Fraser Hardy

Faiths challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:56:00 +0000

Sure God has spoken. In fact God has spoken as clearly as I have ever heard Him yet here I am now still waiting, even frustrated to see His word fulfilled.
Ever felt and experienced this frustration. I have and I am.
Consider Abraham as a starter in this journey of promises,time delays and finally world changing results of such faith. Consider Davids call and most of scriptures heroes and I find God not just testing the word but more importantly the heart of the person the word was sent to. Ouch that can really, really hurt ones patience and confidence.
God has spoken so clearly about planting a church in Hamilton and yet since the time our team has wonderfully come together and taken shape I have experienced constant delays,distractions and spiritual attack.
Looking at a church planters list of 'most common mistakes made by church planters' , just this moment and guess what ; the first mistake is ' Taking spiritual warfare lightly'. No surprise I guess . Couldn't be more accurate ,so tonight at our church planters cell group we will be looking into ways we are living and actively using the weapons of our warfare.
Just reading Romans 4 and find these words related to Abrahams faith-' He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief- but being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
This from the father of faith makes so much sense when faced with the journey of faith. The bible has such a capacity to relate,and then convey such powerful gems of truth that I find myself immediately surrounded by a cloud of witnesses that cheer me on knowing that they have walked on this pathway before.
Keep cheering guys-now's a really good time.

Church and sex industry !

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:39:00 +0000

'You work for the church and they give you time off to come and visit us-no way'
This was the amazed response of a lady working at one of Palmerston Norths brothels .After several visits,home baking,flowers and a regular visit from a couple of the church ladies it blew them away that these ladies from the church were even allowed to visit such places.
The girls now wait for their visit and chat. Even the manager expressed how grateful she is for such acts of kindness. Kindness is such a powerful thing-it opens hearts , conversations and lives to hope, restoration and belief.

Congrats to the Palmy girls.

Please send me any other current stories in your life that are missional and that you are willing to have printed in this blog

Check out the next entry soon to come-healing a foot through through prayer in city street leads to conversion experience!

Disproportionate favour

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:54:00 +0000

Always bothered me as a young boy if my brothers received more lollies than me .The favour shown to them left me feeling robbed as I had done equal work for the reward.
That's whats so annoying about favour unless we are the ones who are at the receiving end.
Gods favour is always unfair and unequal-He gives to whom He will : heals some,forgives others, gives grace when don't deserve it. That's our God.
Lately my friend Glenn France explained how that we should expect disproportionate favour from God as his children. He related this to the company he sells for and is now their biggest seller because he expects Gods disproportionate favour on His business because it is Gods nature to do so. He explained that in the years he has worked for his company only two large machines of a specific variety have ever been sold .He drove up a driveway un announced and in one day sold 7 of these and later had potential orders for another 2-3. That's disproportionate favour. Glenn believes we are meant to live under this favour in every sphere of our lives yet we struggle so often to believe we deserve it.
Glenn challenged us to believe for this sort of favour as we plant the church in Hamilton at end of 18 - that disproportionate favour be given to us to see see hundreds added, sinners saved, miracles occurring, breakthrough etc present far above anything we have worked for or had in the past . If we only get what we work for we simply reap what we sowed but disproportionate favour reaps well above what it should -100 fold plus.
Thanks Glenn you have inspired us here.

Prayer must work

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:05:00 +0000

Our church planting team came back convinced after a week end in Hamilton that we must pray and believe for Maori and Island people to join our church plant.We are just too white as a group!
Got to prayer last week over this as a team and guess what !
Today I receive an email from a young island man, someone I had briefly met some years ago. He knew nothing about our desire to plant a church in Hamilton end 08 but wrote explaining he had been stirred by God for a long time to get involved in church planting and maybe one day lead a church.He explained his job is ending in 2008 and wondered if I knew of anything happening !!!!
Hello ! whatever happens from here I cant help but marvel at the power of prayer to move circumstance's .

Keep praying!

Church planting is more exciting than first anticipated

Church planting-signs and wonders.

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:24:00 +0000

God allows us to experience 'signs' that leave us in 'wonder' simply to let us know He is around the place and very interested in our lives.

Two weeks ago I went a day ahead of our church planting team to pray with some of the northern leaders around Hamilton and to see if God was saying anything to us. Great time and lots of revelation.
However what struck me was what happened the day before with a land agent who took me around looking for homes. I will call her 'Mary'.
When Mary found out I was in the region to plant a church she went silent and so we happily talked about buying homes and general life talk.On our way back to being dropped off Mary explained that she had a spiritual past,still had a faith but due to hurt,marriage issues and church disappointments she had not engaged with church or Christians for many years.
As I hopped out of the car I asked Mary if I could say a short prayer for her in the car.She bowed her head and I asked God to help her in selling homes and for Him to reveal Himself further to her. I did not expect to see Mary again outside of housing enquiries.
The next day this remarkable letter turns up from Mary-I quote from it......

'Just wanted to thank you for praying with me today.I don't think that it was by coincidence that out of all the agents in my branch it was me who got given your email enquiry.When I was baptised [she had not mentioned this] God told me that He had a great plan for me and that I was going to be used in positive and awesome ways by God to spread His word and I was going to be a person who was going to lead many people into His kingdom.I am pretty sure that you were sent by God to me to help me and I would love to be one of the first of your new congregation when you arrive.'

'You had such a comfortable feel and made me speak of a faith that I hadn't spoken about in a long time.The fears I had were not fears at all; more likely excuses though I don't know why'

'So anyway, that God dude works in mysterious ways but He is good,that's why He has the top job.Thank you for being in the kingdom and doing what you do.Your church has already started growing even though you have even yet to plant it'

This 'sign' has not only convinced me and the team of Gods call to Hamilton but left us wondering at what next He will surprise us with next.

Thanks Mary- you made our trip !

Amazing what a little prayer can do.

More CVT quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:12:00 +0000

These last two sessions from CVt were given by Greg Burson. These are the final snippets from the five days of training together.

Moving in the Spirit:

- Person,Presence, Power-these three realities are what the Holy Spirit means for the apostle Paul.
- Learning to listen, assess and respond are keys to being Spirit led.
- Learning to be led as a spiritual community is the only way to effectively do the work of the kingdom.

Leading a meeting:

-Leading in a meeting context can involve a huge number of variables-communication , coordination and collaboration skills which build confidence and growth in both the leader and listener.
- Lead and inspire people. Don't try to manage and manipulate people.Inventories can be managed but people must be led.
- Don't give your leadership away.
- Make sure you know what your main idea is.
-Try to create a sensory atmosphere [what see, smell, hear, touch, taste]
- Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truely endless [Mother Theresa]

Great sessions.

Some of the CVT sessions will soon be available on podcast.

Carried by a song

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Before I got to the room I was struck by the presence of God-literally struck . I could hear music being played in the lounge but couldn't hear the words yet my eyes started to tear up and I became aware that there was something 'happening' through the song being played.
Entered the room and was later told it was a song that has been recently released out of a church in Zimbabwe who are walking through incredibly painful and testing times. Something of true worship , that which is forged through times of suffering, that which is costly and precious which had been extracted by the Spirit of God overwhelmed me.
It was simple scripture from Rev 1:4-8 declaring that Jesus is 'Alpha and Omega' and goes on to declare that 'He ' is worthy to be praised .
Simple but effective when the Holy Spirit extracts such presence and conviction out of such .
For the last 4 months I have sung this song / scripture hundreds of times and found myself carried by its certainty and overwhelming conviction that Alpha and Omega [gk-Gods total and complete ability] is indeed able to completely keep,carry and provide.
Perhaps I get to experience a little of the certainty and overflow that the believers in Zimbabwe carry in the midst of their suffering- treasure extracted out of dark places I guess.
Paul in 2 Cor 4: 12 through his trials writes to the Corinthians and puts his sufferings into a bigger context by saying: ' Death [testings etc] works in us, but life works in you.
I guess in the same way the 'death' being experienced in many believers lives in Zimbabwe has indeed been ' life' to me. So grateful to the saints .

More CVT quotes.

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:30:00 +0000

Here's more great teaching from our CVT [church vocational training week] so here's my second edition of 'snippets 'form that time.

Margie Malcolm: Building our inner world.

-I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in the inner man-Eph 3:16-19.
-Intimacy with God is found in the presence of God
-Intimacy is the freshly restored joy of the church.
-Transformation,protection and victory all come out of being in His presence.
-To use the Word effectively in prayer it is my conviction that it needs to be spoken aloud and with conviction.
-The life of the prayer is greatly expanded as they allow the word to dwell in their hearts.

Graeme Brock; Exegesis.

-The bible is a stream wherein the elephant may swim and the lamb may wade.
-The bible is the authoritative word of God,it is a supernatural book given through selected authors by the process of inspiration [ Gk-theopneusos-God breathed].
-God desires to meet us in His word.
-The smaller the passage being studied the greater the need for context.
-Words often change radically in time and so have little or no connection to the regional meaning of the word.

More CVT quotes next week.

Have a great one.

Church planting offering

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Great news-linknz took up our first national church planting offering to go toward encouraging the new pioneer works we start across this nation. So far nine churches have given $50,000 with others still to ring in so we are on track to seeing significant investment into the new church plants over this coming year.
Thanks to all the great teams that have sold this vision -let the days ahead see the fruit of such generosity out worked in many pioneering works.
Check out the church planting video in the 'church planting 'section of this site.

African woman

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:09:00 +0000

Mel Jeffs is a legend [ according to all who know her] and shes taking some of that legendary courage and passion to work with children in Burundi Africa for 12 months.

Mel is a big part of the Northcity Church in Christchurch,part of our Linknz CVT course and has had a call to Africa since young -shes already served in Tanzania.

Keep an eye on this lady who walks the talk,loves the lost and gives 110% to see that her God is made great where ever she is planted.

Away for a year,teaching children[many from orphanages], helping with the poor and needy and helping to be a part of the redemptive solution to this nation that has seen such tradgedy from the genocide that they and Rwanda experienced.

All she asks for is your prayer that she stay well,be protected and touch Gods heart for such a beautiful people. Oh by the way money helps -infact lots of it. So if you feel stirred send a email to Mel at melefrog@hotmail.com

Mel leaves in August so we are cheering her on all the way as she prepares for such a

CVT - soo good

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:36:00 +0000

Just finished 5 fantastic days of cvt [church vocational training] where 60 students and 20 leaders turned up to foster the dream- the dream that God believes His church and has eternal plans for her. Those willing to plant churches,go into nations or work vocationally within the context of church vocation were amped to take up the challenge and consider the possibilities of being used for such a dream.

Highlights and quotes from the week:

Prayer and such like! [Linda Burson ]
- Prayer is thinking in dialogue.
-Allow the word to 'Read Me'
-The word got into John's nerve endings,reflexes and imagination

God [Nigel Dixon -not !]
-Aristotle says that philosophy begins with wonder.
-Beyond the desert of criticism we want to be called again.
-An existent being acting with omnipotence and omniscience would make freedom impossible [in response to why God just doesn't step in and sort out our world]
-The church exists today as resident aliens,an adventurous colony in a society of unbelief.

Vision and Faith [Geoff Malcolm]
-Vision is seeing things from Gods perspective-Faith is trusting Him to carry it out.
-Keep record of what God says.
-You cannot 'technique' or 'purchase ' the promise into fulfillment-it requires trust and patience.
-Its through the promise we inherit-not via the shortcut.

Time to go but will share more gems in the next few days from CVT.

Catch you then.

Would love to receive any comments from CVT students to put onto this site as to how you found the week.

Paris in spring

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:44:00 +0000

The ultimate man has finally emerged wearing cape and T shirt to prove it.
Having just spent 10 days in England with friends linked to the Salt and Light Churches and ministering in many situations [ what great people and churches ] Dale and I boarded a plane to spend four days in Paris to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.
What a beautiful city, what a romantic vibe, what an expensive experience !!!
Paris in Spring-cool days, beautiful walks, mind blowing architecture, pickpockets galore , cafes and shops to kill for.
One site that captivated me: The Musee D'eOrsay. Could have spent all day in this art gallery with its hundreds of paintings done by artists like Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir that had previously only been seen by me in books and magazines. Such extraordinary beauty with some paintings over 4 meters in length that reached from the ceiling to the floor with their enormous size and detail drawing you into their full wonder.

Other paintings could have been done by a tantrum throwing 3 year old but overall a brilliant stop and worth every moment of the time spent there.

Our favorite cafe just 30 meters from our little hotel unit found us in conversation with english speaking locals who loved the All Blacks and told us where to shop while evading the local pick pocket's.

Finished off with a weekend with our good friends Dave and Rhi Day [lead church in Bristol] in Barcelona , Spain, which again was so much fun. Lots of interesting people , sites and food . Sat in the local sports cafe with a room full of Welsh supporters cheering on their team to their six nations victory. Could have been at Cardiff Arms park with all the noise .

So that's where we have been .Totally wonderful.

So the ultimate man cant stop smiling after what has been a great trip with the love of his life .

Will wear the T shirt as long as possible and bore our friends crazy with travel pics and exaggerated stories.

Thanks

Fraser

At that time

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:58:00 +0000

'In that day men/women began to call upon the name of the Lord ' Gen 4:26

Adam and Eve seamingly failed to fill the earth with a Godly offspring [the perfect family] as was intended.Their plan to raise great sons ended up with Cain missing his weekly anger management classes and killing Abel for taking first prize at the show and tell morning talk.

Cains life spiralls,he leaves Adam and Eve , deserts God and His presence and builds cities which have since that day become great places to hide away in. Sin increases, and although success is mixed with Cains journey ,ultimately [by Gen 6 ] the whole place is full of wickedness.
Adam and Eve must have wondered what all this was about-what God and His word was about and what purpose there was to live for. Adams next edition of 'raising brilliant families' would not be heading to the printer in the near future.

Finally after a long and difficult season a new son called Seth[ new appointment] is born to them and he in turn has a son called Enosh and then it declares 'AT THAT TIME MEN BEGAN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD'

This thought has inspired me over these weeks and out of it a real seed of hunger to call upon the Lord has been emerging.

Ultimately we are Spirit people and deep at the centre of that relationship is a profound longing to know the living God. This longing builds into a cry that overlooks the surrounding impossibilities and will not stop calling out until it sees the fruit of Gods promises fulfilled.
I have daily been repeating this verse and in so doing have found the 'name of the Lord' and His promises arising a fresh within me.
Like Seth and Enosh the future of all that God has promised can only be seized by those willing to rise up to challenge and change the future for good.

Let the 'call' be heard over Aotearoa in 2008.

Bulls in the tent

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:48:00 +0000

So why do people go camping ? Apparently its a great family activity that bonds families-a revelation that hasnt yet dawned on me.
We have just finished 7 days at Anaru Bay north of Gisborne at a Doc camp in a borrowed tent.
Our arival welcomed 24 hours of consistant heavy rain that by three in the morning had filled up the base of the tent leaving us bailing water,digging trenches and trying to recall what aspect of this experience was meant to be fun.
We emerged in the morning in our wet and humble state to find a Hilton like house /caravan parked ten meters from us. They turned on their hot showers, popped the chardenay corks and spent their time watching their poor neighbours [ us-looked like squatter camp] trying to turn the flood away.The final humiliation was to see their little genetically modified rat,apparently a dog,walk over to the corner of our tent and drop his very big bundle and then trot back over to the mini Hilton so as not to get wet.
I can really see now why some people actually kill and eat dogs ! The spade in my hand would have happily turned into a dog beating, grave digging tool had Mr and Mrs Hilton not been looking.
So please remind me again, which part of this builds great memories.Or perhaps thats just the point.You will never,ever forget the times spent on your tenting holidays as you remain deeply traumatised for many years and will need to talk to others about it many , many times.
A friend of ours told how when they came back from a walk they found their tent was gone and moving aroung the field they were camped in. They were informed that the farmers bull had got into their tent,got trapped and was now running aroung inside the tent and around the field. Sure hope the kids werent inside it!!!

Other insights to survive camping:
-Place a trumpet on your picnic table while camping as it is certain to keep the campsites on either side vacant.
-The guitar being used by the noisy teenager at the next camp site makes excellent kindling.

So my advice is buy one of those mini Hiltons and terrorise all those poor people in tents.

So thats it from me.If you have also been traumatised from a camping holiday do write back to this site and perhaps over time we can start a internet chat room as we coach each other back into healing.

The sad thing about all this-we will be back next year to repeat it all again !

Tales from a world tour

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:05:00 +0000

Below is Cindy Ruakere's final email from their world missional tour. She carries the life and zeal of God that has at its core the power to call up a new generation to live for the Jesus to the ends of the earth. We salute the whole team. You have inspired us all.

Fraser.

How fitting that as we near the end of the Karanga tour we come to Herrnhut, the founding place of the Moravian battlecry, ‘that the Lamb may receive the reward for His suffering’. The place that is once again inspiring a generation.

For me it began in 2003 when Fraser Hardy spoke about Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf and the Moravians at Edge Church family camp. I was inspired to write Receive from that encounter, a song that would come to encapsulate my predominant message to inspire a youth generation into prayer and mission – kaahore te oranga o te tangata mo ia anake..

The song that has since sent me into the world, a song that would eventually lead us into doing this thing called the 2007 Karanga tour.

The YWAM conference that we were invited to participate in called mission live is in place to challenge and provoke people into thinking about and eventually doing mission. And challenge and provoke we did, as only we can. Jay joined us for this stint and it was so good to be reunited with our bro..to play with him again..to hear this provocative message that God is raising up in him. The German people received this message in a way that we have rarely seen on this tour. There was the initial shock as we pulled no punches and plunged straight into the challenge of what mission looks like for them, German youth. The provocation to rise up beyond the shame of the war…the fear of rallying…the horror at the thought of seeing masses united again for one purpose has riddled them with anxiety and laced them with mediocrity. So God sends from the ends of the earth provocateurs who will raise the battle cry within them and raise it up we did; as Jay confronted them and I’m sure at times affronted them, you felt the corporate flinching as he spoke about a fatherland that was to father nations for Jesus. It was gentle but provocative, at times like a scalpel, at times like a hammer but through it all it seemed to awaken a longing in them. a valid longing, a true God induced longing that goes back centuries. From Zinzendorf and the heroes from Herrnhut to Tilmann Geske who was martyred in Turkey on april 18th 2007.

So we did what we were sent here to do. The joy to see the message received and absorbed was so encouraging, especially as we near the end of this Karanga tour. We know that from this one weekend God added to the hope and dream of a man by the name of Jan C. Schlegel to see 10,000 German believers raised up and sent out again unto the ends of the earth..to every nation...

Kein mensch jebt fuer sich selbst…

Kaahore te oranga o te tangata mo ia anake…

Cindy Ruakere.

Here I am

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:27:00 +0000

Just listened to Hugh Thompson,an older man, an apostolic leader from England who spoke out of Abrahams and Samuels lives and a few others who encountered God. In each case they responded to God with 'Here I am ' and then had God speak powerfully to them. Hugh explained that this meant 'here i am totally present, totally engaged, totally with You'. Challenged me how 'un engaged' I can get when seeking God.
Spent today with other Linknz leaders today, we prayed, fasted and spent the day as close as possible to be totally engaged with God.It was refreshing and challenging to be ' up close' and 'totally engaed'. Felt so right.
Must do it again-soon.

Mike Rowe - Testimony of Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:32:00 +0000

This is Mike Rowes testimony,a young man I have had time with over 2007.During all this time he has been in a cast and had a broken arm so this testimony of healing is very encoraging.
'In February 2006 I was playing in a sevens tournament for my club team in Whangarei when I was tackled and landed on my wrist braking my Scaphoid. At the time it was sore but I didn’t think it was broken. After the tournament I met with the Northland team physio who said it wasn’t broken, just sore. A week or so later I went to the hospital in Rotorua. They saw that I could move my wrist so they decided it didn't need an X-ray. For the next 2 months I strapped it up and played with the Blues development team although it was pretty sore.

In April 2006 I was still in pain so was sent to a surgeon in Whangarei who didn't have a very good reputation, but it had to be worked on quickly. After many months of going back and forth different surgeons around the country including a
top surgeon in Auckland, my wrist hadn't improved at all. I was sent back to Whangarei but they were unable to operate or do anything more for me. My contract with Northland was nearly up and so I returned home to Feilding. I was then sent to a surgeon in Palmerston North who saw the problem was too complex so he sent me on to Professor Thurston in Wellington.

Professor Thurston decided that it needed operating on and would need a complicated
operation called a vascular bone craft. After 4 months of going back and forward with more X-rays it looked as though this bone was never going to heal. Rather than getting better with each operation it was getting worse. It had come to the point that I didn’t care if they couldn’t fix my wrist well enough to play sport again I just didn’t want a weak wrist that was always sore and stopped me doing day to day activities.

During the operation Professor Thurston couldn’t even find the break at first. The X-ray that I'd had earlier on revealed that there was massive damage. But as Professor Thurston looked at my wrist, there was nothing to do – it was fixed. After the operation he walked in to Recovery with a beaming smile and gave me the good news, there was no need to operate – my wrist had been healed!

Only God could have healed it as quickly as it did. I know that Mum and Dad never stopped praying even though I had given up a long time ago. I also know that Fraser and Dale were also praying for me during this time.

I had been in the safe hands of a highly trained professional who was to find out that he had been beaten to the operation by GOD ALMIGHTY.'

Famous People

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:38:00 +0000

Bryce Parks was my all time hero in the fourth and fifth forms-he could grow a beard in a week, drink beer [ lots of it] and was in the first fifteen when the rest of us just dreamed of such lofty achievements.He was as famous a person as I knew and so i let everyone know he was in my class and infact was a very , very close friend [ I think?]. He ultimately dropped out of school, lost his way and last time i heard had been in prison.
Why is it we all love to identify with 'famous people'. When I see people I grew up with now on TV or doing well in life I somehow take a bit of qudos for their success even if they have long since forgotten my name.When they fail we soon move on and identify with another rising star.
My latest 'famous person' is a little differnt from the rest.I think its for life and even when I move on he wont forget my name . The reason is that he is a friend, a spiritual son and faithful follower of the same Lord.Hes married, got three children,hates gardening, loves music and worship and faithfully dotes on his wife and children.He makes mistakes, fails at times, picks himself up and keeps competing in this race called life.
He wrestles with his faith, asks hard questions and loves the church with all its challenges.
He loves to laugh and hang out and enjoy the favour life has to offer but is no stranger to challenges and the odd tear that life throws up at us all.
Hes joined me weekly at 6 am many years ago as part of a group of the ' younge men' who met and prayed and journeyed together as we ventured to learn together and believe that a relevant and vital church could be raised up in this day.
Hes served in the community, worked as a counsellor in schools,been a city counsellor,led Youth For Christ in Palmerston North, and seved in a full time role on the church staff.
So whos this 'famous person'. His name is Jono Naylor and he has just been elected with a record vote as one of our youngest mayors into being the new mayor of Palmerston North.

Hes 'famous' because hes been tested and tried even when he was far from the public arena.
Hes 'famous' because hes given what seamed impossible a try and overcome.
Hes 'famous' because hes faithful to his wife and family and loyal to his friends.
Hes 'famous' because he loves God and wont compromise the cause.
Hes 'famous' because he gets a free car park in our city streets.

I really dont know what makes someone famous but somehow I think this may be as close as I get to the real deal.
I congratulate Jono and Karen as they step forward into this next stage of their lives.

spiritual fathers

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:11:00 +0000

'there are not many fathers' [ 1 Cor 4 : 15 ]

Just had Barney Coombs with Dale and I and some of the Linknz network over the last ten days. What an amazing privilege to have had Barney in my life for over 27 years-a rare treasure.
Barney met me at age 24 in NZ , invited me to travel with him and to see how apostolic ministries were working in their sphere of the international church scene .Ive been a 'spiritual son' since that day and have travelled, ministered and learnt around this wonderful man. A true apostolic father and friend in the gospel to me.A privilege that so many orphaned leaders have never experienced.
In all these years he has been to NZ almost every year, has instructed, encouraged, rebuked and inspired me to stay true, sincere and fearless to this calling.
As a single young man he took me as a Timothy and through some deeply trying times has never wavered to stand with me, has given money, time, tears and a whole lot of laughs through these years.
And now I see him speaking into my natural sons , 'spiritual grandsons' I guess and now leaving in them a legacy of grace, love and pastoral care that is a rare treasure in the light of so many busy and professional people called into this role.
I salute such a man, friend and father in the gospel.I am truly blessed.

There are not many fathers- but thank God for the ones who have perservered and earned the right to be true and trusted leaders in the church today.

Books

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:47:00 +0000

Had an enormous response back from people regarding their favorite reading material over 2007 [exactly 1 person reads books apparently if the responses have anything to go by]
So here's my lot for 2007.

1- U2 BY U2. An interesting read as Bono,Larry,Edge and Adam share in chat sized bits their journey from school boys in Ireland to mega international rock stars.Only half way through but loving it.Their spiritual journey including the power and influence of the charismatic move and their ups and downs that was always tempered by their spiritual awareness.Lots of pictures, a good look and easy read before one falls off to sleep at night.

2-Above all earthly powers, by David F Wells. Too much of this book certainly will put you to sleep but a thorough and well written book examining culture,modernism,postmodernism and their affects on society and the church as a whole. Cal Thomas [syndicated columnist] says this about this book:
'The finest critique of culture I have read since the late philosopher - theologian Francis Schaeffer.David Wells outlines the lay of the cultural land and offers a type of GPS system for navigating it if we are to arrive safely at our final destination.Every Christian should read and internalise what Weill's says in this powerful book'.
Not easy reading but worth the read.

3-The Bible.
I'm absolutely serious that this remains my number one read.I am more transfixed by other books at times[holiday novels and sport books] but once read rarely want to read them again.Its now over 40 yrs since Ive read and re read this amazing book and it still keeps me coming back.It has living breath in its very pages and even in seasons of little illumination it gives away enough hope,joy,truth and wonder to keep coming back.
I have read the bible from cover to cover many ,many times but it keeps surprising me,speaking to me and challenging me to reach further into the life of the living God.
Yesterday it was Psalm 59:16 'But I will sing of Your power;Yes I will sing aloud of your mercy in the morning.For you have been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble'
Cant tell you how much hope and healing poured into me as I shared the psalmists need to trust in Gods power and strength'
Yes still number one for me.

SURF

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:02:00 +0000

Suns out today and all I can think of is surf and all the 'God blessed' people who live along the coast.Not fair - totally jealous.
What's it about surf that triggers such primal emotions in me; someone who hasn't surfed for months and for whom the future possibility for another dash to the coast looks bleak.Is it the sun,the waves,the friendship,the peace one encounters?

I realised its that part of me that wants to be free from daily choices,decisions and pressure that simply leaves you 'boring' and 'tired' and 'responsible'.The thought of a carefree life really does look good when winter is ending and the body is a bit tired and the planning and decision making needed for the months ahead looks pretty intimidating.
My friend Graeme Singleton has just got back from the Maldives where he surfed himself to a standstill. He cruelly sent me his quiver full of shots showing himself carving up the face of a beautiful 4 ft crystal clear wave in that part of the Indian ocean [ see the two shots].Apparently meant to encourage me but actually left me totally jealous and envious of someone being able to have a life to do such things.

Looking out the window and the suns out again and I hear that the surf is looking great down the south coast-that primal call just gets louder.
I know Jesus found the lakes and mountains to be His place of 'connection' and somehow that gives me a sense of permission to check out the diary and consider another dash to the coast.
I remember Bill Hybels talking to leaders on staying healthy and sane in this calling as church leader's .He spoke about having a healthy spiritual life [daily prayer,word,worship etc] and a healthy body[did gym 4-5 days a week-only a Dutchman like he could be that disciplined!] but how after all his disciplined lifestyle looking solely after his body and spirit life that he still felt weary.It wasnt till he spent time with good friends who didn't drain him and got back into his yachting [his sport he loved but gave up] that he truly felt whole and free again.He explained that yachting has become a key to filling up his emotional tank [peace,speed,wind,time alone,excitement etc]He recognised that being made with 3 working parts to our one being [body,soul,spirit] that we as Christians need to be aware that feeding our emotional tank is as important as feeding our spirit and body .In fact the emotional tank kept 'alive' gives joy to the rest of our life's journey.
So there we have it-Jesus and Bill Hybels both say its time for me to find a good beach,hot sun and a wave to heal my troubled soul !! Now all I have to do is convince Dale that Jesus and Bill really do know their stuff!!

ISAIAH 40:31 They shall renew their strength,they shall mount up with wings like eagles.

Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:55:00 +0000

Leaders are central to producing great communities.

Listen and look at the life of someone who has grown up under the leadership of a great dad or mum.When life gets rocky I notice they have an ability to fall back on their parents proven journeys.This journey carried pressure,loved through difficulties and trusted in simple and proven principles like faith,hope and love.

Listen and look at the journeys of people who have influenced the way you lead in the work place.In my case as a church leader I look at Barney Coombs from Canada , an apostle,friend and spiritual father who for 30 yrs has cared for me and my family.He has never missed a trip in 30 yrs,has financially cared for me in seasons of difficulty,has growled at my carnal behaviour,has believed in me when just a young man.The leadership he has modelled carries into my life to this day a security,faithfullness and confidence that overshadows my own journey as a leader.

Listen and look at the price leaders pay to produce lasting legacies.They all have paid a big price,have stood strong in opposition,experienced and walked daily in their own vulnerability,have failed,doubted yet have kept believing,kept trusting in others and in a simple belief that their life can make a difference.

This spot is dedicated to such leaders.To all of those great people let me say thank you.

Because my life is spent with leaders [church,business,parents]I get to listen and look at their lives and hear their stories.The challenge,pressure,joy and cost are never far from their conversations.Often they hear little of appreciation from those they serve and wonder if they really are making a difference.
Because of this I want to dedicate this spot to leaders who have influenced our lives and suggest this week we find ways to 'encourage and inspire' that person.Why not ring and thank them for the part they have played in your life,send them out to dinner,send a card,flowers,pray for them,send a movie pass or go all the way and buy them a new BMW ! Whatever the gift be, the 'thankyou' and 'gratitude' behind it will inspire them to keep on doing what is so vital-leadership!

We need great leaders so lets do our part in raising up their profile and place in our communities.

Proverbs 25:11.A word [gift]aptly spoken [given] is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

All over the world

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:55:00 +0000

Last year I lived in burundi (Africa), and one of the things that amazed me was just realizing how huge God is. That I could travel to the other side of the world and he is there. God is God all over the world, and God is moving all over the world. I recieved an email from a guy I worked with in Burundi in regards to a team of African evangelists they had trained and sent throughout Burundi.Here it is:

I've just received a report about what the twenty three groups of Harvest for
Christ evangelists got up to. Ten in each team, they went to fourteen unreached
areas, and had a massive impact. I know some reports tend to be quite
evangelastic(!) in terms of exaggerated numbers, but I assure you these guys are
the real deal. I'll just translate Onesphore's summary:

From our door-to-door visiting and outreach, 15,890 people believed and
prayed to receive Christ, including 47 witchdoctors and 16 Muslims. We burnt
talismans and objects of witchcraft in 49 families. There were 45 miraculous
healings, including 4 mentally ill and 11 demon-possessed people. 8 couples on
the verge of divorce repented and want to make their marriages work. 2 people
about to commit suicide were talked out of it. 308 people were trained for
follow-up in different churches.

He goes on:A famous witchdoctor at Ijenda, Joselyne, gave her life to
Christ. Her sister refused to believe, but brought over the demon-possessed
neighbour. The latter hadn't eaten for three days, and Joselyne's sister
challenged the believers:"If you heal this girl, I'll know that you are
serving the one true God.God duly healed the girl, and 21 people (including
the sister) promptly gave their lives to Christ. Elsewhere a group of
evangelists were arrested and taken to prison. One lad whilst in his cell led
two people to Christ! Another team were beaten up, but continued preaching.

That's just a sample. You get the idea! Praise God!

Its good to be reminded that we serve a Global God. The Church is doing amazing things all around the world by God's grace. What a privelage to be part of it.

God Bless

Aaron

Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:14:00 +0000

Every time I hear successful leaders speak about their journey it leaves me inspired and challenged to press on. Their battles,victories,and willingness to break through the mediocre to see change that effects the future generations empowers me in my own journey as a leader.
Just spent the day listening to Gordon Moore who now leads a CCC church in Brisbane of 2500 people . He originally came out of this region [Palmerston North] and was leading youth initiatives in this city about the same time I got saved.He moved to Ausie,pioneered a new church with 6 people and now leads this large church while being the national director of CCC Australia-amazing what comes out of little Palmy !
He outlined why most churches don't get beyond 200 people and suggested it had most to do with leadership culture.
He shared that churches up to 200 members [general observation by him and international research findings] was that these churches [85% of churches in the western world are smaller than 200 members] are built and led around a 'ministry' model.This ministry model is based around preaching,teaching,pastoral care,couselling,seving,worship etc.This builds up individuals giving them care and preaching encouragement. However churches that grow beyond the 200 level have had to embrace a 'leadership' model and culture that is committed to 'building the church corporate', taking the individual parts and building them into the whole.This type of leadership is committed to corporate direction,vision casting,team building,and structures to facilitate growth through an empowering style of leadership.
The challenge for most leaders he explained was that we and our people are usually content with a 'ministry' model that keeps individuals at the core . The idea and mindset by many that small churches are better keeps this smaller church model in safe hands. He has observed that the key values and mindset of people who want small churches are:

1-Everyone is involved-in everything .All contributions are welcomed even if it is not at a high level.All good churches should have this happening [pastoral care,involvement etc] but only as a part of the whole and not as the whole.

2- Everyone is informed-about everything.All believe they have a right to have a say.The colour of the building to the youth leaders salary are known by all,it is everyone's right!

3-Everyone is an influence-even when not gifted for it'. The worship team is a arena where the unskilled and un-called find themselves influencing the whole church.Give it a go mentality prevails.

4-Everyone is gifted by God-Arising out of the charismatic movement a theology and practice arose that all have gifts and abilities therefore all have the right to exercise that right.

These I realised are observations I also come across as I travel and minister across this nation.

The cost and capacity to lead people beyond the 'ministry'level left me very challenged.

On the other hand Gordon observed that leaders who have taken churches beyond the 'ministry' level have learnt they have to move into a 'leadership mindset' that becomes more specialised,empowers the right people,is architectural and reflective in practice,giving its energy to building the 'big picture'.The cost of this appears to be too great for most as being 'mates' and 'peers' with all holds a greater value and cultural influence on us than we may realise.
To order Gordon's small book email glogal@c3bd.com.

My style and ministry culture are different from Gordon's but his insights and journey of faith,persistance and willingness to believe in the power of leadership to empower churches into significant growth left me inspired.

Thanks Gordon-your journey has left me encouraged and expectant.Thanks for paying the cost.

Fishing and Blokes

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser Hardy) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 05:52:00 +0000

What is it about 'fishing and blokes' and 'barbeque's and blokes' and 'newspapers and blokes' that fit so perfectly ?

Experienced all three while fishing this last week end away with some good mates at lake Taupo So I am a happy camper today and ready to take on the world again. Didnt realise that trout could grow up to a meter long or that it can take two strong men to carry such a catch from the boat and onto the shore.In the process of cooking the trout over the two barbeque's wheeled together we had to cut off their tails in order to fit all the fish into the BBQ .Then fed half the street with leftovers and then spent the day repairing the boat from all bite marks received from the earlier trout attack.
Reading the newspaper after the fishing safari turned out to be an art form to behold-every word,picture and reference is carefully analyzed with 98% of the time spent on the all important sports page.The mighty Manawatu Turbos win added to what was close to a perfect week end-the new NPC threat has finally emerged !
So what is it about BBQs,newspapers and fishing that blokes love ? All three require minimal work,and doing absolutely nothing.

Yes a perfect week end indeed