dave miers dot com » life http://davemiers.com davemiers.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:17:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Back from a Short Hiatus http://davemiers.com/2012/02/06/back-from-a-short-hiatus/ http://davemiers.com/2012/02/06/back-from-a-short-hiatus/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:49:54 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9552 More than 2 weeks have passed since the last blog post. I’m back! January had only 6 posts. The smallest month since I started blogging in 2006. February – here we come! Lots been happening. Summercamp. Youth + Kids kick off for 2012. Ordination. Sam’s Undie Day.

Above pic is Narrabeen Lake and Narrabeen Beach. Originally posted here.

]]> http://davemiers.com/2012/02/06/back-from-a-short-hiatus/feed/ 0 Pinch + Punch // January 2012 http://davemiers.com/2012/01/09/pinch-punch-january-2012/ http://davemiers.com/2012/01/09/pinch-punch-january-2012/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:13:40 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9509 Happy New Year! I hope this (belated) pinch + punch blog post finds you enjoying 2012!

New reader of DMDC? These posts were the most clicked for December 2011:

I hope you’ll stick around for fresh contact in 2012! Peaceout.

]]> http://davemiers.com/2012/01/09/pinch-punch-january-2012/feed/ 0 Top 20 Most Clicked Articles from 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/12/28/top-20-most-clicked-articles-from-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/12/28/top-20-most-clicked-articles-from-2011/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:35:31 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9488 The following are the most popular 2011 posts according to clicks on dmdc. Clicks doesn’t necessarily equate to quality. But I’ll let you be the judge. Thanks for clicking. Peaceout.

  1. The Egyptian Revolution
  2. Dear Aussie Muslims
  3. Which English Bible?
  4. Pray for Steve Chong. Now!
  5. Lecrae’s New Album – REHAB: THE OVERDOSE
  6. Grow a Goatee for the Cottage
  7. Have you made the switch to the HCSB?
  8. Mars Hill Kids Ministry Vision
  9. The Most Famous Youth Pastor in the World…
  10. The Smartest Youth Pastor in Sydney…
  11. Youth Ministry Papers: Commitment is Counter-Cultural
  12. Harbour Bridge Construction and other Amazing Sydney Photos for FREE!
  13. Michael Collings – Tracksuit Wearing Legend!
  14. The G.O.S.P.E.L.
  15. Clean Water, Dirty Water and the Dash for Cash
  16. Youth Ministry Papers: Disciples Making Disciples
  17. Resolved: Read the Word
  18. Creation Swap – Free Stuff for Church Design
  19. 4 Youth Sermons on ROMANS 8
  20. 4 Rules That Every Young Christian Leader Should Know
]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/12/28/top-20-most-clicked-articles-from-2011/feed/ 0 No More Tumbleweed http://davemiers.com/2011/12/17/no-more-tumbleweed/ http://davemiers.com/2011/12/17/no-more-tumbleweed/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:13:20 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9395 The December blog drought is about to end with a barrage of posts ready to be unleashed on the interwebs. We’ve been away on holidays for the past week. A pic from Kiama Carols:

Stay tuned for the following blogposts:

  • Compassion Christmas/New Year Fundraising Project
  • How to become a Christian
  • Music Reviews
  • Best of 2011
  • App Reviews
  • Christmas Sermon Preview
  • Bus Stop News
  • Year 12 Youth Ministry Strategy
]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/12/17/no-more-tumbleweed/feed/ 0 Pinch + Punch // December 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/12/01/pinch-punch-december-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/12/01/pinch-punch-december-2011/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:28:31 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9380 This might well be the final Pinch + Punch. I always seem to back date it!! Today is 8th December, but I’m pretending it’s the 1st. Here’s a Desktop wallpaper from smashing mag:

New reader of DMDC? These posts were the most clicked for November 2011:

Hanno un grande Dicembre!

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/12/01/pinch-punch-december-2011/feed/ 0 Right round like a record, baby http://davemiers.com/2011/11/21/right-round-like-a-record-baby/ http://davemiers.com/2011/11/21/right-round-like-a-record-baby/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:43:04 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9327 Sam with his cousin Fin. Spinning. Bonus points if you can name the park & suburb.

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/11/21/right-round-like-a-record-baby/feed/ 0 The World is a Safer Place http://davemiers.com/2011/11/20/the-world-is-a-safer-place/ http://davemiers.com/2011/11/20/the-world-is-a-safer-place/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:59:23 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9321 If you missed the first two posts, I grew a goatee. It looked terrible. It’s now gone. The world is a safer place. My face is still ugly. It was to help raise money for the cottage.

Donations are still being accepted.

DONATE MONEY HERE | FACEBOOK PAGE | THE COTTAGE WEBSITE

Pic originally from my photoblog.

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/11/20/the-world-is-a-safer-place/feed/ 0 Cottage Goatee Update – Very Chic http://davemiers.com/2011/11/15/cottage-goatee-update-very-chic/ http://davemiers.com/2011/11/15/cottage-goatee-update-very-chic/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:57:15 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9282 I only recently learned how to say ‘chic’. This is useful considering that my goatee is very chic! Find out why I’m growing a goatee. Here it is in all its photo booth glory:

Will you consider supporting the cottage? The team still has more than $2000 until we reach the target.

Here are some reasons why I think it’s worthwhile.

DONATE MONEY HERE | FACEBOOK PAGE | THE COTTAGE WEBSITE

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/11/15/cottage-goatee-update-very-chic/feed/ 2 4 Destructive Personal Effectiveness Myths http://davemiers.com/2011/11/10/4-destructive-myths/ http://davemiers.com/2011/11/10/4-destructive-myths/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:30:13 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9261 I recently read the ‘Four Destructive Myths Most Companies Still Live By‘ from the Harvard Business Review. Each of them challenges how I operate in different ways. Below are the 4 myths (in bold) and their relevance for me.

  • Myth #1: Multitasking is critical in a world of infinite demand. Multitasking is stupid. It’s taken me a while to admit it. I regularly try to juggle 5 things at once.
  • Myth #2: A little bit of anxiety helps us perform better. Here’s a brief blogpost I wrote 4 years ago: ‘The Dead-Line Driven Life‘. I haven’t changed. I need to “for the sake of my family, for others who rely on me; and for godly discipline.”
  • Myth #3: Creativity is genetically inherited, and it’s impossible to teach. My application of this one is slightly different to the the article. I’m fairly creative, but often I don’t trust that others can also be creative! So I become a bottle neck, either by having to do the creative work or making sure the creative work is up to my standard.
  • Myth #4: The best way to get more work done is to work longer hours. Guilty. Longer hours doesn’t lead to more effectiveness. Repeat.

Confession over.

Read the full blog post for more detail on each one.

Any of them resonate with you? I’d be interested to hear of any strategies you have for bringing about change.

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/11/10/4-destructive-myths/feed/ 2 Grow a Goatee for the Cottage http://davemiers.com/2011/11/07/gag-cottage/ http://davemiers.com/2011/11/07/gag-cottage/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:42:12 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9250 I’m growing a goatee to raise money for The Cottage Counselling Centre. Check out this vid:

DONATE MONEY HERE | FACEBOOK PAGE | THE COTTAGE WEBSITE

Below are four reasons why The Cottage is worth supporting:

1. The Cottage is a charity that does great work providing counselling services on a Not-For-Profit basis to those in need at 6 locations around Sydney.
The Cottage was initially started through the vision of professional psychologists who gained the support of one of the churches on the Northern Beaches to establish a counselling centre in a small cottage on the church grounds in Narrabeen.  The Cottage was established so those who can’t afford commercial counselling could still gain access to effective counselling services.  The counsellors see people struggling with many different kinds of issues; grief, anxiety, depression, anger, domestic violence, childhood abuse, addictions, sexuality issues, disability, relationship strain, and parenting issues.  They run on a shoestring and never turn anyone away from their door.

We are able to provide these services through subsidies from local organisations such as RSLs, local churches and through fund raising.

In the 15 years since the Cottage started, they have provided excellent care for hundreds of clients through referrals from GPs and through awareness raising in the local communities.  In recent years there has been an increasing demand for the Cottage’s services, with a further five centres being opened.  It should be noted that this is not at the expense of commercial services.  They are also run off their feet.  This is a double edged sword.  It means that the Cottage’s services are needed but it also means that they have to subsidise more, and with a growing operation with more counsellors, they also have increased admin costs.

DONATE MONEY HERE | FACEBOOK PAGE | THE COTTAGE WEBSITE

2. Why does the Cottage need your help?
There are more people than ever who need counselling but can’t afford commercial services. As a result, the Cottage has expanded and now operates 6 centres.  But the Cottage policy of never turning away someone who genuinely needs counselling and genuinely cannot afford those services puts enormous pressure on costs.  Unless the Cottage receives much needed funds, they will need to consider reducing services or closing their doors.

3. The Cottage has virtually no administrative overheads
The Cottage runs a very, very lean operation with just one full time employee – Genni, the Director of the Cottage.  And even Genni does about 50% counselling and 50% being a Director.  So that means your money will go directly to sustaining the frontline counselling services the Cottage provides.

4. Your money goes straight to the Cottage.
6.5% of every donation goes to Everyday Hero, the website that is hosting this fundraising effort.  Apart from that, every cent of your donation goes directly into the Cottage’s bank account.  No middlemen, no commissions, no fees.

DONATE MONEY HERE | FACEBOOK PAGE | THE COTTAGE WEBSITE

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/11/07/gag-cottage/feed/ 4 Pinch + Punch // November 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/11/01/pinch-punch-november-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/11/01/pinch-punch-november-2011/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:22:54 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9235 Pinch + Punch! Here’s my selection from the Smashing Mag November desktop calendars:

If you are a new reader of DMDC – the posts below were the most clicked for the month of October. Check ‘em:

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/11/01/pinch-punch-november-2011/feed/ 0 Milestone? Twenty-One Plus Ten http://davemiers.com/2011/10/15/thirty-one/ http://davemiers.com/2011/10/15/thirty-one/#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:36:31 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9147

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/10/15/thirty-one/feed/ 0 Pinch + Punch // October 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/10/01/pinch-punch-october-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/10/01/pinch-punch-october-2011/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:22:19 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9087 Welcome to another back-dated edition of Pinch + Punch! According to the dmdc archives September 2011 had only 11 blog posts. This is the lowest number since 7 posts in January 2007. Is this blog dying? No! Never! Look out October 2011!!

The Smashing Mag desktop calendars have been getting worse. So this month I chose the above desktop calendar from Challies.com – I don’t think the design is brilliant, but it’s good prep for Reformation Day at the end of October. If you are a new reader of DMDC – the posts below were the most clicked for the month of September. Check ‘em:

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/10/01/pinch-punch-october-2011/feed/ 2 SOULIES Leadership Crew 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/09/19/soulies-leadership-crew-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/09/19/soulies-leadership-crew-2011/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:34:07 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9031 Soulies recently went away on our youth camp, Mission Impossible. It was a sweet, sweet, encouraging time in Philippians. Here’s a pic of our youth leaders. They’re legends:

I’ve been writing less on this blog this month, but increasing content on our youth website. Here are the latest 10 posts:

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/09/19/soulies-leadership-crew-2011/feed/ 1 One year on the Beaches http://davemiers.com/2011/09/05/one-year-on-the-beaches/ http://davemiers.com/2011/09/05/one-year-on-the-beaches/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:09:08 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9013 It’s been one year since we moved to Narrabeen. Crazy, I know. We really are thankful to God for the provision of an amazing church family at St Faith’s to serve among with joy.

The above pic (courtesy of State Records NSW) is of the opening of the Narrabeen Tramway, c.1913. We haven’t seen any of the trams yet…

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/09/05/one-year-on-the-beaches/feed/ 5 Rowena: slender, fair and white-haired http://davemiers.com/2011/09/02/rowena-slender-fair-and-white-haired/ http://davemiers.com/2011/09/02/rowena-slender-fair-and-white-haired/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:34:29 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=9006

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/09/02/rowena-slender-fair-and-white-haired/feed/ 0 Pinch + Punch // September 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/09/01/pinch-punch-september-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/09/01/pinch-punch-september-2011/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:04:57 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=8998 The title of this blog post loses some of its punch when I regularly post it a couple of days late! But nonetheless – welcome to a new month AND a new season!! It’s Spring, but it feels like Summer down here at Narrabeen Beach. Yesssss. September includes: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE; a new Soulies (non-residential) Study Camp; prep for NYMC; some serious planning for 2012 and sunbaking. Bring it.

Above is my fave pic from the September smashing mag desktop designs. If you are a new reader of DMDC – the posts below were the most clicked for the month of August. Check them out:

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/09/01/pinch-punch-september-2011/feed/ 0 UNASHAMED + RICE + CONFIRMATION + MORE MISSION http://davemiers.com/2011/08/23/unashamed-rice-confirmation-more-mission/ http://davemiers.com/2011/08/23/unashamed-rice-confirmation-more-mission/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:06:44 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=8960 I’m in the middle of a particularly busy time at the moment. (Sorry if I haven’t replied to your email!) Lots of good things going on at St Faith’s and Soulies as well as some external ministry opportunities. This blog post is a quick highlights package…

UNASHAMED – Friday night was great!! Over 350 young punks turned up to our northern beaches combined youth event! Awesome music by City Surrender (from St Paul’s Castle Hill) and a very sharp and pointy sermon from Ross Ciano. Approx 15 responded to the gospel with a bunch more recommitting themselves to following Jesus. Lots to thank God for, a few things to iron out if we do it again.

RICE – there were about 4000 young crew in at the Sydney Entertainment Centre for the rally. I really enjoyed the stripped back program… it actually finished early! Sam Chan gave an absolute cracker of a talk from Luke 19:1-10. I don’t know how many responded to the gospel, but there were hundreds… maybe 250-300? That’s a guess. I had the privilege of praying with 6 young guys afterwards. Such a buzz. Such a joy.

CONFIRMATION – I’ve really enjoyed the last month of Confirmation Classes with a bunch of year 10s and some older lads. We spent quality time learning the basics of Christianity from a John Stott outline and working through the catechism in the Anglican Prayer Book. Solid stuff. Sunday night was the confirmation service. Really encouraging. Killer sermon from the Bish (Glenn Davies). Packed house. Good vibe.

MORE MISSION – I’ve given 5 talks at universities across Sydney in the last week with 2 more to go this week. Lots of Christian uni students across the 3 campuses have been excited to be on mission together with many of them bringing guests to each event. I’ve had some good chats with people and know there have been a few respond to the gospel with many more keen to keep checking out Jesus. Rad.

Praise God for good gear going down.

3 of the 4 pics originally from here.

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/08/23/unashamed-rice-confirmation-more-mission/feed/ 0 3photos: Hunter Valley http://davemiers.com/2011/08/05/3photos-hunter-valley/ http://davemiers.com/2011/08/05/3photos-hunter-valley/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:07:28 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=8860 3photos of Sam in a Hunter Valley winery. Don’t worry, he drank hot chocolate.

Hunter Valley 1

2 more below

Hunter Valley 2

Hunter Valley 3

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/08/05/3photos-hunter-valley/feed/ 1 Pinch + Punch // August 2011 http://davemiers.com/2011/08/01/pinch-punch-august-2011/ http://davemiers.com/2011/08/01/pinch-punch-august-2011/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:29:39 +0000 davemiers http://davemiers.com/?p=8837 Hey blog dogs. July has been a lazy blog month. No apologies. I’ve got some fresh content lined up for August. Maybe some apologies? Hey good news about the Thankyou Water in 7-eleven campaign… read about it hear! Hey our soccer team jumped into the top four this last week. Yieeew. Hey I set myself a 6 kilo winter weight loss challenge. I’m half way there.

Above is my fave pic from the August smashing mag desktop designs. And here’s the best of July (according to clicks) and some other stats:

]]> http://davemiers.com/2011/08/01/pinch-punch-august-2011/feed/ 0