I was reading the Word for Today this week and was challenged by what Bob Glass said about Vision and Moving Forward. Often he said, we wait for the perfect conditions, for everything to be in place before we move forward in our vision. He cited a wonderful story of a snail who early in autumn began a slow ascent of an apple tree. On the way he passed a worm who said “ Your wasting your energy, there is not a single apple left” The snail replied ‘ There will be by the time I get there” So often we read of people being sent by God with what seems to be inadequate resources, but by the time they get there the resources to get the job done were all in place waiting for them. The Challenge Bob gave us as a Church is this, ‘Vision doesn’t follow resources’, just the opposite resources follow the vision. A dream or a vision is given and when we move forward in faith in that dream and vision, then and only then, Bob says, the resources follow. We have a dream and a vision for something that may not be resourced as we think it should be. I refer to our dream for our children’s ministry. Do we wait for the resources? Or do we have the faith to believe that the resources follow the vision? On February 19th at our Church meeting to discuss the proposal of a Children’s Pastor we will have to answer that question.

Blair

It never ceases to amaze me that so many people do so much to make this church function.

I don’t believe we honour our volunteers enough as they quietly go about their business doing what God has called them to do for the good of the Body. As I have said time after time, they are not jobs they are ministries that are just as important as any upfront ministry like worship leading, playing an instrument or preaching. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank each one of you, i really appreciate you all.

So much is just taken for granted, but we must all realise that someone cleans, someone mows the grass, someone keeps the gardens tidy, someone does the maintenance, someone prepares and makes the morning tea, someone keeps the music files in order, someone leads the Connect Groups, someone looks after the ferns in the church auditorium, someone prepares and runs the KFC, Little Lambs, teenage and play group programs, some one leads the youth group, someone prepares and produced this newsletter, someone prepares the communion and presents and serves it, someone makes sure there is always tea coffee and sugar in the kitchen etc. I could go on and on about the things that just happen because there are dedicated followers of Jesus Christ who want to serve His Body.

The usual comments we get is that ‘they’ do a wonderful job, or sometimes ‘they’ should do this or do that.

I want to challenge each of us who read this today, if you are not already, become one of the ‘they’. There is always room on the rosters for new people, particularly for those so called less ‘spectacular’ ministries like cleaning and the like. There is great satisfaction in serving and I am firmly of the belief that there are great blessings for those who quietly go about serving without any fanfare and without any recognition other that ‘they are doing a great job.

If you would like to become a ‘they’ see our secretary Kathy Vella or email her (church@castlemainecofc.org) indicating your willingness to serve God’s church here in Castlemaine.

Blessings as you serve

Blair

Basic sermon preparation and delivery course commencing this Sunday

TIME  4-5:30pm

Sign up sheet in the foyer

]]> http://www.castlemainecofc.org/preaching-101/feed/ 0 http://www.castlemainecofc.org/a-new-year/ http://www.castlemainecofc.org/a-new-year/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:26:56 +0000 Kingbonz http://www.castlemainecofc.org/?p=1007 Welcome back to this the first contribution of ‘From the pastor’ for 2012. As the masthead says it is to connect and inform and it’s the first point of contact that a lot have with the church.

I personally look forward to this coming year with great anticipation as we look to move forward with God to establish a place of learning, worship, prayer and growth. Both julie and myself delight in seeing people grow, using their God given gifts for the Body of Christ and reaching their potential as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot do this for you, it has to come from your heart, but we pledge to assist you wherever we can on your faith journey.

We look forward to what God has in store for us all and of particular excitement is the proposal that you would have received in the mail this week in regard to the appointment of a Children’s Ministry Director/Pastor. W feel this is a vital ministry initiative of the Church Board and we ask for your prayerful participation in the meeting after church on the 19^th of this month.

Other initiatives this year include a preaching training course (see flyer), growth in our Connect Group ministry and again we hope to present the ‘Marriage Course” this time in a restaurant enabling participation from the general public.

Ross has some great ideas for the prayer ministry and other leaders are working on initiatives that will enhance our church as a community ministry centre. ‘The Living Room’ events are planned again for this year, Table Talk will be back soon and youth group goes weekly. We have guest speakers booked for various times, the first being in April. Overall it looks to be a busy and productive year for the church.

We believe that this church is one that is relevant to our community and one that stands out as a faith community that fulfils the great commission of of Jesus ‘to go and make disciples’.

We continue to encourage every attender of this church to be in some other community activity or club within our district and to continue to be ‘salt and light’ in those situations.

I hope you join with me in enthusiastic anticipation of as great year ahead. This is a good church, one where each person is valued, but I am of the opinion that it can became a ‘great church’ for the Kingdom when we all catch the vision of being ‘Inside out…Outside In” people.

I look forward to serving you and serving God for the benefit of you all and the Kingdom.

Blair

Have a look at this one too HERE

Here’s a reality check for all of us for 2012. Go to the link below and watch a 2 minute video.

I hope it challenges you as it challenged me.

Its by Francis Chan and is titled ‘How not to make disciples” A bit of reverse psychology that really hits the spot

Blessings

Blair

CLICK  HERE FOR VIDEO

Anyone watch the annual Queen’s message? it was surprisingly Christian in content 

For a transcript of the speech click HERE

for youtube video of message click HERE

Services resume as normal next week at 10:30 for our Summer Series

We welcome the Full Gospel Church as they join with us for worship and communion on Christmas Day

This is our last Link until February and I want to take the opportunity to thank our editors. Sue Paull finished mid year after doing a wonderful job for a few years and Catherine Smith stepped in to fill the void and in the few months she has been doing it she has added her flavour to the publication. Thanks to both of you, it is a vital ministry in the Church and I really appreciate the efforts you have made.

As I think about the Christmas message for this year I can’t help but reflect on the changed focus this year as our vision of being an ‘Inside Out..Outside in..’ Church starts to take effect. We have certainly been aware of the first part as our community involvement and support ( inside out) has increased tremendously and we have also began to see some ‘Outside In’ starting to happen.

As I contemplate that in this Christmas season the words ‘Immanuel, God with us’ comes to the forefront in my thinking. All that we have achieved and all that we will achieve in the future will only come from the fact that God is with us and is in us. Our series on Acts that has covered a good part of this year has emphasised the necessity of being Holy Spirit empowered for ministry and as we have grasped that reality we have seen God move in miraculous ways and we have started to become that ‘Inside out’ church.

When I think of that it excites me to think that we have only just began and there is so much more that God can do with Spirit filled willing servants.

I believe that next year God has given us our slogan and focus as we engage and develop what “Immanuel – God with us” really means.

Have a great Christmas and keep safe and remember God doesn’t go on holidays, He is always active, my best experiences have been witnessing while on holidays camping, Remember ‘Just Walk Across the Room” try it these holidays, it really works.

Have a happy and safe Christmas and great New year.

Blair

Jess Hammond, worship leader from One Community Church ( formally known as Blackburn Church of Christ) along with her husband Daniel will be ministering for our entire Sunday morning service on the 25th march.

To Quote Jess

In terms of presentation – We have been doing what we call a ‘themed, concert style, worship event which takes the audience on a journey of encountering God through corporate worship, spoken word, multimedia and reflection’.

The theme we have been touring lately is called ‘Abide’ and it’s all about abiding in the vine.  We also include a creative communion, where we invite people to respond by placing a branch into holes in a big tree (which we bring) as a symbol of abiding in HIM. 

This special Sunday service promises to be a worship experience not to be missed as we have the opportunity to be led into the throne room of God with Creative Worship, Communion and His Word.

Make sure your able to be there and bring a friend it will be awesome

For more info about Jess and Daniel click here

Travelling with His disciples one day Jesus asked “Who do people say I am?” they replied, “ some say John the baptist, others say you are Elijah…………….”

You can imagine the conversation as all chipped in with their opinion about who ‘other’ people thought Jesus to be. There may even have been arguments, differences of opinion, ‘some say this, others say that’ you can hear the conversations if you listen.

As Jesus listened to all this, He interrupted the dialogue by saying “But who do you say that I am?”

What a question! Its the question at the heart of our faith, because its how you answer that question that will determine our eternal destiny.

Jesus, a good man?, a special prophet? The reincarnation of one of the prophets of old? All answers that were offered.

But it was Peter, impetuous Peter who almost in his excitement blurted out, “You are the Christ, you are the Messiah, you are the one who has come to save us” Probably at that time he didn’t know what ‘save us’ meant, but he knew that Jesus was the anointed one, one far greater than anyone who had come before, the one who would set them free.

Remember after Pentecost, it was Peter who jumped up and explained everything. Having experienced the death, burial and resurrection and ascension of Jesus then experiencing being filled with the Holy Spirit, suddenly it all made sense and with the truth he led thousands into the kingdom.

This Christmas as we celebrate, as we exchange gifts, as we sit down to a huge Christmas lunch, as we attend carol services and church services we are asked the same question that Jesus asked two thousand years ago. “Who do you say I am”

Its how you answer that one simple question, or how your loved ones answer that will determine yours and their eternity.

There is only one answer that is true, “You are the Christ” It is my prayer that that is your answer today.

Have a great week as we lead up to the celebration of the birth of our saviour.

Blessings

Blair

So why are their names mentioned? As we know Jesus brought in a New Covenant of love and grace. His aim was to restore relationship and the Kingdom to its original form.

In looking at this passage I believe there are a few thoughts:.- Inspired by the Spirit, I believe Matthew in his writing wanted to portray that…

….. Jesus wanted to show that the gospel was open (not only for the Jew) but for the Gentiles to come into the Kingdom, showing that Jesus values all human beings and came to redeem all people. Jesus wants everyone to be saved.

……It also seems evident that women were now being included along side men. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, women had been generally neglected, down trodden, unable to be educated and regarded by many as second class. But as we are all now, ‘in Christ’, “there is no longer any difference between Jew and Gentile, slave and free and male and female” (Gal 3:28).

…..Lastly perhaps these women are there to remind us that we are all flawed and that through Jesus no one is cut off from the love and grace of God. As we all know it was our sin that brought Jesus to earth, to be born, then die on a cross for us. He knew that none of us could save ourselves.

So let’s praise God for what he has done:- entered the world, amazingly born of the virgin Mary, lived to restore all things and His Spirit continues on, here on earth to help us in His mission.

Julie

As the year draws to a close a lot of us re-evaluate our commitment to ministry. Often we hear “Its time to give it away” or “I’ve had my turn, now its up to someone else” or maybe “Its been tough, maybe I should give up” Or maybe we can be duped into thinking our ministry is not that important and so on. I have said time after time in this church that we value the least spectacular ministries more than those up front ones because they are the ones that no one notices, but also they are the ones that we could not function without. Let me assure you that in God’s economy you are indeed valued and needed.

I think the word for us today from God is “Hang in there” Paul writing to Timothy says “As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrine any longer ……………….”

If you know anything of the ancient middle East you will know that Ephesus was a tough gig. Imagine Timothy, young, expectant, excited even at his first position in leadership and Paul says, “by the way you are going to run into so many difficulties that you will need to be diligent in ‘hanging in there’ there will be many who will oppose you, many who will undermine you, many who will teach stuff contrary to the gospel and will teach that what you say is rubbish.

Timothy was not promised a bed of roses in his first church, quite the opposite and I believe that today we too can be challenged in whatever calling we have. The message to Timothy was ‘hang In there’ and its the same message to all of us today.

We are called to ministry and I am of the opinion that we hang in there no matter what until we are called to something else. I am of the belief that no matter how tough or how easy a ministry might be, when God calls He equips. It is when a ministry is empowered by the Holy Spirit after God has called you to that ministry that you will find it much easier to hang in there. Its when you are not including God and trying to do it all yourself, that you find it tougher.

Let me thank and encourage all those volunteers who fill vital ministry roles in the Church, you are called for a purpose and that’s to see lives changed and to see the kingdom of God present in our midst.

God’s Word for us today ( 1 Timothy 1:3-11) paraphrased quite simply says ‘Hang in there’

Blair