Month: August 2009

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GENEVA Interview with Andrew Heard

Andrew Heard, Al Stewart and Mikey Lynch have recently announced the beginning of a new national church planting network, GENEVA. Here’s an interview with Andrew Heard.

GENEVA Interview with Andrew Heard

Why plant churches?

Because of the gospel imperative to keep proclaiming Christ to the world. We want to swamp Australia with healthy, energetic, theologically grounded churches that can turn our county upside down by reaching thousands more for Christ.

What’s the aim of GENEVA? What’s the idea behind the name GENEVA?

The aim of Geneva is to be a servant to the denominations and networks. It isn’t interested in being anything in itself. We want to be a tool that others use. The power of pooling our resources across the various denominations and networks from around the country is that we can do much more than we could do separately.

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We were shaken this morning

We were shaken this morning by the news of a 27-year-old woman, 32-year-old man and their five-month-old baby who were killed last night when a truck crashed into their car on the F3 Freeway (read more @ ABC News + SMH) We are the same age as the parents. Samuel is just a little younger than the baby. We spend a lot of time travelling on the F3 Freeway. We often travel at that time of night. That could have been us.

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We mourn for this family and pray that God would bring comfort to their extended family. If my family were killed on the F3 last night, because Jesus rose again, I’m confident that we would go and be with Jesus. However, while we have no fear in death, a tragic accident like this is a reminder that life is short. We could be taken at any time.

Matt Chandler shared the other night that each year he goes to a cemetery and finds the grave of someone who had died at the same age as his current age. He then reflects upon his own life and the reality that this year could be his last year on earth, and resolves to not waste it.

Here’s what I’m praying today:

  • For non-Christian readers/friends: You will die one day. On that day you will face judgement from God. The bad news is that you will be judged guilty for failing to honour and obey God with your life. Your only hope is Jesus. I’m praying that you will start to trust in Jesus as your Saviour and start living him with as your Lord. (Click those two links and then contact me if you want to talk further)
  • For Christian readers/friends: You will also die. On that day you will face judgement from God. The good news is that you will be judged innocent, not because you are, but because Jesus has already taken away your sin and given you his innocent standing before God. I’m praying that you (and I) wouldn’t waste the short time we’ve got in this life. Keep trusting and preaching Jesus.
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Moore College First Year Crew

I love these crazy cats. It’s our Moore College first year group (plus a husband, two wives, a fiancée and an increasing brood of children) from 2008. It’s 2009 and yes we still like each other. Maybe even love?? It’s at least a strong like!

moore college first year crew

Moore College is often caricatured as a cookie-cutting machine that produces identical looking graduates. Not true! No-one in this group is training to become an Anglican Pastor in Sydney. One family are from New Zealand and planning on returning next year. Two families are thinking about planting independent evangelical churches outside of Sydney. Two more are planning on working in the Anglican Church in the Armidale region. Another is hoping to work in German-speaking Europe. Some are studying for one year, three years and four years. One thing in common? We strongly like each other. AND love Jesus. Don’t know Jesus? Check him.

[click the pic for mega size]

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Jonathan Edwards | Get your affections on!

Jonathan Edwards wrote a killer book 200+ years ago, The Religious Affections (read it for free). John Piper has unashamedly modelled his life, ministry and passion for Jesus upon Edwards’ thesis of the place of the affections in the Christian life. Check out DesiringGod.org (search results for Edwards) for a truckload of Piper/Edwards gear.

jonathan edwards - affections

All people have affections. We’re all moved by stuff. The following quote is about Jesus – and how he is most worthy of our affections:

If we ought ever to exercise our affections at all, and if the Creator has not unwisely constituted the human nature in making these principles a part of it, when they are vain and useless; then they ought to be exercised about those objects which are most worthy of them. But is there anything which Christians can find in heaven or earth, so worthy to be the objects of their admiration and love, their earnest and longing desires, their hope, and their rejoicing, and their fervent zeal, as those things that are held forth to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

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Social Media Revolution

Check out this video about social media. It’s aim is to show that “Social Media isn’t a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the way we communicate.” Fascinating stuff.

They source Socialnomics for all the stats. My favourite quote: “Social Media has overtaken porn as the #1 activity on the Web” – this is a good thing… I think.

(h/t communicate Jesus)