</div>
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was that the kids had not trouble in sharing their feelings or problems because they knew they would find the support they needed to get them through the crisis, whatever it was.</div>
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I titled this article better husband, better dad. I want to be both, and I want every husband and father to aspire to both. A past Australian Prime minister once said "Life wasn't meant to be easy". He may have been right, but life was meant to be lived and enjoyed. Jesus said:" I have come to give you life and life to the full."</div>
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God wants us to enjoy the fullness of what we have been given. If you want to be a better Husband and a better Father, love, be consistent, be prepared to share the load; Treat your family like royalty, and expect nothing less from them; spend quality time with your loved ones and give praise when it is due, celebrating every success. Most of all, be honest with each other.</div>
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I guess when it's all said and done, the key to being a better husband and a better dad lies in the relationship to have with your loved ones. It's not about a formula or technique, it's about unconditional love and trust.</div>
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Do I have all the answers? No! But I do have a relationship with the One who does, and I am constantly in communication with Him, and I am always open to learning how to be a better husband and a better dad.</div>
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Have a great week!</div>
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Oh, and Happy Father's Day.</div>
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Erick</div>
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Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-31314569768731851522013-08-14T18:24:00.001+10:002013-08-14T18:24:14.295+10:00Why do bad things happen to good people?<p><br>I often hear the question asked: "Why do bad things happen to good people? "<br>And for Christians that seems like a fair question. After all, once we are saved, aren't things supposed to go all our way? Shouldn't we be without sickness, prospering financially, never having to worry about another thing? Unfortunately, even though this is sometimes taught in some churches, this is not scriptural or correct. The fact is; bad things do happen to good people!</p> <p><a href="http://beingwoven.org/"><img title="why" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="why" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0rezaS04EFU/Ugs-q6WZrcI/AAAAAAAAAMA/333nu52kfNY/why%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="587" height="264"></a><br><br>My father passed away when I was 24 years old. He had battled cancer for about 4 years when he died. We (my family and many Christians around the world) had prayed and believed for his healing, however it didn't come, at least not in the way we expected it.</p> <p>I have seen people live through, and die as a result of tragedy, heartache, poverty and sickness and wondered that very question: Why? There are plenty of examples both in scripture and in church history of people who weathered the storms of life. Some never made it out the other side. One great example is the prophet Elisha, who, even though he had a double portion of the anointing of his predecessor Elijah, was not taken up in a horse drawn chariot into heaven. Instead he became ill in his old age and died. (See 2 Kings 13:14).</p> <p>You only need to think of the faithful thousands who lived (and died) in the many Wars we have witnessed in our history. Many of them innocent civilians who had no choice and no option in the decision or consequences of war.</p> <p>Every day we are confronted with tragedy, heart ache and disappointment. I have witnessed Godly people taken from this earth or permanently adversely affected as a result of car accidents, plane crashes, cultural violence, religious zeal, the list goes on. And still we ask: Why? Why do bad things happen to good people?</p> <p>This is not a sign of the times. We live in a broken world. The Bible says death is the result of sin; Sickness and disease from our disobedience to God. This is what we are born into...<br>The apostle Paul, one of God's greatest advocates responsible for 2/3 of the New Testament suffered much at the hands of man and nature. Listen to his sufferings: </p> <blockquote> <p>Corinthians 11:24-27<br>"From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness"</p></blockquote> <p>And yet his concern was not for himself, but for seeing the good news of the Gospel made available for all people.Did bad things happen to him? </p> <p>What about Job? His wife told him (Job 2:9-10)</p> <blockquote> <p>"“Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”<br> But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips."</p></blockquote> <p>Note Job's response? In all this he did not sin with his lips. Did bad happen to Job?</p> <p>Death, sadness, sickness, tragedy, all these are a part of living in this broken world. I really think to a large extent Christians are not going to be exempt from this. However, there is one major difference between those who walk with The Lord and those who don't.<br>Paul in his letter to the Philippians gives instructions on how to overcome these trials that come our way:</p> <blockquote> <p>Philippians 4:4-8<br>" Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!<br> Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.<br> Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.<br> Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."</p></blockquote> <p>This doesn't mean we don't acknowledge the bad things when they come to us, but don't stay there... Don't dwell on these things. Often when people are confronted with a terrible tragedy, they can't get over it. They find it difficult to move on. I have seen people become so absorbed in their pain, that they have been incapacitated by it, totally unable to get on with their life, and missing out on the best life has to offer. Their suffering has become the focus of their life. But remember Philippians 4 say?</p> <p>Joni Eareckson Tada writes in "<a href="http://www.koorong.com/search/product/365-days-of-hope-joni-eareckson-tada-dave/1932805559.jhtml" target="_blank">365 days of Hope</a><em></em>":</p> <blockquote> <p>"My wheelchair is a suffering that came from the sovereign purpose of God. And since that time more than three decades ago, I've also suffered things that have come upon me as a result of being in the kingdom. I have chosen to flee temptation, to drag my body from church to hospital, to endure the scorn of those who don't know God. And I have suffered as a result. Such is the will of God for my life.<br>The result? The common suffering he comforts. The godly suffering he rewards. And I wouldn't want to exchange either for anything."</p></blockquote> <p>At the beginning of this article I talked about the death of my father. As I watched his lifeless body lying there in that casket, I called out to God :"<em>Why? Why did you let him die in this way? Surely he was a good man who loved you, whose children all love you, who didn't do bad things to anyone</em>?"<br>And as clear as the day came the response from my Heavenly Father: " <em>Son, will you trust Me</em>?"</p> <p>Finally I leave you with the words of the hymn written by Horatio Spafford, who literally lost everything, finance, business, his home and later his daughters in a terrible shipping accident, and was still able to pen these beautiful words:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,<br>When sorrows like sea billows roll;<br>Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,<br>It is well, it is well, with my soul.<br>It is well, with my soul,<br>It is well, it is well, with my soul.<br>Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,<br>Let this blest assurance control,<br>That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,<br>And hath shed His own blood for my soul.<br>My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!<br>My sin, not in part but the whole,<br>Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,<br>Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!<br>For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:<br>If Jordan above me shall roll,<br>No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life<br>Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.<br>But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,<br>The sky, not the grave, is our goal;<br>Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!<br>Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!<br>And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,<br>The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;<br>The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,<br>Even so, it is well with my soul.</em></p></blockquote> <p><br>Have a great week!<br>Erick</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-40918172905101035922013-08-08T13:13:00.001+10:002013-08-08T13:13:59.636+10:00Praying Together<p> </p> <p><br>One of my favourite times if the day is breakfast. Not because of the food (although lately I have been enjoying various arrangements of bacon and eggs...) No, because in my family breakfast time is family time. This is the time when we are all together at the same time in the same place.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTjeobpUY2xvSnqQt8GZ4lUxLM5uaVenH5PUAvrxK7Xm4TaWnJXgL7HohIw7RJ9OhI1yDD3bfif5CGd7S_IPWtz9zBWMUnNkcBpgp7Oj7EILPifT2ruW9_sKwwK801LxDkeeNDl7tn4M/s1600-h/grace%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="grace" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="grace" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wZHKoyO97SU/UgMM9XmHfyI/AAAAAAAAALw/RP5JazykZFc/grace_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="436" height="344"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://interactblogs.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/interfaith-appreciation-christianity/" target="_blank">[image]</a></p> <p>We began the family routine thing many years ago when our eldest daughter Zoey started going to school. We found out the hard way that waking her up half an hour before catching the bus was no way to to get any of us off to a good start of the day. I was taught at a young age the importance of starting the day with God, and I knew I needed to instil this same value in my children, so I began the routine of getting our children up earlier each day so that they could be ready and awake enough in plenty of time for their body to receive food; both physical and spiritual. We would all come together at a set time in the morning and enjoy that half hour together over breakfast.<br>The breakfast table was where a lot of our family fellowship occurred. This is where we not only ate, but we talked. In our family we don't need much encouragement to talk, conversation flows freely, and especially at the meal table. Challenges are addressed, problems solved, victories celebrated and instructions given.</p> <p>We would end the meal with a devotion, normally picked by my wife, Tambrey; something suitable for the kids to take with them into the day, and then we would pray together. Prayer is something we encouraged our children to participate in, at mornings together at the table as a family, and evenings, one on one with just parents and individually.</p> <p>The interesting this I have found about praying together is that everyone has a different view of life, and therefore sees and prays from a different perspective. As such, I don't think there is such a thing as a bad prayer, especially when it comes to young ones. Sometimes we need to guide their thoughts and emotions so that they can learn to pray in accordance to the requirements as laid out in scripture. Obviously if my little son or daughter prays that the bully will shrivel up and die, God is not going to grant that prayer, but at that point we can take the time to not only teach them what to pray, but also talk about why the bully is a bully, and maybe address the issues that are going on in his life.</p> <p>Our children are no longer children. All are adults, some have married and left home, I'm now a grandfather of 2, and the 2 remaining young adults in our home live very different time tables according to study, social and church commitments. But one thing we all still have in common, is that time around the table. We all pray. And when the occasion requires it, we pray together.</p> <p>Tambrey and I pray pray together every day still. It has been our routine since before we were married nearly 30 years ago. What I love particularly about when she prays is how incredibly specific she is in her prayer. She details people, situations and circumstances and prays them through. I sit with her, we hold hands and agree in prayer, together. We have witnessed many prayers answered over the years and give God the glory for each one. And we are greatly encouraged to see that the habit of corporate prayer has been taken into our young people's families and they too are making it a daily practice.</p> <p>The bible says in Psalms 133:</p> <blockquote> <p align="left"> "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is<br>For brethren to dwell together in unity!<br> It is like the precious oil upon the head,<br>Running down on the beard,<br>The beard of Aaron,<br>Running down on the edge of his garments.<br> It is like the dew of Hermon,<br>Descending upon the mountains of Zion;<br>For there the Lord commanded the blessing—<br>Life forevermore."</p></blockquote> <p>And in 2 Chronicles 7:14</p> <blockquote> <p>"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."</p></blockquote> <p>And in: Matthew 18:18-20</p> <blockquote> <p>“ Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.<br> “ Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”</p></blockquote> <p>Shall we pray? Together?<br>Have a great week!<br>Erick</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-8425477411123736932013-07-10T07:03:00.000+10:002013-07-11T06:18:37.158+10:00Love Is.<div align="center">
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1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. Every wedding I have ever been to has used this chapter either in full or in part to give a more or less poetic guide to the upcoming commitment to the marriage.<br />
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One of the most contentious words on the planet is the word LOVE. It's the most used, abused, misused and misunderstood words in the English language. Books are written about it, songs are sung about it, wars have been fought in the name of it.<br />
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In the English language the word LOVE covers a multitude of meanings: I love peanut butter, I love my car, I love that movie, I love my dog, I love my brother, sister, uncle, aunt. I love you! I love that song! I love, I love.... What is true love?<br />
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All of these are correct in a way.<br />
God so loved that He gave. Love is giving.<br />
Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friend. Love is ultimate sacrifice.<br />
“God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).<br />
When Jesus said to Peter: Do you love me? And three times Peter replied "Yes"; what was the question and what really was the answer?<br />
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Love is affection. Love is emotion. Love is romance.<br />
Are we moved by love? Are we motivated by it?<br />
One is a response, the other is a preempt.<br />
The world is full of confusion between love and lust. Lust wants to have, love longs to give.<br />
Love is a decision. Love is a choice, it is a commitment to a person no matter what the time, circumstance, situation; no matter how I feel...<br />
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Love is what I choose to do, more so than what I feel like. The Bible uses the word Agape to describe God's love for us. This is a love that goes beyond feeling and emotion to decision and commitment. It talks of love "out of a sense of duty" not out of reciprocating deserved-ness...<br />
The only reason we can love is because He first loved us. That whole "Greater love hath no man" thing wasn't because he was in a good and generouse gushy feeling kind of mood that day, it took every bit of courage, commitment and guts that Jesus had to go to the cross.<br />
When a soldier goes to war to defend his country, his family, his way of life, his freedom, and dies, that to me is love.<br />
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So, biblically, 3 types of love.<br />
Eros, totally motivated by the senses. Physical. Sensual, sexual.<br />
Phileo, the love and dedication I have for my friends, family, children, spouse.<br />
Agape, the unconditional uncompromising unrepentant love of God.<br />
What do you think, about love?Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-90610850271498365962013-07-04T19:34:00.001+10:002013-07-04T19:34:26.601+10:00Just Come<p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnXBy887ItDboavvVfyxXQ90EJwgqbKXGlT0wX6-Jc3Xhcbe0tHnI8NqWtlmQavmdQRE91qUga5tgIHbUOOheCrrb1BuYitlAtfPFg-qQExBhe-w_jAUfdOeun45UtNtjJjWz9-0AeY0/s1600-h/come%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="come" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="come" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J9ESTgCxJmk/UdVBoPLXU-I/AAAAAAAAALI/1NbODNqYw9c/come_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="280"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1"><a href="http://thec-12.com/scr28.html" target="_blank">[image]</a></font></p> <p>I was in church last Sunday, and the prayer went up:" Lord, we just come to you..."<br>Immediately it started me thinking, how many people here have "just come". People's reasons for coming to church are many and varied.</p> <p>JUST COME.</p> <p>How many times have we gone to church and it was as if we only just made it there? There are extenuating circumstances in our lives that would "justify"us actually not being there,but we have mustered up every bit of energy and courage we could find to just come...</p> <p>How many times have we gone to church and we have just <em>come</em>, as if only our attendance was all that was required and sufficed to get us through? Going to church is something we do, whether out of habit or tradition, or because the occasion demands it (like a baptism or Christmas ) so we just come. To fill in the day, to fulfil the religious obligation, or because there is nothing better to do, we just come...</p> <p>How many times have we heard the voice of Jesus calling: " will you just come, surrender and let Me do what I long to do in you?" God is asking us to come...just come. He has so much more for us than what we could ever ask, think or imagine.</p> <p>Jeremiah 29:11 says:"<em>For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."</em></p> <p>Matthew 6:8 says: "...<em>For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him</em>."</p> <p>And the words of Jesus are these: Matthew 11:28-30: "<em>Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”</em></p> <p>JUST COME</p> <p>Jesus wants us to just come; as we are, where we are at, just come and surrender to Him.<br>When I think about the word surrender, I picture the soldiers of an army, laying down all weapons, the only means of attack or defence, walking out in plain view of the capturing forces with hands raised, totally at their mercy.</p> <p>But when we do that to God, he takes us, washes us, clothes us, feeds us, shelters us and comforts us.</p> <p>Are you ready to surrender?</p> <p>Just come!</p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><font size="3">Just as I am without one plea<br>But that thy blood was shed for me<br>And that thou bidst me come to thee<br>Oh lamb of God I come.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">Just as I am, though tossed about<br>with many a conflict, many a doubt,<br>fightings and fears within, without,<br>O Lamb of God, I come, I come.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;<br>sight, riches, he</font><font size="3">aling of the mind,<br>yea, all I need in thee to find,<br>O Lamb of God, I come, I come.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">Just as I am, thy love unknown<br>hath broken every barrier down;<br>now, to be thine, yea thine alone,<br>O Lamb of God, I come, I come.</font></p></blockquote> <p align="center"><em><font size="1">Hymn by </font></em><a href="http://cyberhymnal.org/bio/e/l/elliott_c.htm"><em><font size="1">Char­lotte El­li­ott</font></em></a><em><font size="1">, 1835</font></em></p> <p>Have an overcoming week!<br>Erick.</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-30573314089816303802013-06-12T10:52:00.001+10:002013-06-12T10:52:06.409+10:00Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things<p> 1Kings 19</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wCOKVVrr598/UbfGMXbsdfI/AAAAAAAAAKI/O66hnod9NYw/s1600-h/22elijah_summons_elisha%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="22elijah_summons_elisha" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="22elijah_summons_elisha" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-60kMjjURixc/UbfGNIF24ZI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/i2AL02NDG4M/22elijah_summons_elisha_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="317"></a><br><a href="http://jimmyabbottsblog.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/mantle-of-authority.html">[image]</a></p> <p>Elisha was a farmer. By all accounts, he was just an ordinary man. He may well have been from a wealthy farming family, but still he worked the field. When Elijah threw his mantle (cloak) on him, he anointed him into his calling as a prophet. An extraordinary calling on an ordinary farm boy.</p> <p>Little did he know what lay ahead of him, however God had already given Elijah the heads up on what was to become of this young man. He would be instrumental in bringing Israel back to God!<br>Elijah was getting tired of being on the run, always the bearer of bad news to a disobedient generation. He had become so discouraged that told God he wanted to die. Simply, he'd had enough! (1Kings 19:1-8) But God wasn't finished with him yet. He still had more for Elijah to do before he was ready to take this faithful servant home. Elijah was to find, anoint and train up his successor.</p> <p>When I read the chapter of 1Kings 19, I am reminded that God is faithful to His own. He sees our needs, He feels our pains, and he sends angels to minister to us in our times of distress . I am also<br>reminded that God's plan is on-going. It doesn't finish with the end of my ministry, but He continues the work He has begun through me to the next generation. I am convinced that when Elijah laid down under the juniper tree; waiting and praying for death, that neither he nor Elisha had an inkling of an idea that Elisha would be Elijah's successor. But God sent His angels to minister to Elijah in his distress. When he awoke, there was food (fresh baked bread) and water waiting for him. The Angel touched him and said :"Arise and eat". This wasn't a last meal, this was sustenance for the journey ahead. But Elijah wasn't ready, and God wasn't pushing him. As Elijah slept, God<br>sent along another serving of food. More bread and water. But look at the miracle here: not only was Elijah encouraged enough to take up the journey God called him to, but the food he ate and the water he drank was enough to sustain him for a 40 day journey:</p> <blockquote> <p>1 Kings 19:8 "So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God."</p></blockquote> <p> ELIJAH WALKED 200 MILES ON 2 LOAVES OF BREAD AND 2 JUGS OF WATER! And still God wasn't finished with him. The next story is the account of the gentle presence of a loving God in the whisper of a breeze. And here He instructs the faithful servant of The Lord to go and anoint a<br>farm boy to take over where he would leave off.</p> <p>You know, sometimes when we are faithfully following the call of God on our lives, it can be a real struggle. Elijah was running for his life from a queen who was hell-bent on killing him. And he took his eye off the answer and saw only the problem. You and I are not alone in our struggle to remain faithful to our call in the face of adversity. Sometimes it's difficult to see God's plan when we are on<br>the run from people with a mind set on our destruction. But God isn't finished, and as he ministers to us in our hour of need, He reveals Himself to us once again, and sends the right people at the right time.</p> <p>Are you in need of a simple farm boy?</p> <p>When I look at what occurs next again I am reminded of the "Godness" of God. Only He could see far enough ahead to know that what Elijah needed most was not a top-of-the-class graduate from Prophet school, but a young man, a fit and a hard worker who was willing to leave behind the life that he knew for the adventure that lay ahead of him. </p> <p>As Elijah stands at the front of the cave on the mountain in the presence of God, he receives 3 instructions and a word of comfort: Go back and anoint a new king over Syria; anoint a new king over Israel; and anoint your successor. And: You are not alone, I have preserved 7000 faithful servants who are going to help you clean up this nation and bring them back to me!</p> <p>You are not alone! How comforting is it that just when you think that you are the last man standing for the cause, God reminds you that you are not alone. Over the years I have found it particularly comforting, that just when I have felt that there don't seem to be so many believers out there, God brings me to a church, or a meeting or a great Christian Festival like the great Australian E<a href="http://www.easterfest.com/">asterfest</a>, where all of a sudden I am in a throng of sometimes thousands of people who live and love and believe in exactly the same things I do! These events are great encouragers to both me and my family, and many of the young people we have taken with us over the years. You are not alone!</p> <p>And that brings us back to the young Farm boy. I say boy, but I actually have no idea how old he actually was when Elijah went to him as he was ploughing the field with his yoke of oxen, and threw his cloak around him as a symbol of God's call to the ministry. I imagine he was quite young because he was not married, and he was still living with his mother and Father. His response tells me a few things: He asked permission to return to his parents to kiss them goodbye. He had to finish up this chapter in his life. As Elisha turned to say his goodbyes, Elijah charged him not to forget his calling.</p> <p>How many times do we put God on hold in order to finish something we have started, and get totally side tracked, forgetting about what God has called us to in the first place? Elisha not only kissed his parents goodbye, he also cut himself off from his past, so that he could not come home when things got tough. The Bible says he took his yoke of oxen, slaughtered them and in a final act of generosity he chopped up his equipment, made a bonfire and had a big BBQ farewell dinner for all the folk in his<br>neighbourhood. He then went with Elijah and started his apprenticeship.</p> <p>It's important to remember that when God calls you to ministry, you often have to go through a period of training. Elisha's training under Elijah lasted a number of years before he actually took over from the great prophet.</p> <p><strong><em>Ordinary people...</em><br>You know, God prides himself in using ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things.<br>Gideon was a farm boy who led a nation to victory against the Philistines. <br>Moses, the son of a slave woman became the Pharaohs right hand man and later led a nation to freedom from bondage. <br>Jesus called 12 ordinary people, fishermen mainly to build His church.<br>You, too are called to great things in Christ!<br>Are you listening? Are you ready?<br>Have a great week!</strong></p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-69350024416409294952013-04-15T11:11:00.001+10:002013-04-15T11:11:05.350+10:00Excellence vs Professionalism and Perfection<p> </p> <p><em><strong>In all aspects of the ministry of leading worship God wants us to give our best. But what exactly does that mean? Is giving our best about being the perfectly polished professional who never makes a mistake, who knows all the songs off by heart and can do any tune in any key? Or is it about having a perfected heart? Perfected by love, forgiveness, and God's amazing grace?</strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlFr62XouD5lF4ZT4HNDMjlJMaCrbuoT2D90Xrlsj3T7Y94QYqDSvxOaMEZ9QlS1Czb1x3kylAJoXEI5x-ufBecUnNw0krkl5c6Plp_nFdJeyia5MWRZtZOv1Q4ZTWTcQk1ekYelcdxI/s1600-h/worship-band-banner%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="worship-band-banner" border="0" alt="worship-band-banner" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP_jt85yZy7mp77fZLJh32mOjRP_sAvr6AdkUCuXYnGwl6sCiaB29SRs_Icx1Vx6QFLA_bKcVM9djhGPS-rELkeIYIN0Unh4Q8O-NYBoO1OwAMo6U3Wy-EmU1aOKwT6pt-kEJiDQy_Vw/?imgmax=800" width="522" height="182"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://blog.ncbaptist.org/renewingworship/"><font size="1">{image}</font></a></p> <p>Over the years I have been to many churches in many countries. I have visited numerous denominations and experienced worship in all kinds of circumstances. From small home cells to large congregations of tens of thousands. And the one thing that stands out in great worship is <em>excellence of spirit and humbleness of attitude</em>. </p> <p>Personally, I am not about show. Not when it comes to worship. Concerts have an audience, worship is corporate (all together) with a congregation. Worship is where we reach the intimate place of God's heart, and it's difficult (though not impossible) to reach that place when it's surrounded by flashing lights and smoke machines. (Ok, so I exaggerate a little). When it comes to great worship in a church, I think we need to be careful to differentiate between WHAT we do and HOW we do it. Churches too often get caught up in trying to create a "well polished presentation" at the expense of reaching the heart of worship.</p> <p>Now before you shout me down, I want to be absolutely clear on one thing: The Bible teaches that in the ministry of music; in the church and unto the Lord, we should be skilled in our craft and well practised. There is plenty of room to improve our abilities and stretch our capabilities. I believe that worship leaders and music directors everywhere are guilty of trying to create "better worship" by focussing on certain 'things' or formula that may lead to a better stage presentation but not necessarily excellent worship. <strong>Here are a few</strong>:<br></p> <h1><font size="4">* Music stands vs no music stands.</font></h1> <p>I have come across music directors who think it is "unprofessional" to have music stands and sheet music on the stage. Personally I would rather a musician have music to refer back to so as not to make a mistake, than trying to remember a piece of music, especially if it is a recent addition. I was in a church recently where a new song was introduced, and because this church had a "No Music Stand" policy, people had the sheet music on the floor and some were desperately peering down trying to focus on the music. So much so it was obvious and they were not aware of the congregation or the leading of the worship leader. When I see the Symphony Orchestra perform I am looking at full time professional paid musicians with music sheets on music stands. Listen, it is NOT unprofessional to have music on the stage. Professionals do it all the time. I would rather get it right than fumble my way through a song. Remember, most of your musicians are part time volunteers who have a life and a job and are passionate about giving God their best. Let them have their music!</p> <h1><font size="4">* Dress standards: Colour vs plain</font></h1> <p>A lot has been made over the years about dress standard and dress code on stage for the worship team. Let me again point to the purpose for us being on the stage in the first place. It is to bring God's people on a journey to the heart of worship. Provided we are dressed modestly, I don't think there needs to be any hard and fast rules about what you should and shouldn't wear. I heard once of a beautiful young lady who, when told she had pretty shoes, refused to wear them on stage any longer because she worried that they were causing a distraction. The last time I saw her on stage, she wore all black, hair up and no makeup...<br>Praise is a joyful thing. To me it is full of colour. Colour in music, colour in exaltation, colour in outward expression, including in what we wear. In our uniqueness we can praise and worship a mighty God in all of His Glory and in the colour He deserves.<br>Remember, I said dress modestly, but don't feel you need to regulate the dress code to a uniform unless its for a special occasion or if the culture demands it. There are magnificent church choirs around where all the singers wear amazingly coloured robes. They bring quite a presence on the stage, and I love it!</p> <h1><font size="4">*Fold Back: Speakers vs In-ear</font></h1> <p>On- stage fold back, if you are in a band situation is absolutely vital. However it can be so badly done and mixed that sometimes it creates more problems than benefits. In an ideal situation it's great to have a multi-channel fold back mixer, where you can filter out some of the less required instruments /voices for certain instruments or vocal groups. If you only have a two-channel fold back, you still have the ability to filter out fold back specific for say the bass and drums in one channel and guitars, keys and vocals in the other. If all you have in your PA is a stereo mixer with a left and right side split to front of house, I suggest that you assign one channel to the front of house, run the speakers in series and the other channel to the foldback. All on stage should be able to easily hear the lead vocalist and the lead instrument (be it guitar or keys). All vocalists should be able to hear themselves in context with all other vocals.<br>As far as in-ear fold back goes, it's really important to remember that in corporate worship we are about the congregation. If you have 2 ear plugs it may be useful to leave one out so you can gauge the congregation or you could run the risk of leaving them behind. If you are running with fold back speakers, remember that they are there only for the benefit of those on stage, and the people sitting in the front row should not be able to hear them. Keep the volume down so that the sound-man can regulate the front of house levels.</p> <h1><font size="4">Religion vs Reality</font></h1> <p>I want people to experience real worship, not something whipped up, and definitely not a show. I really believe there are many people in our churches who have not yet or not often experienced true intimacy in worship through the song service. It's easy to select some songs from a book or list and present some nice songs. It's a little more challenging to spend time seeking out the heart of God and getting the "right songs for that congregation for that day". We look to change people's lives and impact their worship experience. Remember we are in a priestly role and ushering the people into the presence of God. I don't look for a religious experience, I want people to experience the reality of the presence of God through the songs I bring. And all members of the worship team have an important role to play in this.</p> <p><strong><em>So, I encourage you to aspire to Excellence in your worship, no matter what member of the team you are, and see the Holy Spirit move in your service. If you are looking for more tools and resources to improve and hone your worship leading skills, check out our websites and podcasts available from</em></strong><a href="http://www.bestworshipleader.com/"><strong><em>www.bestworshipleader.com</em></strong></a><strong><em> and </em></strong><a href="http://www.aussieworshipleader.com/"><strong><em>www.aussieworshipleader.com</em></strong></a><strong><em> and available free via download from iTunes.</em></strong><br><br>Have a great week.<br>Erick.</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-1567013552425791182013-02-28T20:37:00.001+10:002013-04-07T21:27:37.503+10:00Thoughts on Faith<br />
<strong>Recently in my daily devotional I came across the title of this article. In it, the writer made an interesting statement that caused me to think about my own faith, the faith of the members of my family,and the faith of those I fellowship with:</strong><br />
<blockquote>
<strong><em>"Many people think faith may be a helpful protection in case they need it—like a spare tire for their car. Many turn to faith when facing struggles, but then turn back to something more “reliable” when a crisis passes."</em></strong></blockquote>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wYqCphNzS99Wkhezv7zgzh_0mhTjfPOSNwPxzlZvTwybjth5T4q0L22jgxhZnlB9-Yyk1MFefOM3BLfNbsoeyL3O3KCNTFzccMPzmf7-IOq31Q34T2mDa_gjGxxzk3lgFkbp0bkQuRY/s1600-h/faith%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="faith" border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvLj_-1cErXsi8WQjZJM3nCvKb5jYDRRQwg3SuphsGNW-dHaaPgyr5X9RFTLLeg9SpIc3ABSN3lTtZtg5BqRsiiElXb0JIAWXdz6TxvYc9nYRWzh6XKvNEinV01wDIxdrcGZmcEiQ1ko/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="faith" width="577" /></a><br />
<br />
The bible talks about faith a lot. In fact the New King James Version mentions the word <strong>252 times</strong>. For me one the most important instructions on faith is found in Hebrews 11:6<br />
<blockquote>
<em>"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."</em> </blockquote>
Here is faith in a nutshell. How can you ask anything of a God you don't believe in? And if you do believe in Him, to what extent? Does He just exist - out there somewhere, scarcely interested in us mere humans? Or will He turn His attention to us,just and only when it suits Him? And what makes us think that He would even consider us anyway?<br />
<br />
But Jesus lays the cards out on the table for all to see. <br />
<blockquote>
"<em>I and the Father are one</em>," He declares,"<em>Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest</em>". And: "<em>Believe in Me and you will never die..." </em></blockquote>
<blockquote>
And in Matthew 10:30,31 " <em>But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.<br />Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows</em>."</blockquote>
All this certainly gives us a clear indication of how God feels about us and the fact that he really does think of us...all of us...individually! And what's more, he wants to have relationship with<br />
us; Not like a man with an aquarium whose fish only come to the face of the tank when they think they are going to get fed.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>I had a bit of a think about the different types of faith we 'mere humans' tend to operate in:</em></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<h3>
Just-in-case faith</h3>
This is the type of faith we tuck away for a rainy day. We believe in God- a God; an "up there somewhere-" God who may or may not care or even know I exist. But just in case He really does exist, I'll say I'm a Christian and that way I'll be safe. I'll even have the kids "done" (christened) just in case something goes wrong. Just incase Faith says: "I'm ok. I'm a good person and I do alright. I don't hurt anyone or steal or cheat and I pay my taxes and donate to charity. If there is a God and a heaven, I'll probably go there when I die.”<br />
<h3>
Crisis Faith</h3>
This is the faith that we call on when things are going pear shaped. Job lost, illness in the family, mounting debt, or even a natural disaster or accident..."God if you are up there, please help me. I<br />
can't do this on my own, I need You." I have seen leaders of nations get up and call people to prayer; to end droughts, to prevent floods, to help people through earthquakes, fires...<br />
Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with praying for God to intervene, to stretch out His mighty hand and to deal with a difficult situation. In fact I wish it happened more often. What I am talking<br />
about here is the people who turn to God only when these sorts of situations arise. It's almost like a 'last resort' faith. I am reminded of a story about a sailor who got washed overboard in a<br />
terrible storm with no chance of getting back on the boat. He called out to God: "Lord, if You're out there, save me and I will dedicate the rest of my life to serving You". Just then a wave picked him up and threw him back on the deck of the boat. He stood up and declared, "Never mind God, it's ok, I'm back on the boat!" Crisis faith is the kind that calls out to God but when answered by Him, it often isn't recognised as being answered by Him.<br />
<h3>
Mustard seed Faith</h3>
This is the kind of Faith Jesus talked about. He calls it <em>mountain moving faith</em>. Mustard seed faith is not about size, but about the potential that comes from it. A small mustard seed has within it all<br />
the DNA to become a tree of significance when planted, cultivated, nurtured, watered, and shielded in its infancy from destruction, the elements and the trampling foot.<br />
I see faith as a resoluteness and a determination to allow God to be God and to have His way in any given situation. I see this faith as the kind of faith that ultimately trusts God in His wisdom to answer my petition in such a way that brings maximum benefit to me. I wrote a song once and a line of it goes like this:<br />
<em>"And when I ask for a blessing that you know will hurt me, then you keep me from it so that I won't fall..."</em> <br />
That is faith. Faith not only says God can, but God will, and God will for me because He loves me.<br />
And when He doesn't, it's not because He isn't listening, but rather because He loves me enough to keep me from myself.<br />
<h3>
Faith and religiosity</h3>
There is a difference between faith and religiosity.<br />
When I look at other religions, I see people motivated mainly by fear. Incense is burned, mantras are repeated countless times, offerings are made, people bow to statues and images of "celestial beings"... Even we westerners do things out of a religious compulsion rather than a<br />
relational faith. People try to earn their salvation by their religious deeds; rosaries, oft repeated mindless prayers, even dietary changes at certain times of the year. We do 'stuff' because we think<br />
it makes us look good, and people will respect us for our religious fervour. People might, but I'm not sure that God does. Romans 12:3 says<br />
<blockquote>
<em>"Serve God with Spiritual Gifts, For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."</em></blockquote>
<h3>
Turning to faith</h3>
I mentioned before about the mustard seed and its potential. The Bible teaches us that we have all been given a measure of faith. I see this in the same sense as the mustard seed. What will strengthen that faith and make it grow ultimately depends on what we do with it. Nurturing<br />
and exercising our faith will build it. Jude exhorts us in Jude 1:20-21:<br />
<blockquote>
"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." </blockquote>
Notice the instruction is to build yourself? Nobody else can do that for you. The faith bank.<br />
<strong>The instructions in Jude are quite plain: pray in the Holy Spirit,keep yourself in God's love. </strong>Building ourselves up is putting the deposits in our Faith Bank. Other forms of deposit are:<br />
<ul>
<li>fellowship</li>
<li>Prayer</li>
<li>Study God's Word</li>
<li>Meditate. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%201:8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Josh 1:8</a>) (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%201&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ps 1</a>)</li>
<li>Sing Praise (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20103:1-5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Ps. 103:1-5</a>)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Building the faith bank is like building a love relationship; The more you put into it, the more you get out of it. The more I nurture my marriage, the more successful our marriage becomes. The more I love my wife, the more she reciprocates that love. It's the same with Faith. The more I get to know God by building my faith bank, the closer and more intimate I become with Him. <br />
One of my favourite faith building instructions is found in Psalm 1:<br />
<blockquote>
<em>"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,that brings forth its fruit in its season,whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. </em><br />
<em>The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."</em></blockquote>
We all believe in something. Where is your faith at? Are you praying in faith or are you praying in vain? Is your faith religious or is it relational? Do you have the Mustard seed DNA that will bring you to great faith?<br />
<strong>Jesus said "With God all things are possible"</strong><br />
Have a great week.<br />
ErickAussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-13218142338728044102013-01-01T19:21:00.001+10:002013-08-11T04:40:43.578+10:00“I Wouldn’t Miss It For The World!”<br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Memories of John, a friend with Parkinson's Disease.</span></em></strong> <br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnRyH2862hO66waZYVZq6uu1wdTy_L09BEAZww_C-r7v2jpnA6_VjdHPNEHD0aBjLjA042I4snWrvAves0r0p1sQUz_q_BbW8Xm_dpmGvkVlPJqbIcIMmkRhIXWZP6JPbDcELxXYFHLc/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="left" alt="clip_image002" border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGmeKe-I2HAi9KoCTNkfPWG8lXwgNy0Wp-yTGdlCVHrGmbJs6F6Ar4lGfIthv2Soo4vwz5dKRqVppUWQbx-axU_SCS2Hz9qykEq7Z4ugBlcm3awvFzKcLkMRapJAEJ-IRlEsiCVGzHSQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image002" width="239" /></a>I have been living in my current home for about 15 years. I love our home, it is a lovely house set in a quiet neighbourhood on top of a small rise. We are surrounded by a number of rental houses in our street and the occupants rarely last more than a year. But across the<br />road is Petra, a sprightly single lady of sixty-something and next door to us on the left lives Thelma. Her husband John just passed away recently. I'm really going to miss John.<br />I moved in next to John and Thelma with my family about 15 years ago. We had 4 children at various stages of little and had moved to the area to be closer to school and church. When we first applied to rent our home, we were told we could only drive past but not look inside, as the<br />present tenants haven't moved out yet. Ok, so we drove past very slowly and as we did, a man came out carrying a box to his car. I greeted him and told him we were thinking about applying for the rental and would he mind if I had a quick look around? He invited me in and said "go ahead" and kept loading the boxes into his car. I wandered through the house and into the back yard. The house was perfect and I walked back to our car, stuck my head in the window and declared:" Honey, I have found our new home!"<br />A few days later we moved in.<br />Our next door neighbours were a retired couple who kept pretty much to themselves. Husband John loved to work with wood and often had his garage door open and the smell of freshly worked timber like Camphor Laurel would come wafting down the street. As I walked past, I shouted: “G’day! How are you going?"<br />"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Came the chirpy reply. It was a statement that would identify John for me for the rest of my life.<br />
<em><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">PARKINSONS</span></strong></em><br />
<br />John suffered from Parkinson's disease; though you wouldn't know it. Parkinson’s is a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ0Uq4PA3xWYlLO8W9iKZURzeJ1GX0OfQfcOYx4EX3m_F8QnGbsruI0Ssx0iSqUiUEqc-CpHYsjb10fPmkvE2436xZgIP2IxwhQIUH3j-NdrSAmM4BOO_pVq4TvV2JxDRFNBvpz2k8ak/s1600-h/clip_image004%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="clip_image004" border="0" height="263" hspace="12" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pKXeO5fuSM8/UOKqW3T5HrI/AAAAAAAAAHI/aoee9ExmEhA/clip_image004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image004" width="255" /></a>degenerative disorder of the central nervous system which most commonly affects people over 50. The most obvious symptoms include uncontrollable shaking of the limbs. This retired mechanic was anything but retired. As well as his love for timber,(he had lots<br />of wood working tools, including a lathe, and there was a lot of bits of wood suspended from all sorts of places) he was also a passionate painter and fisherman. His back yard was immaculate and he had a 5 hole putting green embedded in his lawn. John also taught painting at the University of the 3rd Age, a place where mature age students (usually retired) can go and learn skills they never knew they had.<br />To look at John, you would never know that he had Parkinson's. He certainly didn't let it stop him doing anything. Thelma, his wife, made it her business to know everything there was to know about the disease. She accompanied John to every doctor's appointment, researched the disease, the treatment drugs and their possible side-effects. If there was a support group, Thelma went along. If there was an article in a paper or magazine, she would not only read it, but if important enough, she would cut it out and keep it. Thelma is so knowledgeable about the disease that in later years when John went<br />into respite on the occasion, she would often need to educate the nursing staff on the regime of medication John took, and the idiosyncrasies of the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBKdHyK-1VmsXrbaxHrf16mBVjNvCjMLT0IUNhknxOWZN7cheh3cNpYVD64v5HEnicGlF2R2KqAc4AUGDqsJuq0BMoLaE1NNNepTnfxDIOUelWmjGPH26Ioly6oJ-5yfEI2U5lLwq_Qo/s1600-h/clip_image006%25255B5%25255D.png"><img align="left" alt="clip_image006" border="0" height="210" hspace="12" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i7bu2wekryU/UOKqa9P1MsI/AAAAAAAAAHY/BSs-K5kBnXE/clip_image006_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image006" width="249" /></a>disease. Thelma made it her job to make life as normal and as liveable as possible for John. She could alter the doses of his medication depending on his level of activity, the weather, all sorts of things.<br />As the years wore on, the disease progressed. There is no turning back with Parkinson's, no known cure. There are operations one can have to prolong normality and quality of life, and drugs to help stop the shakes and other impacts of the disease, but once you have it, you<br />will die with it, and most likely from complications of it.<br />
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<h3>
</h3>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><em>For Better, For worse…</em></span></h4>
What I loved about this couple was their commitment to each other, and their tenacity to see this thing through to its end. I once asked Thelma if it wouldn't be easier to put John into permanent care? She replied: "When I married John, I stood before the minister and made a promise; for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. I intend to keep that promise. And besides, this disease is so varied from day to day, that a nursing home would not be able to look after him the way I do. We have had our 'for better and in health' years, now it's time to do the other."<br />As for John, I never saw that man without a positive attitude and a<br />kind word. "I wouldn't miss it for the World!"<br /><br />Over the years as the disease started to take over his body, John became more and more reliant on a wheel chair. But try keeping an active man down! At every opportunity he would climb out of it, and be<br />out in the garage, fiddling with something or heading for the lawn locker to get the mower out or grabbing the golf clubs to have a hit around the yard. Inevitably he would run out of puff, and on the occasion he would lose balance and fall. Thelma had learned techniques of how to use balance and cantilever to get him back up. These same techniques she taught me to use on him. Sometimes he would fall awkwardly or heavily or end up in a place where it was impossible for Thelma to help him. She would wonder out to the front door or over the back fence: "Erick, can you help? John's had a fall and I can't get him up." I would go over and rescue John from his temporary place of<br />rest. John would joke about it, and make light of the situation. Never did I see him lose his temper, or become angry, he was always thankful for the hand up. I rescued John from all sorts of obscure places; he once crashed through his side fence; I picked him up a couple of times out of his workshop; and I remember once being called to pick him up after he had fallen out of his bed and with the bad shakes he had got himself wedged between the bed and a lifting frame designed to help him in and out of his bed.<br />I often wondered if he felt the frustration of it all, but he never showed it. It was almost as if he <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Zd1T0ZrUBstZdxznW3OTFKtWfDaHYD_S2bR0YtXyDMmdvll3YrUI5sDgQeqlWTsREzDzsEh4ayKaN8ssR81p1l2AiqY9DiKNnCndpZO-XgM0cKVWdaR4JDE8v8NawTqTVzNuUiejeB4/s1600-h/clip_image008%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="clip_image008" border="0" height="174" hspace="12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtA_jl-L1C23T9SL86eCvFPym48NRVonPbmtj4z-1pY_wbgss_5ng05Cx4kBYw1y1qvAOQntwVPhPeDdsHJZdCdSjfbaHY0GB76Dh2R6KEpwVeLL98IdPNhuqdrY2kTNJwLl_nEOFiNU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image008" width="231" /></a>had the attitude of "there is someone out there worse off than me" and that kept him going.<br />I never saw John complain, and though I know life was often a struggle for Thelma, she never gave up on her resolve to see this thing through right to its inevitable end, and right by her Husband's side.<br />Towards the end of John's life, my rescue visits became more frequent. I made sure that Thelma had my mobile phone number and kept it by my bed at all times. I told her that no matter what time of day or night, if I was available I would be over to help. <br />
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<h3>
<em>A Lifetime of Memories.</em></h3>
I loved visiting with John and Thelma. They always had a story to tell, and the time to tell it. They would talk about the adventures they had had together, raising their 4 children, their time travelling across Australia on holidays, the old days living and working in Toowoomba, of speed boats and skiing, this couple had had a great life together and created many good memories. We would sit and chat, sometimes for hours until the call came over the fence or one of my kids would come to the door: "Papa, mama said it's dinner time". <br />
<em><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Of Cars and Boats and Fishing</strong></span></em> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgUMWnT5w23YgvS-MPln3TQpcQCPT69xq9xMno4YqpYSOon1ptnXoSbe2dnbVf74Me4URsZ5qEj86CxRnxp2JztDz8tPRcC8PgJLNd6vwimCFBKJACrQaURB8asfL7SAxAsbezfkIO9Q/s1600-h/clip_image010%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="left" alt="clip_image010" border="0" height="134" hspace="12" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NlMqeHWnxm8/UOKqim2VOmI/AAAAAAAAAH4/A7e8CSRmKxc/clip_image010_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image010" width="215" /></a>John's love for cars never failed him. I remember one time when I had bought a brand new car, I offered to take him for a spin in it. We piled him in and took him for a ride. He stroked the dash and the door: "Magnificent," he said, "what a machine." He was truly impressed. On a couple of occasions I had the opportunity to take him out and let Thelma have a break. I took him fishing, I took Him to a car show, all the things he loved. At the car show, Thelma had<br />insisted I take the wheel chair, but once out of the car, John was determined to walk. I just walked beside him, pushing the empty wheelchair.<br />The last year of his life was, of course, the most difficult for both John and Thelma. The disease was taking its toll and adversely affecting both their health. As john became less able to control the dyskinesia, Thelma struggled more and more to help him. Thelma is a lady of small frame, and John who was much taller and heavier became more deadweight. This had its toll on Thelma and her health suffered as she struggled to maintain the level of care required to keep John at home. She did have home care help with people coming to help with<br />showering and dressing as well as therapy. And yet still the determination and commitment to fulfil <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwUkvHXU1yRP_b7Q0qjNfciPR7OaCuc2x1-XImdKt_H5y_QaRwBgYJL8ENZJo5qy22BGI1dkSXAdxZLHIQ79HCwmg8tAQM6HoEXz5EnmZVV6mpdJ12Bvsh10L3rdLeaD34yA3otCnzRU/s1600-h/clip_image012%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="clip_image012" border="0" height="145" hspace="12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7mg8G0BIlXZrfruRFKdtlGvUkGU-1YdnRjfZXqcKbyI3Z2qxDa9LO5AA4bxVAUwlXol2R6z5Q_TR0DXWoAlsP-OtGyCYs0psEJHcnw9tSS5O-sgf9w2hxwUN4dPZKLumMV9OFaKSIwA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image012" width="196" /></a>the wedding vows was there. The last time I saw John was a few weeks before he went into full time care. Thelma was no longer able to give John the level of care that the now fully advanced disease had required. I had picked him up after yet another awkward fall, and spent some time with him chatting. This time both John and Thelma looked worn out. Neither of these people complained about the situation they were in, but the inevitable was coming; John had to go into care. <br />
<em><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Wouldn’t Miss it for the World</span></strong></em> <br />
John passed away peacefully just a short time after being admitted to the care facility. For me it was a day of mixed emotions. I was deeply saddened at the loss of this neighbour who I was proud to call my friend. At the same time I was glad that John was finally truly at rest.<br />Thelma continues to live next door, her children are visiting regularly to make sure she is ok, and for those of us left behind, life goes on.<br />I will miss John. I will miss his cheerful, positive attitude, his stories, his adventures, his chats at the dining room table. <br />
<br />"I wouldn't miss it for the World!" <br />
The world will miss you. <br />
Goodbye John. <br />
See you on the other side. <br />
Erick. November 2012 <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sY5b2anaehfCn2pMHXick3C5dnnnarMbwFjAm53jun34H70FIwrL_j-hN-FyZh2fHs4A74oK6GjIN5APKXAWlcmQfzuLhATbvQ2OQi7wcxLyLWy9CtdzzyVmRDzoDScm7hyphenhyphenKsQHk3Us/s1600-h/clip_image014%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="clip_image014" border="0" height="241" hspace="12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2R9mTdn4PxU8eg3eUz9Dlh6MW8-JYJKp1SrjBxQzp5l9JJ7m2OFGKpXRRxAuQKPFY8SAASnpUrwWErJ1a_hC_rImsBlJcob5ZVf1v5IN1FClFZRaIMyYtm4Mm9NZy9ucoYyZZRg304s/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image014" width="280" /></a><br />
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Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-78629845745170733802012-11-22T21:34:00.001+10:002012-11-22T21:34:38.457+10:00Persevere<p><strong></strong> </p> <p align="center"><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m19a6wgpj31qhmhdfo1_500.jpg"></p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://spiritualinspiration.tumblr.com/post/19723324975/you-need-to-persevere-so-that-when-you-have-done"><font size="1">{image}</font></a></strong></p> <p><strong>When times get tough, I'm tempted to give up. There have been a number if times in my "career" as a worship leader I have felt like giving up. Times when the pressure became so great, I thought it would be better if I stepped off the stage and never went back.<br>I want to relate a couple of these stories here today.</strong></p> <p>Some years ago my wife, family and I were attending a large Pentecostal church. I was a worship leader in the church and we were quite settled there. Our church was undergoing leadership changes and our Music Director had stepped down from the role and he and his family were getting ready to move to a different city. All this was fine, except that the person who took over as Music Director seemed to have a problem with me. I don't know that he would have admitted that, but I had the very strong feeling that it was as if he was intimidated by me. Under the previous Music Director there had never been any problem, and he had never tried to put any restrictions on me. Now though, it seemed that the more I did, the less it was appreciated. That was not reflective of the church community, just of our new Music Director. I did not want his job, and I was quite happy to let him take the reigns. What I didn't like was being "reigned in" by someone with much less experience and for no good reason. I had to make a decision for the sake of unity in the department and my own sanity. I stepped down from the music department to allow him the freedom to run it in the way he saw fit. This was not a choice I made out of spite or to show him up, it was purely to give him room.</p> <p>The problem was I missed being on the stage. I missed being part of a team that was bringing people into the presence of God. When you have a calling and an anointing on your life to do a certain thing, that calling tugs at you relentlessly.</p> <p>God is good and some time later we were called to be music directors at an Anglican Church.<br>We had 5 wonderful years at that fellowship. I had a mandate from the priest to bring that church into a new experience in music. Though I had incredible support both from the priest and the vast majority of the congregation, it was not always easy, and sometimes there were complaints. It is human nature that people are adverse to change, and there were those in our church who did not want to change from the old ways, and the traditional service. We had 2 churches in that place, one ran a traditional service, the other a contemporary one. The fellowship that I was at had the contemporary service. We did a more modern song service, and used more up to date songs... Well, we used songs that were considered modern, but some were in reality more than 30 years old. It was lovely to bring this congregation into the more up to date songs and a more modern style of music. We did this over a period of time, slowly adding new music and deleting some of the older, less relevant stuff. It was a transition that took probably 3-4 years, though I never got rid of all the old music.</p> <p>It was a beautiful time for our family and we were blessed to see that congregation grow 3-fold.<br>Our perseverance had paid off, and by the time God called us into a new church, we left that fellowship richer in their experience of worship. But we also were richer for our experience, having learnt much more about intimacy with God from the beautiful people at that church.</p> <p>Our next fellowship was back to a Pentecostal church. It is the church where we now have been for the past 4 years. When I arrived at this church I chose to sit in the congregation for a period of 6 months, which I believe is important for any new musician to a church.</p> <p>Our new church is currently undergoing a major change. Our senior pastor is retiring after more than 20 years in this fellowship. He is a wonderful man who lives God with a passion, and is all about bringing God and people together. At the same time, one of the associate pastors who is also the Music Director has also handed in his resignation. Life as a worship leader under this man has had its challenges, and there have been a number of times when I was ready to go back to my seat in the congregation. However, God has had different plans, and I am still here, And two thirds of the leadership team is going.</p> <p>This leaves our church in limbo, at least for a little while. The new senior pastor is not due to start work until next year, and this leaves our last member of staff, another Associate Pastor in charge. A beautiful young woman, mother of two with an incredible heart for people and especially young people. She has a big task ahead of her, but I am confident that in God, and with the loving support of her husband, she will not only rise to the occasion, but also shine in it.<br>And me? Well, as of this week I am the new ‘Music Director’; not a position I chose or applied for, I was asked. I guess God had plans for me all along. <strong>Proverbs 3:6</strong> says:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>"In all your ways acknowledge Him,<br>And He shall direct your paths."</em></p></blockquote> <p>Often we don't know where God is going to take us, but when we are faithful to Him, He is faithful to see us through the most exciting life we could ever imagine; and who would have gained that I would find myself back as Music Director once again!</p> <p><strong><em>Perseverance…</em></strong></p> <p> When the going gets tough, it is easy to walk away. We don't want to go through the trials and tests if that means we have to suffer or do it tough for a while. A friend of mine told me the other day: Without a test, you don't have a testimony… and God can turn trials into triumphs".<br><strong>James 1:2-4</strong> says:</p> <blockquote> <p><em> "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."</em></p></blockquote> <p>There are going to be times in your life, (maybe you are in one now) when patience and perseverance are the order of the day, week or month. My Friend, Jesus persevered right through to His death on the cross. He did that with you and me in mind. Isn't it worth the honour to Him that we do the same, and get through this thing? He has already won the victory and put you in the place of the winner!<br>Hang in there, whatever it is. God is faithful!<br>Have a great week.<br>Erick.</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-2850510710071514902012-11-02T09:11:00.001+10:002012-11-02T09:28:22.906+10:00When Hands Are Raised<p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AYomopC_bco/UJMFhSUiyfI/AAAAAAAAAGM/CTVC4aicA6w/s1600-h/hands%252520raised%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hands raised" border="0" alt="hands raised" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y2TIEaTj6nk/UJMFjxJTedI/AAAAAAAAAGU/FYxkcqnLRFU/hands%252520raised_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="545" height="286"></a></strong><strong><font size="1"><a href="http://thechiefest.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/our-top-4-worship-styles/">{image}</a></font></strong></p> <p><strong>As a worship leader there is no greater satisfaction for me than to see hands raised in surrender and worship to the Lord. The raising of hands in worship has at times and in different churches been somewhat controversial for all sorts of reasons; and most of them wrong.</strong></p> <p>Some would say it is showy and we should not make and outward show of our inward worship. A scripture used may be this from Matthew 6:18 :</p> <blockquote> <p><em>" ...so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. "</em></p></blockquote> <p>Sometimes our conservative culture is the reason we "exercise self control and show restraint in these matters"....</p> <p> Jesus talked often about doing things in secret, but when it comes to corporate praise and worship, I believe it is a totally different thing. As the word suggests, <em>Corporate</em> is something we do together.</p> <p>In my experience there are 3 main reasons why people raise their hands in church during worship (other than at the urging of the worship leader)</p> <h3>EXALTATION</h3> <p>The first is in jubilation and celebration.</p> <blockquote> <p><em>Psalms 111:1 " Praise the Lord!<br>I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,<br>In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation."</em></p></blockquote> <p>With my whole heart. That would indicate with every effort I can muster.<br>The Hebrew word for praise here is '<em>Yadah</em>' The translation for this word praise is: literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); "<br>In Psalm 150 we read these words:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>"Praise the Lord!<br>Praise God in His sanctuary;<br>Praise Him in His mighty firmament!<br>Praise Him for His mighty acts;<br>Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!<br>Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;<br>Praise Him with the lute and harp!<br>Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;<br>Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!<br>Praise Him with loud cymbals;<br>Praise Him with clashing cymbals!<br>Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.<br>Praise the Lord!"</em></p></blockquote> <p>The word for praise here is '<em>Halal </em>' (from which we derive the word hallelujah. Halal means praise, Yah is God. )<br>Halal means: to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify: — (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned," ...you get the idea.<br>When we praise God it involves an outward manifestation of joy, celebration and great noise, and the raising of hands...</p> <h3>ADORATION</h3> <p>The second reason we raise our hands is in Adoration. It is when we have such absolute love for our saviour, we just want to be closer to Him.<br>One of my favourite memories of when I was a young father of small children, is coming home from work in the afternoon. I would drive up our driveway and beep the horn. The next thing Tambrey would open the front door and all the kids would come piling out and run to the car to see who could get there fastest for me to pick them up. Those kids adored their father!<br>That's what it's like: when a small child raises its hands to its parent looking to be picked up, held and cuddled. It's very relational and intimate. When I raise my hands to God in this way, it's like I want to be close to Him; to hug and love Him, to hear Him whisper in my ear: "I love you, son!"</p> <blockquote> <p><em>Psalms 63:4. "Thus I will bless You while I live;<br>I will lift up my hands in Your name."<br>Psalms 134:2. "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,<br>And bless the Lord."</em></p></blockquote> <h3>SURRENDER</h3> <p>When you watch a war-time movie or a Wild Western, what is the term used when a surrender is forcibly demanded? "Stick 'em up! "; "Hands up". When the white flag of surrender is raised, and those that are surrendering have their hands raised as the "I give up" symbol.<br>The raising of hands is commonly associated with surrender. Christians who raise their hands will often do the same for the same reason, but with one difference: when I raise my hands in surrender to God, it's not because I have a gun at my head. My surrender to God in worship is out of love and total commitment. I have a mental picture of surrender in which I am down on my knees, with my hands raised before a crucified Christ. I want to be surrendered to the One who surrendered everything for me and gave up His life so I could live... I surrender.</p> <p><strong>Exultation, Adoration, Surrender.</strong><br>All three motivations for the raising of hands are voluntary responses. All three responses are motivated by love. When hands are raised, I see people connecting with God in an intimate, joyful, exuberant, surrendered display of affection and Worship.</p> <p>Whether you choose to raise your hands or keep them by your side, is up to you. Whether someone else chooses to or not, should be their decision. Personally, when I am in a place of intimacy with God, I can't help but raise my hands.</p> <p>Do you raise your hands?</p> <p>Have a great week.<br>Erick.</p> Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-1551247998463069092012-09-19T13:48:00.001+10:002012-09-19T13:48:52.175+10:00Love God<p> <p><em>We live in a "What's in it for me?"-world. Our decision making is based on "how does it make me feel?" We look to satisfy our needs, and as long as we are ok, well that's a good start. </em> <p><em>As Christians, it seems our faith is often manipulated the same way. Our prayers are based on what we think is best for us and our situation, and our assessment of answered prayer on how it has benefited us. I'm not sure that this is correct thinking. </em> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz5grZoQ5auDATXYrSzkWCvQjOsWX0jiXehCyJlbWBgf-gdO2rPUTc4TbE2CE7FIyB6eHsdJu_yxnfsj5gdHixlXT1RoeIkTmdrHv81Uonij0jDMBnemMATxRv3KC5Qbiy0WvIFZqkW4/s1600-h/glory-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="glory-1" border="0" alt="glory-1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvlFeh8LtPx27213vxMInrAGCTvq9gJQqe-_kmDVAxL8pULsgINASJPBDh7ypqKh9yWDAZz2ccsHVKqkp6M8tFiLj2qXXv1AeO2L7PK4AoVenOGKMw5jmB6bLq8jG7X-GYVDvMm5KHok/?imgmax=800" width="565" height="432"></a> <p align="center"><font size="1">{</font><a href="http://relianttrust.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/glory-1.jpg" target="_blank"><font size="1">image source</font></a><font size="1">}</font></p> <h1>The Greatest Commandment</h1> <p>When Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees with the question: "Which is the greatest commandment?" in Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." <p>He added to this that second most important commandment was (vs39) :"love your neighbour as yourself". <p>The response Jesus gave was not at all what the Pharisees expected, and it left their arguments dead in their tracks. <p>See, I like to think that the Pharisees were looking at a legal-if you don’t do it you will go to hell- kind of greatest commandment, whereas Jesus was talking about the most awesome, lose out if you miss it- greatest benefit to those who live it-kind of commandment. <p>God-thinking turns World-thinking totally on its head. Sometimes embarrassingly so. God-thinking is so at odds with what society teaches and yet it works. Society says: "Look out for number one; if it feels good do it; you deserve this; pamper yourself; you will feel great if..." God wants us to be Christ-centred, others-focussed, totally selfless. He wants us to focus our love on Him. Love God. <p> <h1>What's in it for me? </h1> <p>This is one of the most selfish, self centred statements ever to pass the lips of men. The conditional premise of doing anything in the community of Christ is often perceived as "if I do this thing, I will get ...in return". <p>Giving is the perfect example. Jesus said in Luke 6:38; "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” <p>Most people I know (including me) have used this as the secret formula for wealth. I guess in a way it is, but not in the context that we would like it to be. Investing into the Kingdom of God is important. The question is: <em>am I giving to get or am I giving to give? </em> <p>We need to turn our thinking around and focus on our total motivation for anything we do in life: <p>I work and in return I get paid. I give to God of my time, talent and finances because I love Him. I know that He is not only able, but also true to His word in looking after me. My attitude to God is relational, one of faith and trust, not a business deal. We cannot out-give God, so don't try. Give out of relational response, because you love Him. <p>When I think of my relationship with God, I often compare it to my relationship with my own children. I am motivated by my love for them and respond to their relationship with me. When one of them comes to me with open arms and hugs me and tells me they love me, I just want to bless them. (What can I do for you, how can I bless you?) Their love for me invokes an even greater response of love back. I think in a way that this is how it is with God; we obey his commandments because we honour, love and respect our Heavenly Father and He in return blesses us with answered prayer, provision, peace and His presence. <p>God’s love for us is manifest all around us. His promises of supply, protection, care, guidance and companionship, are littered generously throughout scripture. <p><strong>Matthew 6:27-33</strong> <p><em>Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?</em> <p><em>28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?</em> <p><em>31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? ’ or ‘What shall we drink? ’ or ‘What shall we wear? ’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."</em> <p><em></em> <h1>Surrender & Submission</h1> <p>Loving God is about surrender and submission. I like to think of it this way: When 2 armies are at war, and one surrenders to the other (white flag and all that stuff), normally it is the capturing victorious army that dictates the terms of the surrender. Funny thing about Christianity is we want to do all the surrendering on our own terms: “Well, God, I will give you these parts of my life, but I am going to hang on to this one...” That doesn’t work. Never has, never will. God wants total surrender, not a partial one. Why? Well, for starters, Jesus was willing to give everything He had and everything He was up for you and me. He set the standard of total surrender when He went to the cross. I really think in His own flesh He had some serious reservations about the whole suffering and dying thing. In the garden of Gethsemane He prayed: ... “Let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.”(Matt 26:39) But He was driven to total Surrender to God’s will by His total love for you and me! The other reason I believe God wants all of us in Surrender to Him is because only He knows the plans He has for us, “plans for good and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future” (Jer 29:11), and He can’t bring that to pass if He doesn’t have our total, confident, submitted trust. <p><strong>2 Chronicles 15:2</strong> <p><em>“And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”</em> <p>When we walk away from God, we leave Him virtually powerless to work in our lives. <p>I am realising more and more that relationship is the key to life. When I have great relationship with my wife, things go really well for us. When I focus on doing my own thing, and put her second, our relationship suffers. It is no different in Christianity. God longs for relationship with us. He is looking for ways to bless us. When we stop loving God to pursue other things, we stop His ability to bless. It is like cutting off the line of supply. We are not wired like that. God made us for relationship with Him. Love Him. Today! <p>Have a great week! <p>Erick. Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-87930578667899802442012-09-04T20:47:00.001+10:002013-01-10T21:43:26.401+10:00Thirty Years On. Life, Marriage, Children<br />
It's been a while since I posted a blog page. I've been busy. I've had a lot on my plate. At my age, you just get busier. I now have grand children in my life. 5 years ago I would not have imagined that I would be sitting here today talking about a grandchild, much less two! But here I am. They are beautiful. A girl and a boy. Mayana and Reuben. We drive up to see them, and then they come to see us. <br />
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And so I keep busy. Last weekend, we drove up to see them.<br />
My Eldest two daughters, both married, both live in the same town. Zoey and Peter are the proud parents of our grandchildren. Bethanie and Lachlan live about 5 minutes from them by car. Zoey and Bethanie are both teachers at the same school (although Zoey is on maternity leave). Peter<br />
Is a teacher at a pre-school and Lachlan is finishing his teaching degree. Having them all living in the same town has definite advantages, both for them and for me. Zoey and Bethanie have become very close and both couples get together socially regularly.<br />
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Tambrey and I miss out on this so we have to travel up to make up the short fall in access place. This is one of the important reasons I run out of time. I love having time with all of my Maryborough mob; family is very important to me, and the fact that they live in the same town means we can visit everyone in one trip.<br />
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Our youngest two, Alexie and Jordan, both live at home with us. Alexie is studying Nursing and Jordan is doing a music degree. Both lead interesting and full lives. They are both heavily involved in our church and youth ministry, and volunteer regularly of their time to it each week. Alexie is the unofficial assistant and right-hand to our Youth Pastor, Michelle and the two have become inseparable best friends. She spends two days a week unpaid with Michelle working organising youth programmes and church administration and the like. Alexie and Michelle have become involved in a local High School where they run a mentoring programme for troubled and at-risk teenage girls. This programme has become so successful that the school has asked them to extend the programme to 2 days a week, and open it up to more girls.<br />
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Jordan is in classes 5 days a week in an intensive Music degree, the first year of which gives him a dual diploma in music performance and music law. This term his week has been reduced to 4 days and so he too volunteers his time at the church office, helping out wherever they can.<br />
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What's with the 30 years?<br />
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I titled this blog 30 years on because recently Tambrey and I celebrated the 30th anniversary of our first date. It was 30 years ago that I took an innocent country girl into the big city, showed her how the other half lived and went to the movies. We saw Chariots of Fire and walked around the city square. I'll never forget seeing those beautiful big blue eyes getting bigger and bigger as we experienced one religious group after another trying to convert us to their way of faith. We had young Christian zealots over in one corner who despised everything the mainstream church stood for saying all was based on pagan philosophy and ritual, Christianised by the early church and nothing to do with true faith. In another corner there was a local youth group doing street witnessing, praying together and singing Choruses accompanied by guitars. And last and most colourful were the Hare Krishna's in full get up complete with tambourines singing and offering peace cookies to all passers by.<br />
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For a young country girl whose regular Friday nights only exposed her to the locals pouring out of the pub in various stages of drunk, this was quite a sight, and she was tightly wrapped around my arm as we made our way around. I can say what we have been tightly wrapped around each others arms ever since!<br />
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30 years on, we have done much, lived in places where there was no tv and no telephones. We have experienced poverty and homelessness and seen God prove Himself faithful time and again. We have seen our children grow into incredible strong young people of God; independent, capable, motivated and passionate. We have never gone without a meal. We have had all our needs met at the times when we needed them met. We have had the privilege of meeting and having fellowship with some of the most amazing people that God ever put on this Earth. We have had the privilege of being an answer to prayer many times and in some of the most surreal situations.<br />
We have walked where no white man has walked (literally). We have been to places that we might only have dreamed of. I have made music to crowds of thousands, and ministered to young people going through difficult times. Tambrey has blessed scores of people that God has put across her path; speaking into their lives, taking them to achieving things they never thought possible.<br />
30 years on as we look back we can see the path that God has taken us on.<br />
It reminds me of that scripture in Jeremiah 29:11.<br />
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<em>I know the thoughts I have towards you says the Lord; thoughts of good and not of evil to give you a hope and a future...</em></blockquote>
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And in Proverbs 16:9<br />
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<em>A man's heart plans his way,<br />But the Lord directs his steps.</em></blockquote>
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God had and still has great plans for us and if I had known then what I have experienced since, I may not have been so keen to pursue this path. But looking back I have no regrets. We have had no shortage of tough times and situations, but God has brought us through every one. And not just barely but triumphantly. What I can honestly say is that these times, times of trial and triumph have defined us and our family, shaping us into what and who we have become. And through it all, as the song says, I've learnt to depend upon my God.<br />
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The one thing I keep on seeing is the closer we draw to God, the closer He draws to us. He blesses us beyond what we have ever dreamed. And as I look forward to the next 30 years, sharing them with the loves of my life and being introduced to new ones, I pray that together we will continue to grow closer and more dependant on Him. Because that is where the blessing comes from! <br />
Have a great week.Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-72286014280277765732012-07-22T21:47:00.000+10:002013-05-02T18:47:55.170+10:00BEING FULL OF GOD<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have you ever wondered what is to be truly full? I was in a prayer meeting on Sunday morning, and I got the overwhelming sense of God's presence. The word that kept coming to me was “Fullness”. As I meditated on that word, my mind was filled with pictures and scriptures pertaining to full. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Full of God</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don't know about you, but I want God's best for my life. I know that when am close to God, He fills me with Him; not just that goose-bumpy feeling of warm fuzzies, but a true sense of the reality of His presence. I think clearer, I have a greater sense of where I am and where I am going, and a knowledge that as the hymn says: "it is well with my soul". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The more of God I put into my life, the more He fills me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God wants us not just to experience but to live in the Fullness of Him. The word Fullness brings to mind all sorts of pictures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Psalm 16:11 says <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You will show me the path of life;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Your presence is fullness of joy;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just read that promise a couple of times and be filled with the beauty of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This verse speaks of the promise of God; He shows us the path of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It speaks of God's presence bringing pleasures and fullness of joy! And it speaks of forever! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
The Promise of Fullness</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Christian life can be full of hard times, heart ache, trials, and all the stuff we would rather not have in our lives, but the promise of God in <span class="apple-style-span">John 16:33 is: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>"In Me". </b></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When Jesus is in me and I am in Him, the promise of God is complete. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Full is not almost or part. In God's economy, near enough is not good enough, and almost does not qualify as complete. When the Bible talks of full it always speaks of excess. God is an extravagant God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus gave us the instructions of how to live extravagantly and in God's economy: Luke 6:38: “</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here Jesus Himself teaches us of God's measure of economy. However what we often don't understand is the measure He speaks of. In Matthew 13:23, Jesus talks of the sowing and harvesting law. 100 , 60, 30 fold increase! God's economy of scale is extravagant; it is one of multiplication, pressed down, shaken together, full and running over! That speaks to me of being completely full. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Malachi 3:10 says: ”Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Again this speaks to me of God's extravagance. When we believe in Him, when we trust Him with all we have, and when we fill ourselves with Him, he pours out His blessing beyond our capacity to contain it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2>
Getting Full and Staying Full. </h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How do I get this fullness and keep it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I have a meal, I normally eat until I feel full. Sometimes I over- eat and then I feel over-full. But no matter how much I eat today, tomorrow I will want to eat again. I continually need to fill me up with food in the same way as I continually need to fill my car with fuel, or at least if I want to keep going places in it. The same is with God. I need to continually fill myself with God. I can't just go once and expect that that's enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is a supernatural God. That is beyond natural. That is full and overflowing. God is not the God of near enough is good enough. God is the God of enough and to spare. He talks of abundance, not of a lack! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When a friend of mine purchased a car, he never washed it, maintained it or had it serviced. He would purchase a new car about every two to three years, because that is how long the old one would last. My Father in Law is almost OCD about his cars. He washes, polishes and vacuums them meticulously and often. His cars always look great, and when he goes to sell them, he inevitably gets top price for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We need to maintain our spiritual bodies in the same way. That means continually being filled up with God; Staying in tune with the Holy Spirit through giving ourselves to prayer, study of the word, fellowship with other like minded people and worshipping Him both privately and corporately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Be Filled</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you full yet? Do you have a hunger to be filled? Being filled is a daily requirement. When you fill yourself with God, He will fill you with Himself. Pressed down, shaken together full and running over will God pour into your bosom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you want the fullness of God, be Fully Filled with God! </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ephesians 3:19: (that you may) “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ephesians 5:18: "Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May you be filled with all the Fullness of God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have a great week! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Erick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-33451784559510221202012-07-20T22:45:00.000+10:002012-07-20T22:45:40.500+10:00PASSION<h3><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you passionate?</span></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you passionate about leading worship? Are you sincerely fanatic about having the Holy Spirit turn up and move in your worship service? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have written and spoken many times about the passion of Worship Leading; it is something I'm passionate about. Those of you who listen to our weekly podcast: "the <a href="http://worshipleaderonline.com/worship-podcasts">worshipleaders podcast</a>" will have heard me talk many times about the importance of preparation, prayer, a great well prepared songlist, etc. But the one ingredient that leads to great worship is Passion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Passion is the Glue</span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Passion is the glue that holds everything together. In life, love, work and play, we see time and again that those who are passionate about what they do succeed well. My eldest daughter is passionate about anything to do with art, craft, or creativity. The result is she's a great cook, photographer, knitter, sewer, jewellery maker and general craft person. Her <a href="http://mrsfriend.blogspot.com.au/">blog</a> will testify to that. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My son is a brilliant musician. We gave him drum lessons when he was younger, but then later when he wanted to take up the bass guitar, I told him he was on his own. Well, with the help of some friends, some chord charts and a whole lot of YouTube, he became a brilliant Bass guitar player. He did the same with rhythm guitar, and is currently doing a music degree at University. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What makes these two so good? They are passionate about their interests, and will put serious time into getting it right. When they get it wrong, they don't simply give up and say:"well that's too hard", they keep practicing until they get it right. <o:p></o:p></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reward of Passion</span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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o:title="Base Point"/> <w:wrap type="square"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.bfx.com.au/education/education-product/images/e-chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://www.bfx.com.au/education/education-product/images/e-chair.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Part of my profession is as a furniture designer. There is a lot that goes into getting the final design right. It has to be practical, useful, workable, and safe. When I design a chair, it needs to be comfortable, it has to tick all the boxes that require it to be a saleable item. A single design can take over 12 months to come together to finally reach production. And the cost is often many hundreds of thousands of dollars.</span> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But when I get it right, many people benefit from the design. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am passionate about good furniture design, and the result is people buy my product.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The light globe you switch on when it gets dark is the result of someone's passion to create light without the use of a naked flame. It was not an instant success, but many failures went into getting it right. The car you drive is the result of decades of passion poured into getting a better, more comfortable, more efficient mode of transport. <o:p></o:p></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great Passion equals Great Worship.</span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Great music is the result of Passion. Great preaching, the result of Passion; great worship-leading, the result of Passion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today you can overcome mediocrity by firing up your passion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2 Timothy 2:15<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jude 20 Says: Beloved, Build yourself up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are many scriptures exhorting us to draw near to Him (James 4:8). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we allow God to envelop us with His presence daily, when we draw near to Him, when we study His Word, and spend time getting to know not just about Him, but also to know Him, our passion will rise. And when you are passionate about God, and about great Worship, you will have great Worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Luke 10:37b: Go and do likewise!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have a great Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Erick<o:p></o:p></span></div>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-87202665043688178572012-07-09T10:51:00.000+10:002012-07-09T10:51:41.518+10:00MEDITATE<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;"> <h2><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meditate</span></h2></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everywhere we go we are bombarded with "stuff"! Especially "stuff" that others want us to be aware of. Whether we want to be made aware of it or not has no bearing on anything. Sometimes I feel as if I should be walking around with my eyes shut! Some of the "stuff" I am confronted with is trying to pull me in directions I don't want to go. It is telling me to do things I don't want to do, and attempting to influence my thinking in areas that go against my upbringing and what I know to be right. Everywhere I go, fiction is being sold as truth, stories are told only from one point of view, and often these stories are slanted to suit the teller's desired aim. <o:p></o:p></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Fictitious ‘Facts’</span></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember the movie "The Da Vinci Code"? A totally fictitious movie based on a novel (fiction made up) by author Dan Brown in which a murder mystery ends in a search for the Holy Grail. In this movie / book, Brown refers regularly to Biblical characters, and writes those characters into places and situations of his own imagining, that have no bearing on historical truth whatsoever. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To this day people will totally discredit the Bible after having seen this movie. They see it more as a historically accurate Documentary Drama than the fictitious story it was written as. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why do we do that? Why do we so often take a story of fiction and presume it as truth? Is it that we have a need to believe in the unbelievable? Is it that it is written in such a way that in our minds this is conceivable, therefore it must be true? Or is it simply that because it is written about a historical character it must be true, whether history confirms it or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> As a Christian, that would lead me to ask: then why is it so hard to believe the Bible, which has amazing and fantastic stories which are historically true and accurate accounts of God's chosen people and their journey to the ultimate promise of God?<o:p></o:p></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GIGO</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of my teachers in high school used to talk about the GIGO affect; Garbage In, Garbage Out. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What we take in, we put out. The Bible puts it this way: "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" Prov 23:7. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I also like what Jesus says in <span class="apple-style-span">Luke 6:43-45:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“ For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What goes in, sooner or later has to come out. And this applies not only to the food we eat, but to everything we take into our bodies. What we see, what we listen to, what we read, what we imagine and dwell upon. When we take something in (digest it, whether physical or through sight, sound and thought), sooner or later it will affect and become part of who and what we are. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Years ago as a teenager, I was listening to some fairly heavy metal rock music. The music and lyrics were anything but honouring to God. As I lay there on my bed, letting the music feed my soul as it were, I began to get a heaviness on me. I had never experienced it before and have never experienced it since. It was like a huge heavy weight had descended on my body and it felt like it literally trying to push me through the mattress. It became difficult for me to even breathe. This was such an oppressive force, it really frightened me. With all the strength I could muster I started to call on the name of Jesus. Not much came out of my mouth at first, but as I kept calling out His name, each time the words came out easier and I felt lighter and soon the oppression left me all together. I destroyed the tape, and never listened to that music again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What am I saying? Be careful of what you allow yourself to take in. The things I watch on TV or the Internet. The magazines and books I read. The music I listen to. The games I play. The conversations I sometimes am a<span class="apple-style-span"> part of. All these have an effect and are Part of the makeup of who I am and what I become. The jails are full of people who ended up there because of the influence that some form of media had on them. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">MEDITATE </span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Hebrew, the word Meditate has several meanings /uses: to ponder: — imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter; to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When<span class="apple-style-span"> we dwell on something for a time or repeatedly think about it, when we constantly bring it to mind, we are meditating. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Last week I had something happen to me that was grossly unfair. For days all I could think about was this circumstance and how it was affecting me. The more thought I gave it, the worse it became in my own head! Why? Because it was my meditation. Instead of taking it to God, and focusing on the Holy Solution Provider, I was becoming obsessed with the unfairness of the situation. It made me angry, it made me upset, it completely consumed my thinking.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What we Dwell on</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whether we think so or not, when you look at the meanings of the term, we meditate all the time. We need to re-train our thinking to honour God, and to benefit our own bodies. A negative meditation will have a negative effect on our whole being. (I'm sure as you read this you can think of people who constantly seem to be depressed or in the doldrums). In the same way when we allow ourselves to meditate on the good stuff, (the God-stuff) it completely changes our whole being. The great thing is that when we meditate on the Answer, the answer is not far away! </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Look at these scriptures: </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Joshua 1:8<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1 Timothy 4:13-16<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Philippians 4:8<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meditate on These Things<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have a great week! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are reading this, why not drop me a comment?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Erick<o:p></o:p></span></div>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-2871839264186895772012-06-23T10:24:00.001+10:002012-06-23T10:24:33.379+10:00God Love Church Worship<br />Christianity is not about what we do as much as what we allow Jesus Christ to do in us. <br />It is not about what I am but what He has made me. <br />And it is not about who I am but who I am when I am in Him. Jesus said :John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.<br /><br />The greatest act of love the world will ever know is what Jesus did for me. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.<br />Doubt and fear, are the great deception used by the devil to separate us from God's love. Many times (over 60 times in my bible) and to many different people In old and new testament it is said: Do not fear or: fear not. <br /><br />Communion brings me to the place where Jesus gave up all he had and all He was in order to rescue me from the disaster that was awaiting me. He took upon Himself all that I deserved in order that I might enjoy all that He has. <br />Thank you Jesus for the broken body and the spilled precious blood; for the principal thing called LOVE. Amen. <br /><br /><br />Erick<br />Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-59414290104144249942012-06-22T21:08:00.000+10:002012-06-22T21:08:59.579+10:00Am I Too Old to Lead Worship?<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;"> <div class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It occurs to me when I walk into most Pentecostal churches and the music is playing and the team is up the front doing their "stuff" that the average age of those presenting the worship is mid- to late twenties. (At least they all look very young to an over- forty -year-old!). I look at this sight and it causes me to ponder: Am I too old to lead worship? </span></div><div class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The First time I was Too Old</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The first time I ever felt like I was too old was about ten or twelve years ago. My wife and I had just made a decision that it was time to leave the church which we had been a part of for the past 5 years to help a friend launch a new church at another end of town. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Our friend was in his early twenties and he gathered around him a number of other young people as well as some middle aged couples (of which we were a part). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I initially joined our young friend to help with the worship team, and though he frequently asked me to play guitar for him, he only once asked me to lead the Worship. This "rejection" of my abilities and anointing really messed with my head and brought much self-doubt into my thinking. I felt all of a sudden that the Worship Leading ship had sailed, and I wasn't on it, I was too old. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The thought of being too old when I was just about to turn forty, really shook my confidence. I became very unsure of myself and what God had planned for me for the rest of my life. I couldn't believe that I could be dropped so quickly and so unceremoniously from being a Worship Leader one week to a has-been the next. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m Not Ready, I’m Not Too Old!</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I went to God on this matter and complained bitterly. Surely this wasn't the end? Surely I wasn't to be relegated to the pews for the next 60 years without any musical i<span class="apple-style-span">nput? (I plan to live to at least 100). </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">God showed me that he wasn't finished with me yet. One of my favourite Worship Leaders in the world is Robin Mark of Revival in Belfast fame. I have a number of his records and was privileged some years ago to attend a meeting in which he led Worship. God showed me that he is one of a number of Worship leaders in the world who have been around a while and fall among the Not-so-young. This was greatly encouraging to me, especially at that time. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">It was in the midst of my turmoil that I visited a local Anglican church one afternoon and the priest asked me if I would be interested in helping him out with the music once in a while. His only musician had busted up with her husband and left the church and he was desperate. Well, we were an answer to each other's prayers. He had a need for a musician and I needed an outlet. I said I would love to help him out. The next week I turned up and did the music for him and for the first time in a while I felt truly appreciated for what I brought to that church. The priest came to me at the end of the service and said:" That was great Erick! I really would like you to pray about coming to help us out once a month to do the music at our church. " My response was that I wouldn't have to pray about that, I would love to come and help once a month! "In that case," he said, "I would like you to pray about coming once a fortnight!" We were hooked! I had instantly gone from being retired to being the main event. Not only that, but we were a package deal. My wife is a singer as are our daughters. One of them played keyboards and in time our son joined the team to play drums. Moreover, we had gone from being the oldest people in the Church to the youngest. God is Good! </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I became the music director at that church and we saw the church double in size over the next 5 years, with many young families joining our fellowship. It was a great time for us as a family and for me personally as a worship leader. We were more than tolerated, we were celebrated! </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Next Step in The Journey</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Why do I tell this story? For this reason: if you feel like you are too old to lead worship, God may just be preparing you for the next place. Worship leading is not about age, it is about relevance. If you can bring the anointing to the fellowship, using songs that appeal to all generations across the church, including some of the great new songs that are constantly being released then you are not too old to lead worship. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Let me say here too, in my humble opinion, worship leading is not about conforming to and following the latest trends in what songs are being recently released. It is about following YOUR anointing. I said before we are to remain relevant to our audience/ congregation. But this mustn’t be constrained to the latest releases. A good friend of mine is music director of a large church with 7 music teams and worship-leaders. He tells me the one thing that keeps the worship fresh and alive in his church is the variety that each individual worship-leader brings. Not one of the worship leaders is a copy of anyone else. Each one brings something unique. That is God. He gives each of us a unique set of fingerprints. He wants us to be different, that's how He created us. Let's use that individuality to His glory in leading worship too. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">When are you too old? When you decide you are...And I figure on leaving that decision until I'm in my late eighties. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Have a great week. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Erick</span></span></div>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-42455877927405000672012-06-10T22:57:00.000+10:002012-06-10T22:57:55.251+10:00When is it too loud?<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When it's too loud</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Years ago when I was in a Christian rock and roll band, we used to have a saying :" if it's too loud, you're too old. "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's a funny saying and for a rock band it's probably right. However, As a worshipleader I'm not sure it fits in the music service. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we lead worship, we have the amazing opportunity to bring people into the very presence of God. This is our calling, our priestly responsibility and our privilege. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we lead people in worship, there is a number of essentials that go into the mix to make for a great worship service. </span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Essential Mix</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayer and preparation are on the top of the list.When I lead worship, I spend a number of hours in prayer and preparation. I give myself to reading God's word and there are a number of devotionals I love to read. During this time I pray about the songs that I am going to do for that meeting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another important ingredient is great unity in the band. At practice and on the day of the service, it's important that we have a like mindedness and a singleness of purpose. This includes every member of the team: drummer, bass guitar, lead and rhythm instruments, vocalists and the sound man/woman. Unity is imperative to a great worship team. Scripture says that when we have unity, God commands the blessing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Song choice and good flow from song to song is also very important, as is knowing when to modulate, when to have light and shade (loud and quiet).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last thing I want to mention here is the reason for and the theme of this blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I visited a Church recently and while I enjoyed the service, in the worship I was "confronted" by a wall of sound. While the music was good and the mix was balanced, it felt more like I was at a concert than at a worship service. As I observed the band and the interaction with the congregation I couldn't help it think that something was missing. </span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worship involves everyone</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worship in a church service should be a corporate event. That means that everyone should be involved in the worship, the band and the congregation. I could not hear any of the congregation singing. Come to think of it, I couldn't hear my own wife. Her lips were moving but I couldn't hear her. If you are in worship and you can't hear the congregation, it's too loud. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's important to have a good sound balance coming from your front of house. If its too soft you have no control of the intensity of your mix and people can't hear you. If its too loud, people can't hear themselves, and that doesn't lend itself to great corporate worship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone involved in the production of the Worship service is important and a good mix is vital to the success of each service. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more help on this subject and many others, check out our website and free weekly worship leaders podcast on <a href="http://www.worshipleaderonline.com/">www.worshipleaderonline.com</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Erick</span><br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/103335037788201124592/ConfessionsOfAWorshipLeader?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvPsvT-7rCbMQ#5752377344269474418"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNfUSgiCD4N_lRjt85XrMtpyBeiWfvVSaZyKa_gBiPZpnCP2PGI0MkNNZhW4olf6PFJzhmr5X4YAaBc7cEx_89VfYVGEd7h6cCipazcz-mtBXUGWFiGcpAOK3W0UlpE2HkRuO54akq0Y/s200/1.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="200" /></a></center>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-9115031830158397822012-06-08T23:09:00.000+10:002012-06-08T23:09:04.827+10:00What do you believe in?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am becoming increasingly aware of the amount of religious material available to us in recent years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I say religious, I don't mean Christian; I mean things of every other religion on the world. Buddhist, Islam, New Age, eastern philosophies, the list goes on. All are being seen as "fashionable" , rather than religious as such. I can't walk into a garden centre or landscape supplier without being bombarded with Buddhist statues and shrines, or down a weekend market without walking past a fortune teller or two, healing crystals, incense... It's all there!</span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The Shrinking Church?</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One would have to agree that if there is a supply it would follow that there is a demand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet it appears that church attendance is waning especially in the western countries, and people are increasingly dissatisfied with what is "on offer" in the main stream churches today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It causes me to wonder: if churches are on the decrease because people are increasingly claiming to be Atheists (Denying the existence of God) or Agnostic (having no formal belief system or religion); and yet there is an increase of all the eastern and new-age religions, what do we really believe?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This also leads me to think that while people may say they are atheist or Agnostic, they still have a need to believe in something or someone higher than themselves.</span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Need to Believe</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have heard it said that in each human being is created the need to search for its creator. We all have a "built-in God seeker" as it were. Some people choose to ignore it (atheism) others seek it out in human relationships, philosophies, religions of all types, etc. we all need to belong, be loved and be valued. This is how we are wired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am disturbed by the fact that people are leaving the church and the Christian faith in search for the Truth. Jesus said: "I am the way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through me. " (John 14:6). Why are we leaving the truth in search for Him?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My thinking is that Christianity is not considered fashionable, in fact many people (especially young people) think it is definitely old-fashioned. They also see it as boring, and the "churches are just full of hypocrites". We are guilty of not showing people the Truth. In fact, we have made church a social organisation that is relevant only for a certain section of our community. An Anglican priest once told me about his church that it is fast becoming a boutique religion, suitable only for a dying group of people. In other words, he was saying that he feared that the church has lost its relevance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I want to be absolutely clear here that in no way do I believe that every church and church organisation is in decline and no longer relevant. There are some large churches that really are impacting our community and society in a very positive way, and making a real difference in people's lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus said "You will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free" (John 8:32).</span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you really know what you believe?</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My challenge is that knowing what you believe is about studying it in intimate detail; seeking out the paths to better understanding what you believe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know my wife. I spend time with her, have conversations with her, hold her hand and kiss her, I listen to her (not often enough she says) and hear her thoughts, opinions, values, fears, and passions. Spending quality time with her makes me know her. Because I invest time in our relationship, I feel I truly do know her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My concern is that as Christians, we do not spend enough quality time getting to know our saviour. We make no time for intimacy, and through a lack of this knowledge we actually miss out on God's amazing best for our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we don't know our Saviour, who also happens to be the creator of the universe, then how can we actually know what we believe?</span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carnality has taken hold in the church.</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was talking to a dear friend and mentor about this recently, and she raised this subject with me as a great concern. As Christians, we are not separated anymore, she said, we have so much of the world in the church, it is difficult to differentiate us from the world. The result is that we just don't appeal to people who are looking for truth and belonging.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Romans 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a warning that what we have been rescued from, we are not to allow back into our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being separated from the world does not mean we are exclusive from the world, but that we set the standard that people should aspire to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This means being above reproach! Christians should have greater levels of integrity than anyone else. Christians should know what our faith demands of us, and how the Holy Spirit helps us to achieve that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our faith is about relationship with the Creator of the Universe; the Saviour of humankind. We have the Answer living in us! If we really know what we believe, we know that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mentioned integrity. Sadly I think this is a quality that is missing in many Christians today. We just don’t walk the talk. I said before, we should be setting the standard. What was it that attracted early seekers to the church? They were different. The Bible says: “together they had all things in common.” Together. Unity. Blessing. There is great reward in intimate relationship with Jesus, but there is also a cost.</span><br />
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<h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can't give what you don't have.</span></h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you don't have it in you, you can't give it out. What we believe should not only affect who we are, but also influence those we come in contact with us. If I don't know what I believe, how can I share it with others; either verbally or by example?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is an important question. However, a more pertinent question is: if you don't know what you believe, where will you spend eternity?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last thing I want my God to say when I stand before Him is “Depart from Me, I never knew you”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Food for thought?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Erick</span><br />
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</div>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-9194068923504749242012-05-10T12:00:00.000+10:002012-05-31T22:12:48.695+10:00GRACE... AGAIN (part 2)<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">GRACE, AGAIN. (part 2).</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In this blog, I continue the thoughts about the Grace of God, how we understand it, versus what the Bible teaches. (please see below for part 1)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">COMING TO GRIPS WITH GRACE</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Romans 8:1 :"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Romans 8:5-8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Galatians 6:8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">JESUS, THE TRUE VINE</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Read this passage twice:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">John 15:1-8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“ I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I want you to notice two things:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1) the phrase "in Me" is in this passage 6 times;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2) 5 times it is preceded by the word Abide. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The true key to our Christian life is in this passage in a nutshell: We are to abide in Christ. To be grafted in the vine means that the vine has to be cut in order for the graft to be inserted. The graft then has to take on all the nutrients that flow through the vine to assure its survival and ability to bear fruit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you have ever had a go at grafting, you will have found that sometimes a graft doesn't take. The graft then has to be removed because if it doesn't it will draw unnecessary nutrients from the vine that will not benefit the graft and may cause damage to the vine. Once the graft is removed, it is destroyed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Note also the warning that Christ gave in verse 2: "Any branch IN ME that does not bear fruit, He (the Father) takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may hear more fruit" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In this verse I see judgement and grace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In Me means grafted. No fruit means no change. No change means the Father cuts off that branch and throws it away. This is judgement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bearing fruit means that God by His Grace prunes us: SO THAT WE MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT. Grace makes up the shortfall. God wants us to be fruitful, and then he prunes us (takes away the stuff that holds us back) so that we may bear more fruit! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I saw a great definition of grace on Facebook the other day: "Grace: God's divine power exerting Influence upon the heart of man. Grace doesn't grant us permission to live in the flesh, but the power to live in the Spirit." Col Stringer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">GRACE: WE DON'T DO THIS ON OUR OWN</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Let's look at this next scripture:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hebrews 12:1-2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You know what? Life isn't easy. Doing things God's way can be tough! But God gives us the instruction manual AND His Holy Spirit to help us and guide us. And the great cloud of witnesses are cheering us on!! God knows the pitfalls and downfalls of this life. Jesus walked this earth and experienced all the troubles, problems, challenges and temptations that this world offers and He overcame. We too can overcome. The Bible says in Revelation 12:11; " by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." hallelujah !! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">GRACE, SHEEP, AND LITTLE CHILDREN. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I want to pull one more scripture about grace out and present it to you. It is the parable of the lost sheep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jesus talks in Matthew 18 on the subject of who is the greatest in heaven. Basically He says that unless you become like a little child, you can't even get into the kingdom of heaven! (vs3) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He then likens greatness in the Kingdom to the humbleness of a little child. Ok keep that thought in mind as you travel to verse 12 & 13:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Parable of the Lost Sheep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety- nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety- nine that didn’t wander away!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is a great passage on God's grace. Jesus will come looking for you when you become lost! And before you think about grace applying to people in rebellion, I want to point out the Jesus is still talking about little children. Little children are easily trained and corrected and when lost, they want to be found. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When thinking about the sheep I also think of the passage in John 10:27-29</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Don't you just love Grace?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I hope this study has helped you as it has me get a better understanding of the Magnitude and the Magnificence of God's grace. I pray that you don't abuse it, and that you learn what it means to abide in the Vine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If this has helped you, or if you disagree, please drop me a note. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sorry it is such a long subject, but I think we are far from finished with the discussions and the discoveries of this thing called Grace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Have a great week! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Erick</span>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-43798378171730131562012-05-05T22:42:00.001+10:002012-05-05T22:42:39.957+10:00GRACE...AGAIN (part 1)<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;"><h2><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Grace again. </span></h2></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been thinking a lot lately about the subject of grace... again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems to me that as Christians we have very different understanding about God's Grace; how it works, who it is for, the types of grace, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've asked a lot of people questions, (people I know and trust, who have a good knowledge of the word of God, and an understanding of God's undying love for His creation), and had some deep conversations with them about this subject. Having said all that, I do not count myself as an authority on the subject, just a student with a desire to know and understand what is the depth our heavenly Father's grace. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FOUNDATIONS OF GRACE</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, I want to make it clear that the Bible teaches that it is not the Father's will that any man should perish. John 3:16 says that "God so loved the World..." This is an all encompassing statement. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2Peter3:9 says that "the Lord is ...not willing that any should perish..." Here God extends to us His saving grace. He holds out His arms and says: Come! "Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" and again "To as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the children of God." and: "...that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> See, we need God, but we are so far separated from Him and His goodness, that we could never of ourselves attain or earn salvation. Romans 3:10 says no one is righteous, and vs 23 says " all have sinned and fall short of God's Glory" This is clear indication that it is God's saving Grace that brings us into His family. When we receive Him, we by the saving Grace of Jesus Christ are empowered to become God's children. We are saved, by grace. Amen! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE SAVED? <o:p></o:p></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, that's it then, you say. If I receive Jesus Christ and believe in Him, I am saved forever because God loves me and wants me to be His child. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I agree with almost all of that last statement. God does love me, and He does want me to be His child. However, there are conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><h4><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Put off the Old, Put on the New</span></h4></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <span class="apple-style-span">John 1:12 we read the following:"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name".</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Believing in Jesus and His power to save is pivotal and foundational to our relationship with God. However, faith in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, requires of us obedience to Him and separation from the former life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul instructs us to put off the old man and put on the new man. <span class="apple-style-span">Ephesians 4:22-24:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"...that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please understand here that putting off the old and putting on the new is not a 2-minute process, this is something we do organically (as we grow,)and continuously. There will always be things in our lives that require "putting off". This too is the grace of God, that He allows us to change as we grow; He doesn't demand instant perfection.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To the Romans Paul writes: " ...to be carnally minded is enmity against God (8:7) and in the next verse: "Those who are in the flesh can not please God" <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Galatians 5:24:"And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Galatians 6:8:"<span class="apple-style-span">For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Galatians 5:22-25<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can plainly see the instructions given throughout the New Testament on Christian Living, and the changes in our lives that God requires of us in our call to Holiness. Note again though that we are not doing this of and by ourselves; Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, our helper. And where we fail, grace makes up the shortfall! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><h3><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GRACE AND THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL</span></h3></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I purchase a new car, it comes with lots of options and features. The salesman does his best to give these to me in a 2-minute nutshell, but then he opens the glove compartment and pulls out the vehicle instruction book. This details all of the car's features and benefits and a detailed list of do's and don'ts and maintenance instructions, which, if carefully followed will give me a vehicle which will run to its optimum specifications with the maximum performance and problem free running. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing many people seem to forget is that the Bible is written for and to Christians (especially the New Testament). It is our instruction manual for life. When we follow life to the manufacturer's specifications according to the manual, the reader will get the optimum out of the Life as given to him/ her by the designer and manufacturer (author and finisher : Heb 12:2) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now here is where the key difference to all other religions comes in: God knows that we are incapable of following His commands to the letter. We are a sinful being, living in a sinful world, who continue to get it wrong. We are in need of God's grace to make up the shortfall. Thank God for Jesus! Thank God for His Grace! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m going to break this blog in parts as it’s too long to post in one hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please let me know your thoughts so far, and I will continue this next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a great week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Aussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562624449560048248.post-8394019552068091432012-03-17T16:23:00.002+10:002012-03-17T16:28:42.614+10:00Keeping the worship passion alive!By way of introduction. This blog is dedicated to my pastor Brian Clothier who preached on the subject of " Having a fervent spirit for serving God". <br />
The blog is based on my notes taken during the message. <br />
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<b> Life is tidal.</b><br />
It has its highs and lows, its ups and downs. One day you feel great, the next day not so great. You will hear the preacher exhort you from the pulpit: "Don't allow your feelings to determine your level of greatness. " <br />
That's easier said than done. Bad things happen to good people. Life can be tough, and the pain of life is sometimes insurmountable. Excitement wanes, and it causes us to reconsider; do we want to go on and continue doing what we have been doing, or do we just give up altogether?<br />
Here are 5 keys which I believe will help you keep the worship fire well lit and the passion alive:<br />
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<b> 1) God will give you the energy to keep going.</b> <br />
When we are in ministry, and obedient to God's call, the Holy Spirit energises us. Jesus said: "my food is to do the will of God"(John 4:34). What God has called you to do and what He has gifted you in will energise you. I have known of friends in the ministry and even myself, who, even though tired from the ministry workload, are continually amazed at the strength and vitality they continue to have when doing God's work. My brother once shared with me about a time he was ministering overseas, and the people kept coming to him for prayer. The Holy Spirit was moving in a mighty way and miracles were happening left and right. My brother said that even though he knew he should be really tired as the time was well past midnight, he was amazed at the amount of energy he had. This continued right up until he was back in his hotel room and he collapsed in bed and slept 10 hours! God made sure he had the energy to continue in his anointing as long as was necessary. <br />
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<b> 2) Don't burn out. </b><br />
When God finished His creation work, the bible says He rested. Was God tired from making all that stuff? Certainly not! I believe this was set in place for our benefit. No one can continuously work seven days a week. Sure you can do it for a time, but sooner or later you are going to crash and burn. We are not designed to just keep going constantly without a break. What am I saying? Keep a healthy balance between work, ministry and down time. I have been in situations that have required me to work hard and long hours to provide for my family, my Saturdays were then taken up with looking after the maintenance around the house, and looking after kids, etc and then the expectation was for me to be at church early on Sunday morning, ( usually around 7:30am) and be there until 12:30, go home, have lunch and a quick break, ready to start back at church at 4.00pm to get ready for the 6.00pm service thigh would take me through to about 8.00pm. By then I would stagger home, looking for a weekend! This is not sustainable!!! If you are a worship leader and have that sort of demand placed on you, be careful; you run the risk of burning out. Make sure you get down time, and if at all possible, share the load. <br />
Romans 12:11 says: "Don't burn out, keep yourself fuelled and aflame in serving the Master. " God wants us all to serve Him with fervency and zeal. <br />
Successful sports or business people constantly reinvigorate and re-invent themselves. Don't be so driven that you burn out. Maintain the balance of work, rest and play. If you stretch yourself too far you will snap.<br />
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<b> 3) Passion and Persistence Pays. </b><br />
Education and/or intelligence by themselves are not enough to make you successful. You may have great musical ability and a beautiful voice. I have met plenty of people with lots of technical knowledge about music and song structure , and yet they have not been able to turn that knowledge into great worship. There is a difference between being really talented and being passionate. Recently I watched a music class give a performance. There were 2 young ladies in particular who both had nice voices. The stand out difference between the two was one girl's passion with which she presented her song. My observation was : she was living her music. <br />
Persistence, consistency, tenacity, passion, desire and enthusiasm are the ingredients that will make an average person superior. Lethargy, complacency and indifference are the ingredients for making a superior person average. <br />
People are looking for strong leadership (including in worship) and generally it is those with a passion that will draw followers, rather than just great and knowledgable thinkers who have no spunk. <br />
If you don't want your fire to go out, watch out for complacency. <br />
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<b> 4) Watch out for familiarity.</b> <br />
After having done the same thing for so long you become bored with it. We see it in marriage, work, friendships and on the stage. Worship leading is not just about putting together another bunch of songs for this Sunday's service. <br />
How many times have you found a new app for your iPhone, or a new fad going around your circle of friends; you are totally taken in by it and consumed by it until after a while you become bored with it and it dies its natural death. <br />
We often hear about a familiar spirit, one which causes us to lose respect for people or things we should consider sacred or holy. Familiarity is a very dangerous attitude in the ministry. When we become too familiar with worship leading, complacency can cause us to lose our passion. And, let me say, people will notice, and so does God. And I want to warn you, this is not acceptable to God. In fact I believe it is offensive to Him. The anointing will be affected. <br />
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<b> 5) Let others' passion rub off on you. </b><br />
God's call on your life is about impacting people for Jesus. It is important to be around fervent people, whose excitement will rub off on us. Be spurred on by the passion of others. <br />
John prophesied Jesus would baptise us with fire<br />
Matthew 3:11 says: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."<br />
Get together with God and ask him to revitalise you. Rekindle the fire in your spirit by prayer, reading God's word, getting around great worship, and letting others rub off on you. Don't forget, a jug can not pour out what is isn't filled with. And once you empty a jug, you have to refill it before you can pour more out. I know that statement sounds really simplistic, but the truth of it runs deep. You can not continue to give of yourself in ministry without filling yourself up. <br />
I love going to other churches where I am not known and drowning myself in their worship. I love listening to great live worship music while I travel, and I love getting around my good friends and pastor who regularly encourage me and whose passion for Jesus keeps me charged up! <br />
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Well, there you have it. Five important keys to keeping the passion alive. Be encouraged, worship leader; you have an important role to play in the economy of God and in the worship service. Treat your ministry with the honour and respect that God deserves. If you are offering your worship to God, let it be a sweet smelling fragrance to Him. It will be the most important thing you do this Sunday. <br />
Have a great one!<br />
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ErickAussie Worship Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965310254130012846noreply@blogger.com0