I have imported the content (eveentually!) so we will see if that works.

Restraint

Restraint « Bits & Pieces

Eugene Peterson: Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

(I think that this statement does not just apply to North American Spirituality but to Aus/NZ/UK/Euro spirituality as well.)

Via Mark Sayers

"Heaven Is The Face" single available Today

We’ve waited for this day to come. Wondered if he would write again? could write again? write about this?

Steven returns with Hopefulness and sorrow and praise mixed together. Desperate hope. To me, a message I need to hear, I think we all need to hear for the life we’re each living.

Click here

House Mix: "Heaven Is The Face" single available Today

http://www.perfectchurch.ca/

In many ways it was a typical church service, but it’s hard to capture in words the intangible qualities of a church that really seems to be getting some things right.

Again I was reminded that the look of the building or the quality of the musos etc is not what impresses me these days. Buy the atmosphere created by people who show genuine love for one another, love for God and love for strangers speaks volumes about the health of the place.

Backyard Missionary » Blog Archive » Rocket Science?

The good the bad and the redeemed

The music industry and the church in the West have one thing in common. They are both in a crisis of decline. Music is still as popular as ever, but few want to, or need to pay for it anymore. The landscape has shifted and the music industry is struggling to adapt to the new culture. Thus amongst record executives there is a lot of soul searching going on. When I read this quote in the New York Times from one of the giants of the music industry, David Geffen, I could not help but think that this quote could also describe the errors of the church as well as the music industry.

“The music business, as a whole, has lost its faith in content…Only 10 years ago, companies wanted to make records, presumably good records, and see if they sold. But panic has set in, and now it’s no longer about making music, it’s all about how to sell music.”

At some point we as the church became more interested in the science of marketing the gospel than in the quality of the gospel that we were living out. One thing that we can learn from the woes of the record industry is that this is a surefire recipe for disaster. Thus one of the answers for both the church and the record industry is to worry less about selling and more about crafting life changing, and transcendent content.

What the Church can learn from the Music Biz « Mark Sayers

Sharpen the Saw

Ecclesiastes 10:10 states: "Using a dull axe requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed (NLT)." There a lot of wisdom here . . . if we’ll stop and think about it.

Imagine finding someone in the woods working hard sawing down a tree. “What are you doing?”, you ask. “Can’t you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.” “You look exhausted!” you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?” “Over five hours,” he replies, “and I’m dead tired! This is hard work.” “Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen the saw?” you inquire. “I’m sure it would go a lot faster.” “I don’t have time to sharpen the saw”, the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy sawing.” It sounds funny but how true it can be in our own busy lives.

Stephen Covey in his best-selling book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

refers to this as Habit 7, which is taking time to "Sharpen the Saw." It’s all about preserving and enhancing one of the greatest assets you have - you.

Mark Conner’s Space: Sharpen the Saw

Well our church, Berwick Church of Christ is seeking a new pastor!  if you are a leader and believe that God is leading you into new things, I encourage you to head over to www.bcoc.com.au and check out the documents there that relate to this position.  Be assured the church is praying for you!