Afternoons

Book Review

Thu, 10 May 2012 05:41:48 +0100

Ok, as you may have noticed Greg Newman has been taking my place this week on the Afternoon shift. That's because I am transitioning out of this shift into a permanent position with UCB News.

The producer of our 2020 program for the last 2 1/2 years, Amy DeGraaf, is moving on to new adventures and I have been asked to take her place. So I guess this will become Greg Newman's blog, but I will still be heard on air, doing what I love - interviewing exciting and interesting guests for Twenty20. Anyway in the meantime I wanted to share with you a book review of one of the new products at UCB Direct. I've been telling you for AGES how much I LOVE Lamplighter Theatre. Well now you can get them from UCB Direct and they are even looking at stocking some of Lamplighter's books.

Book Review: Teddy's Button

Teddy’s Button is a wonderful tale set in England in the 1800s and published in 1890. Teddy is a fun loving boy with a penchant for storytelling, but his favourite story is the one of his most prized possession...a button from his father’s soldier’s uniform and the brave heroics of his father on the battlefield. One day though he’s challenged over the authenticity of the story by a little girl whose father is serving in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy.

This story tells the tale of Teddy and Nancy and the friendship that develops after a rocky start. It also tracks the coming to faith of a young boy, serving his “Captain” (Jesus) and the constant struggles with his worst enemy – himself.

Full of rich characters and language not heard in today’s novels, this story will delight any adult or child that loves a great story full of adventure, fun and the imagination of a little boy who wants to be a soldier for God and tries so hard not to get himself into trouble. A great read that you won’t want to put down.

This book is from the Lamplighter Collection of character building books,written by Amy LeFeurve and edited by Mark Hamby. It is also part of the Lamplighter Theatre collection on sale at UCB Direct.

Discover MAF

Thu, 03 May 2012 06:41:42 +0100

We had Tom Teale-Sinclair from MAF Australia on our program this afternoon telling us about the big Discovery Day at Camden Airport near Sydney NSW this Saturday. As promised here is a link to some more information about what they will be doing and what you can get up to at their discovery day. Also listen again to the interview with Tom at our podcast. http://www.maf.org.au/events

Easterfest rocks Toowoomba in 2012

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:45:49 +0100

The annual festival that started as the Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF) and changed its name 5 years ago to better reflect the festival's aim of being a festival at Easter about Easter; continues to attract massive crowds every year. "Easterfest" festival director Dave Schenk said “with the introduction of Easterfest TV this year and the ability to stream live across the world for 16 hours a day, we’re really hopeful that this will boost the profile of our festival globally. We continue to attract quality entertainers in the Christian Music Industry and this will just increase our credibility as Australia’s largest Christian Music Festival”. With international bands like Mercy Me, POD, The Lads and solo artists like CCM veteran Michael W Smith, this year’s Easterfest lineup promised big and certainly delivered.

Based in Dallas, Texas; Mercy Me have been playing gigs all over the world for the last 17 years and yet this was the first time they have been to Australia. With a tight tour schedule, Mercy Me played in Sydney, Toowoomba and Melbourne with a press conference at Easterfest in Toowoomba attracting a huge crowd. Lead Singer Bart Millard told the crowd that their name came from an exclamation made by his grandmother when he told her he was trying to start a rock n roll band “Mercy Me, why don’t you get a real job” was the response; and so Mercy Me the band became. Their performance on Main Stage on Good Friday was filled with hits from their current album “The Generous Mr. Lovewell” and past hits including their biggest “I Can Only Imagine”.

"Mercy Me" rock the crowd on Good Friday at Easterfest 2012 Main Stage, Queens Park, Toowoomba QLD

Michael W Smith, a multi Dove and Grammy award winning artist performed to a crowd of thousands at main stage on Saturday night. Playing songs from throughout his career, he was well received with the audience responding to the polished performance. It wasn’t until he started to play a string of his worship songs towards the end of the performance that the crowds really came alive and sang along, many with outstretched arms in an attitude of praise and worship. Songs like: Here I am to Worship, Above All, Agnus Dei and Majesty really highlighted the way that “Smitty” has connected with worshippers of God over the last decade or more through his musical abilities.

Michael W Smith performs on the main stage at Easterfest 2012

But it wasn’t just the festival goers who benefit from this festival. Easterfest City is part and parcel of this massive Easter celebration with artists and patrons spilling out of Queens Park in the CBD and frequenting the many café’s, restaurants and retailers within walking distance of the festival hub. Local businesses were busy over the public holidays many doing equivalent to two weeks normal trade in just one weekend. Co-owner of local café “Raw Sugar”, Cindy Cook, said that they have a prime position just across the road from the festival and every year open their business at Easter. “We do a massive trade every year, so it’s definitely worth it” Cindy said. “We have always had artists playing here and this year for the first we had one of them not show up for a scheduled spot. But the organisers of the festival are great to work with and if there are any hassles they are always happy to help sort it out.”

Raw Sugar cafe in Maragaret Street

Tickets were on sale at a special discount price over the Easter weekend for the next festival, despite no major announcement being made of who will be on the 2013 roster. “This has been the biggest year of pre sale tickets so far” said Festival Director Dave Schenk “which is surprising considering we haven’t yet been able to secure anyone for next year’s festival. We only announce that an artist will be playing once contracts are signed. In previous year’s we’ve had that sorted out sometimes only hours before it’s announced. But we’re just really excited that there is that the experience of being at the festival is what seems to draw people back again and again.”

Palm Pasen

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:36:08 +0100

In the reformed traditions of the Christian church, Palm Sunday is celebrated the Sunday before the easter weekend. This day signifies the entry into Jerusalem by Jesus of Nazareth riding a colt (a young donkey) and the people welcomed him by laying down palm branches and clothing for him to ride over. One of the reasons this is recognised is that it is where Jesus is welcomed as a king and then less than a week later, he is tried by the religious leaders and the Roman governor and put to death.

Palm Sunday however has many different ways of celebration in the Christian Church. One of the most common is to have a procession into a church waving palm branches and singing Hosanna! Sometimes this procession features someone posing as Jesus riding a donkey.

In Holland though, the traditions are a lot different and those traditions were introduced to the Wellers Hill-Tarragindi Uniting Church (WHATUCA) in Brisbane QLD recently.

The first thing about these traditions is that it is based on the northern hemisphere season cycle where Easter falls in Spring and there is a sense of excitement of new life. Easter is a celebration of the Christian faith and of new life.

On Palm Sunday its almost like the lead up to the final celebration a week later in Holland. “I remember for Palm Sunday it was a wonderful pre-celebration for Easter and quite a big deal in our family compared to what it might have been like in other families” explains Lydia Pitcher, a first generation Australian whose parents emigrated to Australia from Holland in the sixties.

Lydia Pitcher explains to the children how to dye their eggs

“In our family, in preparation for Palm Sunday we would bake special bread in the shape of Roosters and this would be part of a traditional celebration centerpiece with little roosters and a braided basket and in that basket we would put coloured eggs that had been coloured with food dye.” Lydia says

“My Mum would teach us how to do the dyeing in bowls with hot water and a little bit of vinegar and food colouring. As a child just watching those eggs change colour and the patterns you could make and then polishing them up with a bit of oil, it was a wonderful happy kind of feeling.”


The Palm Paas Stock

Another element that was introduced to WHATUCA was “Palm Paas Stok” – a wooden cross with some ribbon and a rooster on top. It could also have an orange or some coloured eggs that were hand blown and dyed or even a wreath plaited out of bread. “In Holland each child would make their own cross and in some villages have a parade through the village and the children would add some twigs and greenery to symbolize new life” Lydia says “much the same as some of the young kids would have an Easter bonnet parade here in Australia”.

3 year old Alexandra Gees gets into the dyeing of eggs

With Australia being regarded as a multi cultural society more and more, it’s fascinating to discover the rich Christian heritage that exists. The Children and parents at WHATUCA had a great time colouring hard boiled eggs and sharing in just a small part of a tradition that would have seen many children on the other side of the world doing the same thing.

Nathan and Daniel Godfrey proud of their efforts

Mercy Me in Australia

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:07:52 +0100

If you heard the interview with Mercy Me that Liam Renton from the Hot 25 Countdown did this afternoon, I hope you're even more excited about having the chance to see them perform. I know I will be getting a good seat very early on at Mainstage on Friday night at Easterfest and I will not be giving it up for anyone!!!! (although I may accept bribes to share my picnic blanket which will be right behind my video camera!)

But if you can't make it to Easterfest here is the 2 other shows that Mercy Me are doing in Australia

Wed April 5th. Sydney, NSW, Hillsong Church- Hillsong Convention Centre
1-5 Solent Circuit
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

Encounter Presents is proud to bring you MERCYME, MICHAEL W. SMITH and ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND. Three of the most influential Christian artists of our time, to perform for the first time together for an amazing Worship Encounter!

One of the hottest contemporary Christian acts to emerge in the last decade, MERCYME, along with the most influential artist in Contemporary Christian music, MICHAEL W. SMITH and America’s foremost gospel quartet, ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND will come together in a special evening of celebration and worship on the cusp of Easter at HILLSONG CONVENTION CENTRE on Wednesday 5^th April.

Join these inspirational worship artists in this amazing night of glorification, praise and worship through song to the incredible Creator. This “Worship Encounter” is perfectly timed as it is just days out from Easter and is sure to give you the inspiritment you need to make this Easter the most powerful and memorable for many years to come.

DOORS OPEN
5:30PM

info@halomusic.com.au

Sunday April 8th - Easter Sunday - Planetshakers Melbourne

This was a lot harder to find, but according to their website, Mercy Me will be at Planetshakers City Church on Sunday during the 5:30pm worship service. This is not a ticketed event, its just a normal Easter worship service, so best to call the church for more details.

Planetshakers City Church Melbourne 300 Albert Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002 (03) 9896 7999

Easterfest: Chaplains needed

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:28:45 +0100

Every Easter the city of Toowoomba in regional QLD plays host to a massive music festival that also features a mass of great speakers. This festival started off as The Australian Gospel Music Festival, but changed its name to Easterfest for its 10^th anniversary 5 years ago to better reflect its mission to be a festival at Easter about Easter.

Being a Christian festival, one thing that they are constantly aiming to do is to look after the spiritual health of the (mostly) volunteers that make this festival happen and this is done through a network of chaplains.

Leanne Hutton, chaplaincy coordinator, says they are coming from a place of service to just “be there” and to help out with stress and bring God into the forefront of everything that happens. This is done through praying for people, sharing a cuppa or lending a hand in areas which reflect the skills of their other lives. Throat lozenges, water, band aids, earplugs, picks, safety pins are the main stay of a chaplain’s “tool kit” which comes out of years of being a mum to a musician. “Musicians are a forgetful bunch on the whole, so its amazing how often they forget to drink before performing. If someone loses a pick in the grass, its great to pray about it, its even better to just hand one to the artist.”

A great example of the way that chaplains can be an asset was at last year’s festival when the site in Queen’s Park copped a torrential downpour and had to be evacuated. “The young man who was chaplain for Mainstage was a Large Tongan young man who used his physical strength to lift and carry…”Leanne said. “Another person who was only able to come on the Sunday, in his professional life he had been involved in the Brisbane floods looking after the victims and he knew how to speak to the young people who had been in a pretty stressful situation the night before. I think he went to every campsite that remained and spoke to everyone to see how they were doing.”

Chaplains are being recruited for this year’s festival and the type of person Leanne is looking for is specific. “We don’t really want someone who is there to get their photo taken with a famous person. We want someone who can be sensitive and caring and who understands that everyone from the car park attendant to the sound and lighting techs and the artists need someone who will be there to listen, pray and just be available.”

If you feel that you may just be able to be a chaplain at this massive festival or maybe there’s another area of festival life that you would like to offer your skills to, there may still be time to apply. http://easterfest.com/crew/

Easterfest Chaplaincy Coordinator Leanne Hutton (r)

Pokie reforms

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:40:11 +0100

As someone who has done a little bit of work in hospitality, I can actually see both sides of this debate pretty clearly. On one hand, I couldn't believe it the first time I saw what happens in some big clubs...pensioners sitting at machines feeding in $50 notes....I wish I had that much money to just sit and feed into a computer!!!

BUT on the other hand, thanks to the taxes and such on gambling revenue and the revenue that poker machines actually bring in to a club, there has been amazing stories of how community halls have been refloored, lifesaving equipment bought with grants from the gambling community benefit fund and the way the revenue can be used to supplement membership fees and other fundraising to help pay for ongoing running costs like ground and clubhouse maintenance.

So its no surprise then that the Christian community is equally divided on this issue. Long time anti-gambling campaigner Rev Tim Costello's views are well known on this issue, but until recently Australian of the year nominee Father Chris Riley, founder of Sydney organisation "Youth off the Streets" hadn't put his viewpoint out into the public sphere....that was until he became the poster boy of the clubs and pubs campaign to stop the government reforms. Below I have posted 2 links from ABC News with Rev Costello and Fr Riley both putting their views out there; and some other links that will take you to other Christian viewpoints on the issue.

Be informed and make up your own mind on which side of the fence has got it right....

'til next time

Matt

Rev Tim Costello on ABC's "The Drum"http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-07/costello-troubled-by-priests-pokies-stance/3718722

Fr Chris Riley interviewed by ABC Midday Current Affairs program "The World Today"http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3385372.htm

Churches Gambling taskforce http://assembly.uca.org.au/news/item/673-uca-speaks-on-behalf-of-churches-gambling-taskforce

Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/about-us_65047/media-centre/current-media-releases/gambling-reform.html

Aussie of the Year

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:28:25 +0100

OOPS!! Sorry I meant to post this yesterday morning, but got carried away with my other duties ;) Anyway, I have gone straight to the source to find out more about these Australian of the year nominees. The Australia Day Council is the co-ordinator of these awards and its a great recognition of work achieved in certain sectors. Now I'm not going to list the young and senior Australian of the year nominees as that would take way too long, so you can look them up for yourself http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/

Anyway as I asked on the radio on Monday afternoon, how many of these names do you know and which one do you think is most worthy? My personal thoughts would be either Father Chris Riley or Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston...Both of these gentlemen are well known and I think worthy of this title...but hey! feel free to disagree and form your opinion and we''ll all find out together in January.

til next time

Matt

Ps Welcome to the lovely summer months!

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2012 - FINALISTS

New South Wales - Father Chris Riley AM

Charity founder Father Chris Riley AM has been named NSW Australian of Year 2012 in recognition of his dedication to helping disadvantaged Australians. Father Riley believes there is no such thing as ‘a child born bad’ but that they become vulnerable in unsafe environments and circumstances. He believes, with intervention and education, lives can be turned around.

Twenty years ago, Chris founded Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) with a single food van delivering meals to young homeless people in Kings Cross. Today it is a major agency assisting young people aged 12 to 21 who are homeless, face drug and alcohol dependency, exclusion from school, neglect and abuse. Chris estimates the organisation has helped over 50,000 young people with accommodation, education, psychological services and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. It is his determination, unstinting hard work and respect for both the clients and his 250 staff, that has guaranteed the success and effectiveness of YOTS.

In 1997 he opened Key College, an independent high school pioneering a flexible education model to help young homeless people return to school. YOTS now operates Key College on three separate campuses with a fourth school in the Southern Highlands. Twice the winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence, and the winner of the Human Rights Medal, Chris continues to make a difference in the lives of young people with selfless dedication, respect and good humour.

Victoria - Geoffrey Rush

Consummate actor and performing arts mentor Geoffrey Rush was named the Victorian Australian of the Year 2012. As an actor and film producer, Geoffrey has been honoured for his many achievements in an outstanding career on the stage and screen and for his long term commitment to the Australian arts, including mentoring young Australian artists.

Geoffrey is one of the few people to have won the ‘Triple Crown of Acting’ – an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He also has three British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globes, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, a number of AFI awards and has been inducted into the ranks of Australia’s elite performing artists with a Helpmann Award. His story is all the more impressive considering his international career did not take off until his mid-40s when he won an Oscar for his performance in Shine, based on the life of pianist and composer David Helfgott. It was his masterful performance as Peter Sellers that earned him an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

However, it is also his profound interest in and support of Australian film and theatre which has earned respect and admiration. While working internationally, he has always maintained a commitment to Australian film and theatre and he has been instrumental in helping many young artists get started in their careers, including Cate Blanchett whom he chose to star alongside him in a theatre production not long after she graduated from NIDA. As a measure of his passionate commitment to Australia's performing arts, Geoffrey recently accepted the appointment as foundation President of the newly established Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts.

Queensland - Bruce and Denise Morcombe

Child protection advocates Bruce and Denise Morcombe are the recipients of the Queensland Australian of the Year 2012. Bruce and Denise Morcombe are the parents of 13-year-old Queenslander Daniel Morcombe, who was last seen alive eight years ago. In the years since Daniel’s tragic disappearance, Bruce and Denise have shown immense fortitude and bravery, their great dignity drawing widespread admiration from the Australian community.

The Morcombes have now established the Daniel Morcombe Foundation which is committed to educating children about personal safety and raising awareness for their protection. Despite their grief, they have worked through the foundation to speak at schools, community gatherings and public events. Among the foundation’s achievements are Day for Daniel, a national day of action to educate children about personal safety, and an associated event Ride for Daniel which covers 50kms of the Sunshine Coast. The foundation also provides financial support to grieving or suffering children. It may be for school fees, sporting equipment, computer, holiday, school uniforms, books, counselling etc. The Foundation Red DVD offers a simple and practical blueprint for all children and parents to incorporate into their daily lives.

Australians have been deeply moved by the Morcombes ordeal which Bruce and Denise are determined will play a positive role in helping, through the foundation, to protect other children.

Western Australia - Professor Donna Cross

Professor Donna Cross was named Western Australia's Australian of Year 2012 for her work as a children's advocate. Donna is the Foundation Professor of Child and Adolescent Health at the Child Health Promotion Research Centre. She is recognised internationally, having conducted research throughout the USA as well as Canada, Russia, Estonia, Japan and Israel, and with organisations including WHO, UNICEF and the American Health Foundation.

Since 1989 Donna has harnessed the results of her extensive school-based research to influence health promotion in schools. Her focus has been on changing the way Australian schools prevent and respond to aggression and the role of families in creating safer, more respectful communities.

Over the years, 51 year old Donna has tackled many issues affecting the wellbeing of children and young people. She has campaigned against drug use, cigarette smoking, bullying and child abuse and has worked to raise awareness of HIV and road safety.

With the increasing occurrence of cyber-bullying, Donna is at the forefront of measures to counter and reduce its insidious impact and the risk it presents to vulnerable children. She has won many awards for her research, leadership and advocacy, and is a tireless champion for positive, whole school approaches to children’s wellbeing.

South Australia - Robyn Layton QC

Social justice advocate Robyn Layton QC was named South Australia's Australian of the Year 2012.

The 66 year old former Supreme Court Judge has fought for the rights of the disadvantaged throughout her working life. Now, as co-chair of Reconciliation South Australia and Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia School of Law, Robyn is a highly respected commentator on Aboriginal issues.

Her interest began in the late 1960s after she went into partnership with the late Honourable Elliott Johnston, renowned campaigner on behalf of Aboriginal people. There she worked pro bono on behalf of Aboriginal people charged with criminal offences. She was appointed as solicitor for the Central Aboriginal Land Rights team from 1972–74, travelling extensively to see for herself the conditions and issues people had to deal with in remote Aboriginal communities.

Robyn has worked hard for child protection, both during the Child Protection Review and, since 2005, as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Australian Centre for Protection at the University of South Australia. Robyn is Patron of the Migrant Resource Centre and International Women’s Day Committee, and is a member of the National Advisory Group of the National Children’s and Youth Law Centre.

Tasmania - Robert Pennicott

Tasmania's Australian of the Year 2012 is ex-fisherman Robert Pennicott who has worked hard to set up a successful eco-tourism business. Robert is motivated by wanting to share his beloved Tasmanian coastline with other people and seeking to create employment and boost the economy of his home community of Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula. However, his most important motivation was to give back to the community which had supported him so well as a businessman. While Bruny Island Cruises and Tasman Island Cruises took off as world-class eco-tourism businesses, Robert founded the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund, personally contributing $100,000 since 2007. The Fund has been instrumental in restoring the delicate ecosystem of Tasman Island, with a large scale eradication of feral cats.

Robert’s philanthropy doesn’t stop there. With his wife, artist Michaye Boulter, he established the Pennicott Foundation. The Foundation pursues conservation projects but has a much wider focus.Its first involvement is in Polio Plus, a global project in conjunction with Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to eradicate the crippling disease of poliomyelitis. By October 2011, 46 year old Robert had raised almost $300,000 through his ‘Follow the Yellow Boat Road’ circumnavigation of Australia in two inflatable dinghies. Robert funded the entire cost of the voyage himself, with every cent raised going to the eradication of the disease.

Australian Capital Territory - Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC

Retired military leader Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC has been named the ACT Australian of the Year 2012. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston is a towering figure in Australian public life. In 2001 he was appointed Chief of Air Force and four years later was promoted to the pinnacle of the military hierarchy, Chief of the Defence Force. Until his retirement in 2011, Angus inspired those under his command with his unswerving diligence, honesty and integrity – the phrase ‘an officer and a gentleman’ is synonymous with Angus Houston.

At 21, he migrated to Australia from Scotland, joining the Royal Australian Air Force in 1970. Ten years later, as a helicopter pilot, Angus was awarded the Air Force Cross for winching three shipwrecked sailors from wild seas off the NSW coast. As Chief of the Defence Force, he oversaw Australia’s challenging military operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. The tragic realities of war were part of his life. It was he who fronted the media whenever an Australian fatality occurred. His sincerity and humanity were always evident.

His legacy includes improved control and command systems, a better understanding of service men and women suffering mental illness and the rehabilitation of ADF casualties for them to continue serving in the defence force.

Northern Territory - Dr John Boffa

Medical campaigner Dr John Boffa is the Northern Territory’s Australian of the Year 2012.

Dr Boffa has dedicated his life to Indigenous health development and helping to overcome alcohol-based issues affecting the lives of Indigenous people in Northern Territory communities.

After graduating in medicine from Monash University, John knew he wanted to use his skills to help the disadvantaged, so he applied for a visa to work on a mission in India. While waiting for his visa to arrive he went to work at a health service in Tennant Creek. Six weeks later the visa arrived but 23 years on, John can be still be found working in the Northern Territory in pursuit of his life-long commitment to Indigenous health development and alcohol-based reforms.

Now 49, John is a general practitioner and the public health medical officer at the Central Australian Aboriginal Health Congress in Alice Springs, where he has devoted his career to changing alcohol use patterns in Indigenous communities. Campaigns such as ‘Beat the Grog’ and ‘Thirsty Thursday’ highlighted the need to look beyond the individual to focus on the systems and structures that contribute to people’s behaviour.

Over the years, John has played an active and inspirational role in changing attitudes toward alcohol in Northern Territory communities through supply reduction, early learning and mental health programs. He continues his remarkable contribution as the spokesperson for the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition reform group.

Shed Happens

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:19:04 +0100

As promised more details about the BIG SHED HAPPENS event this weekend in Brisbane. A national get together for aussie blokes and the shed ministry. til next time Matt

BIG SHED HAPPENS

Buchanan Street, Rothwell

This Saturday 29^th October 2011

G'day Mate,

Hope you've had a great week. Get cracking on registration because numbers filling fast.

You can register online http://shedhappens.eventbrite.com/?ref=ecount or pay at the door on Saturday from 7.30am

I've enjoyed some big events in my life such as:

: seeing Carlton win the Flag in '68 – 100,000 people,

: with massive crowds watching the Lions win 3 Flags at the “G”,

: being one of the crowd at the Billy Graham Graham Crusades in Brisbane in the 1950's,

: in Canberra with 3,500 Christians at the John Wimber Conference,

: in Perth with 1,500 men a few years ago for the Might Men's Conference,

: with 150 – 250 men at many Christian Sheds and Camps

: and being one of the 750 men at last year's Big Shed Day.

While the sporting events have been exciting, it’s been the spiritual events that have opened my heart and given me hope and a future. The Big Day will be action-packed and fun, and many priceless 'gems' will be gained for our future journeys.

Enjoy a Sausage Sizzle early in the day and during lunch.

Don't miss:

The mighty 'swim-off' at the Pool –

Duncan Armstrong (Olympic 200m Gold) v Brenden Hall (Paralympian 400m Champion)

and/or watch the Chain Saw Artist complete his work.

Bring and shout a mate if you can!

Have a great and blessed week.

See you there Saturday.

Watto and the Champion Shed Team

“God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

(2 Samuel 22:25, The Message)

A hope and a future for all blokes.

Witness - a night of great music

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:02:41 +0100

Stu Larsen and Remember 7 in concert together this Friday night.

About Stu - he lives on the road, travels with clothes a bible, a laptop and a guitar, sharing songs and stories (www.stularsen.com)

About Remember 7 - they write songs about real people, real experiences, they share the stories of their extraordinary friends, stories of loss and hope, of hunger and plenty, of faith and doubt. More than half the proceeds from the sales of their music goes directly to work in Zambia and Zimbabwe (www.rememberseven.com.au)

"Witness" features both of these artists live on the one night at The Gap Uniting Church in Brisbane QLD. Concert starts at 7pm on Friday October 27th. Admission is $20 adults and $15 concession. Group bookings of 10 or more $15, family $60.

Bookings can be made through the Church office with payment at the door on the night.

Church address is 1050 Waterworks Road The Gap (Brisbane QLD) www.thegapuca.org.au office@thegapuca.org.au