The Journey

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:12:54 +0100

Mark and Debbie Gungor from Laugh Your Way Ministries are heading to Australia and New Zealand to conduct a number of marriage seminars

27-28 May: C3 Oxford Falls Sydney
3-4 June: Suncoast Church, Sunshine Coast Queensland
10-11 June: Citipointe Church Brisbane
14-15 June: City Impact Auckland (singles and mens events)
17-18 June: City Impact Auckland (marriage seminar)

LISTEN TO THE JOURNEY PODCAST, Karen chatted with Mark this week!

http://www.laughyourway.com/

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage with Mark Gungor's hilarious marriage tips and insights are also available on DVD through www.ucbdirect.com.au

Improve your marriage and reduce marital problems with Mark Gungor's exclusive advice. Mark Gungor, one of the most sought-out speakers on love and marriage, explores the underlying dynamics of male/female relationships, combining striking clarity and practical solutions to common relationship woes. Mark's humour makes his teaching enjoyable, effective and memorable, helping husbands and wives remember these insights and immediately put them to work.

You can experience all the facts and side-splitting fun of Mark's look at life, love and marriage including:

The Tale of Two Brains (session 1: 73 min; session 2: 55 min) - laugh till you hurt as Mark explains what he calls 'the laws of relational physics' - how men and women are wired differently and why.

Why Does He/She Do That? (45 min) - through a tool called the Flag Page, Mark is able to show husbands and wives a new way to discover what makes their spouse tick.

The #1 Key to Incredible Sex (session 1: 39 min; session 2: 35 min) - this is it...the "yo mama" session you've been waiting for. Mark goes through the five steps couples need to know to experience incredible, mind-blowing married sex... don't miss it!

How to Stay Married and Not Kill Anyone (35 min) - through this session, viewers will discover the power of forgiveness in their marriage... or what Mark likes to call The Reset Button.

FAQs with Mark (60 min) - Mark answering frequently asked questions on marriage on the bonus DVD.

Available at www.ucbdirect.com.au

Twinkle Twinkle-Matt's Journal

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:46:13 +0100

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Phillipians 2:14-16

I’ve heard that if you dig a hole deep enough, that even though it’s broad daylight you can see the stars above. Interesting that the stars are still shining up there, but we just can’t see them because the Sun is so bright.

Stars are an amazing contrast to the dark night. Paul is using this example here that people are crooked and depraved, and as Christians we are called to shine, to do everything without complaining or arguing.

I sat down with one of my staff at a previous workplace once. He was grumbling a whinging about something all the time. I told him that he will be remembered for something after he leaves one day. I asked him, does he want to be remembered as the negative guy or the encouraging guy. More importantly, does God see you as the negative guy or is your life pleasing to him?

Clearly from this scripture it is sin to complain or argue. We need to be realistic if there are issues and there is a right way to discuss issues and problems, but sadly we often handle things the wrong way.

Lord, I choose honour you with my words and actions. Help me keep my eyes on you and not problems. Amen.

God is The History maker!-Matt's Journal

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:11:33 +0100

Sing to GOD a brand-new song. He’s made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right. GOD made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do. Psalm 98:1-2 The Message

David was a worshipper. He loved to write and sing and dance before the Lord, he’s remembered as a man after God’s own heart. Here he’s singing a brand new song to God. I wonder how many Christians have only ever sung songs to God that someone else wrote? I love singing a new song to the Lord, I mightn’t be the best singer or songwriter, but when I worship, I sing for an audience of One. I reckon it’s an important part of our relationship with God to sing and worship him, not just on a Sunday morning, but early in the morning, in the car, outside while where walking, wherever we can, and we should be spontaneous and lead by the Holy Spirit to song a new song. Imagine if I said the same script to my wife every time I spoke to her. It would make for a pretty stale conversation. The same goes with our relationship with God, in prayer, in praise, let’s open up, and be creative, and sing a new song sometimes!

In this Psalm David says, “He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right. GOD made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do.”
He could be singing about Israel’s salvation from Slavery, or about his own victory over an enemy, or it could be prophetic, about salvation through the messiah to come. The heart behind this Psalm is that David is glorifying God as the ultimate History maker.
When I was a Youth Pastor we would sing the song “History maker,” at church. I loved the words, “I wanna be a history maker in this land, I wanna be a speaker of truth to all mankind, I’m gunna stand, I’m gunna run, into your arms...” It was written by the band delirious and inspired people all over the world.
We must remember that God has called everyone of us to Make History with the gifts he’s given us. But let’s also acknowledge that God is sovereign, and we should be making History to honour him, and glorify Him, lead by His Holy Spirit, In His timing and His ways. After all History is really His-Story...

Lord, I praise you, the ultimate History maker, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you in all that I do! In Jesus name Amen.

Take off the blinders-Matt's Journal

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:49:45 +0100

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

When racehorses race, all they see is a narrow view in front of them. They have been fed well, trained and exercised, groomed for victory, then this little jockey gets up on his back, the gates open and he get’s whacked so hard on the backside that he runs with all his might. But all he can see is the race track before him, or another horses behind.

How many of us live like that. We just live life in the same old routine, and all we have is a small short-term vision…

God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!!! It’s God that saves souls, it’s God that provides finances, it’s God that provides real estate, it’s God that releases people for ministry, it’s God that parted the Red Sea, it’s God that knocked down the walls of Jericho, it’s God that raises the dead and heals the sick.

Wayne Cordeiro says “Big Churches grow through big ideas”, another favourite quote of mine is, “If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got”. We need to be prepared to take risks if we want God’s kingdom to come in Brisbane, we must have faith that God will guide us, that God will build his church, that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can possibly ask or imagine.

I think sometimes God likes to put us in a place where we will fail unless a miracle comes through. He likes to stretch our faith, so it will grow like a muscle.

Lord, you have always been a faithful father to me, I choose to be a faith-ful Son to you. Here am I, Send Me. I pray that you will pour out more blessings than we could imagine!!! We praise you for the rain, and we ask for spiritual rain to come down on us too Lord, Amen.

A Report & Declaration: World Congress of Families Sydney

Wed, 15 May 2013 03:36:47 +0100

World Congress of Families Sydney 2013

WCF VII Sydney 2013 (May 15-18) offered a challenging program that brought together many of the world’s leading pro-family advocates, policy makers and academics, business leaders and professionals, educators and students, media and popular culture figures and many parents - the backbone of a healthy society.

Bill Muehlenberg (Culture Watch) reports: The latest gathering of the premier international family convention has just finished in Sydney, Australia, and it was a raging success. The WCF has become the most important event on the pro-family calendar, and the latest meeting just finished again demonstrates why this is such an invaluable gathering.

Started by American social commentator and family expert Dr Allan Carlson, the Congress was first held in Prague in 1997. Five other major events were held between that initial congress and the one just completed. Geneva, Mexico City, Warsaw, Amsterdam and Madrid were the venues, and a number of regional conferences have also been held.

In Sydney some 600 eager delegates were able to spend three full days listening to numerous authorities on family, marriage and related issues. Along with Dr Carlson were other international keynote speakers such as Patrick Fagan, Bradford Wilcox, Janice Shaw Crouse, Steve Mosher, Miriam Grossman, Ian Grant, Ted Baehr, and Bob McCoskrie.

Australian keynote speakers included Ian Harper, George Pell, Peter Elliot, John Anderson and Patrick Parkinson. Over 100 other speakers were on hand, including Sharon Slater, William May, Warwick Marsh, Rabbi Shimon Cowen, Paige Patterson, David Phillips, Miranda Devine, David van Gend, John Ballantyne and Bob Day.

The theme of this WCF was “Happy Families, Healthy Economy: A New Vision for National Prosperity and Social Progress.” One speaker after another demonstrated how the well-being of families leads directly to the well-being of nations. Healthy, functioning families make for healthy, functioning societies, while broken families result in broken economies and broken countries.

A wealth of data, fact and evidence was marshalled, along with inspiring stories and testimonials. Numerous other marriage and family topics were covered, including:
- The Causes and Cost of Family Breakdown
- What Families Are Best for the Economy?
- Philosophical Roots of the Cultural Revolution
- Secular Humanism and Family Values
- Demographic Winter
- The Impact on Children of Legalising “Same-Sex Marriage”
- Economic and Social Costs of Abortion
- Healing Post-Abortion Trauma
- Work of the Home: A True Profession
- AIDS Prevention through Strengthening Families
- Marriage as an Instrument of Human Development
- The Pornography Industry
- and Reaching the Next Generation with a Pro-Family Message

A conference dinner featured the world-renowned photographer Ken Duncan and his work. After these very full three days, the 600 present left revived, reinvigorated and enthused about standing tall in the defence of marriage and family.

Yet incredibly there were some who did not even want this conference to go ahead. For example, Alex Greenwich, NSW member for Sydney and Chairperson of Australian Marriage Equality, actually wanted the conference to be monitored for “hate speech”.

WCF Managing Director Lawrence Jacobs said, “Perhaps, it is Mr. Greenwich who should be monitored for possible human rights violations for imposing a radical, secular worldview that privileges a few adults at the expense of the natural family and the rights of children to be raised by a married mother and a father in their own home.

“The definition of the natural family derives from the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted in 1948 and binding on all United Nations member states of the world. The UDHR states (Article 16:3), ‘the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.’

“This is the human rights basis and inspiration for our use of the term ‘natural family’ and the WCF mission to provide sound scholarship and effective strategies to affirm and defend the natural family, thus renewing a stable and free society.”

Jacobs also said of the history of WCF, “In all of that time, no elected official has ever been successful in censoring a Congress for our expression of support for the natural family and the presentation of research, ideas, and solutions to our modern-day economic and social problems. In Amsterdam on the third day of WCF V, left-wing newspapers which disagreed with us, actually defended our right to be in the city and present our research and ideas to help children and families.”

Nonetheless protestors did come to the Sydney conference, seeking to disrupt things, but the police did a good job of keeping them at bay. But just imagine: actually protesting the family. One might as well target a conference extolling the advantages of breathing, or eating. Just think if those topics were attacked as being intolerant, bigoted and judgmental.

The very fact that we have to put on international conferences to defend and promote marriage and family shows just how far we have degenerated as a society. Up until recently, everyone simply enjoyed and did family, as we simply eat and breathe.

But today we actually have to justify why we think family is good, and marriage an honourable estate. Our topsy-turvy world now celebrates and encourages attacks on marriage and family, while regarding the upholding of these historic social institutions as somehow being a bigoted and hateful thing.

As long as this climate of moral inversion and mental mushiness persists, then conferences such as this will always be needed. As G K Chesterton once wrote, “This triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilisations which disregard it.”

Until sanity returns to the West, and family is once again regarded as the supreme good, and a blessing unequalled, we will have need for such conferences. Long may the World Congress of Families prosper. Thanks again Dr Carlson and others for bringing it about.

And the Australian team, led by Mary-Louise Fowler, which was responsible for putting on this invaluable conference, must also be heartily congratulated. It was an outstanding event, and the conference team did a superlative job.

Next year's conference will be in Moscow, September 10-12, 2014.

WCF VII DECLARATION

We, the delegates of the World Congress of Families VII, assembled in Sydney Australia, this 18 May 2013 affirm that the sustained prosperity and happiness of nations rests on the foundation of strong natural families.

The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed by every nation on earth, states that "men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family ... The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State." (Article 16.1, 16.3)

In agreement with earlier World Congresses and with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we hold that the natural family is the basic unit on which human societies are built and is the best environment for the moral, social and emotional development of children.

The natural family is the most efficient way of nurturing and educating children, of looking after the health and welfare of its members, of creating a vital domestic economy, of building cohesive communities, and of extending a compassionate hand to individuals and households, whatever their situation.

We affirm that the productive economy is sustained by strong families, which reliably shape the virtues needed for healthy economic exchange. Social and economic research overwhelmingly demonstrates that children born into stable loving homes have the best prospects for growing into healthy, intelligent, creative and morally grounded adults. On average, they become the most productive and engaged citizens and are the least likely to become dependent on the welfare state.

Accordingly, we declare that a family-centred economy requires the following basic framework:

The economy should serve the family rather than the family being a servant of the economic system and the state.

A strong domestic, household economy is a true measure of a healthy society and the basis of a robust economy;

Economic policies should enable families to hold productive property and to be independent of the welfare state.

Employers and governments need to respect the needs of natural families in their wage and labour policies.

Market policies should support and encourage entrepreneurial innovation, ensure low barriers of entry into small business, and guard against excessive concentration of economic power and financial instability.

Family-owned businesses should be encouraged as part of a market economy.

Gross Domestic Product must be defined to include the economic value of unpaid work done in the home and the community by families, so that society can recognize the contribution of this form of labor.

Governments must pursue policies of affordable housing, particularly for young first home buyers.

From these principles, we also affirm:

Marriage is being the union of one man and one woman, voluntary entered into for life;

The protection of human life from conception to natural death;

The right of children to be raised by their biological parents, wherever possible;

That the root causes of hunger, poverty and environmental decay are the breakdown of the natural family and political and economic failures, not human "overpopulation";

That the real demographic dangers of the 21^st century are ageing and declining populations: the world needs more, not fewer, children;

That the great opportunities for family friendly commerce, communication and education on the internet must be made safe from the destructive impacts of pornography and other harmful content at the national and international levels.

The concept of the family wage: wages, salary levels and taxation policy should reinforce natural family bonds; and

That the natural family is the surest guide for the economic and healthy development of all peoples, including the indigenous communities of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Guard your steps- Matt's Journal

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:58:01 +0100

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Ecclesiastes 5:1

I Love reading Solomon’s stuff. There’s something about the fact that he asked God for wisdom above all else, and God gave it to him and all the other good stuff too. When he talks about going to the house of God, it’s about worshiping God at the temple. This reminds me of Paul’s New testament parallel that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. So when Solomon says this under the Old Covenant it’s about physically to a temple. Under our New covenant we can apply it to our bodies.
So he says, “Guard your steps.” Something I’ve been challenged about recently. Guarding my steps. Being careful where I go and how I go. My time is a precious gift. I want to be a good steward of the time God has given me. I want to spend my time on things that glorify God. Worshiping, family, investing in leaders , outreach etc. How I go is also important. I don’t want to always be rushing, or self-focussed when I go somewhere. I want to go with my heart open to the Lord and to others.

“Go near to Listen...” As James says, “Be slow to speak and quick to listen.” This passage also applies to church. What is our motivation for church? Peoples motivations are many and varied. We need to redevelop the Art of listening. I’ve been trained in radio to have no dead air. But in God, dead air is a chance to listen to Him! I love Switchfoot’s song that says, “If we’re adding to the noise, turn of this song.” We have too many distractions and media taking up airspace, we need to stop and listen to Jesus. He’s longing to speak.

Lord, forgive me for treading recklessly. I choose to Guard my steps. To Stop and listen. Thank you Lord for guiding me through your word once again! You never fail! “Speak Oh Lord your servant is listening.” Amen.

How Will You Be Remembered?-Matt's Journal

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:57:11 +0100

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-5

I love reading the epistles and seeing the practical outworkings of the local churches. I can relate to Paul in some of the things he says. He talks about sending Timothy to strengthen and encourage the church at Thessalonica, they’d been going through some trials, and Paul sent his best man to help them. What a great wrap for Timothy. He’s now forever remembered in the canon of scripture as one who strengthens and encourages those whom he visits. It got me thinking, how will we be remembered? We should all aspire to add value to the lives of those around us, to make an impact on the people we meet, and to achieve what God has sent us to do.
The next verse in this text says about the trials they are going through, “For you know quite well that we are destined for them.” And the message version says, “It’s part of our calling.” This paints a powerful picture of the New Testament church. Everyone says we want to be like the church in Acts, and we do! But clearly they also knew they were destined for trials, destined to be persecuted for their faith. Life wasn’t all perfect and rosy with a house and mortgage and 2.3 kids. They were constantly under threat and knew this was their destiny. And Paul said, “I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain.” The problem with trials is that people can be tempted to leave the faith, and retreat to the way of the world.
The truth is we all go through trials, and our faith is tested, and that’s where our character is developed, and our hearts are checked to see if we have the right motives, and often God is preparing us for something greater. We just have to prove faithful in the midst of whatever circumstances we are in.
Lord, thank you for the Timothy’s who’ve encouraged and strengthened me over the years, use me like a Timothy, send me and fill me so I can fulfil your mission for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

NAPLAN tests this week: RELAX!

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:27:20 +0100

Prepare your child for the NAPLAN tests

by Michael Grose

http://www.parentingideas.com.au/Blog/May-2011/Prepare-your-child-for-the-NAPLAN-tests

During the second week of May Australian children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The stated purpose of this testing program is to gain an overall picture of educational attainment levels to assist education policy and decision-making.

The program first implemented in 2008 has drawn some criticism from a number of different quarters, particularly in regard to the use of the information gained through the NAPLAN tests.

You’ve probably heard a number of different viewpoints expressed in the media over the last few weeks.

One view commonly put forward is that the NAPLAN tests put undue pressure on children to perform in test situations. If so, then perhaps the best approach for parents and teachers is to help them handle the pressure rather than avoid it. The most resilient children and young people are those who rise to meet rather than retreat from the challenges presented to them.

Perhaps it’s best to view the NAPLAN tests as good learning experiences rather than dreaded pressure tests.

Children and young people take their cues from their parents about how to handle many situations. American psychologist Martin Seligman discovered more than a decade ago, through his research into children’s thinking styles, how closely children’s explanatory style mimics that of the parent they spend most time around. Optimistic parents beget optimistic kids, just as anxious parents can beget anxious kids. The impact of a parent’s explanatory style seems to be magnified somehow in small families where there are fewer voices to be heard.

As a parent it helps your child, if you take a positive view of the NAPLAN tests. It’s better to see them as learning opportunities for kids as well as opportunities for them to overcome any anxieties or nerves that these tests may bring on.

It’s also worth remembering that many children don’t stress over these tests. The vast majority take them in their stride, wondering what all the fuss is about.

Whether your child stresses or take them in his stride here are some tips to help prepare your child or young person for the NAPLAN tests:

1. Take your cues from your child: If your child doesn’t worry about them then neither should you. Be careful not to create a problem that doesn’t exist by incessantly talking about, or worse, worrying about the test.

2. Focus on doing their best & trying hard: Choose your words carefully when you speak with your kids. As with all their learning activities place your focus squarely on effort rather than results. The only pressure on kids should be to try hard rather than to do well.

3. Listen to any concerns they have: If your child confesses to some nerves then validate their feelings, rather than shut them down with a ‘get over it’ response. “Yes, sometimes tests can be a little scary, but they get easier every time you take them.” Use this as an opportunity to develop some emotional smarts, which starts with recognising how kids feel.

4. Give them some relaxation ideas: Anxious or nervous kids will benefit from some simple relaxation strategies. Taking some deep breaths, changing their thinking and exercising the morning of the test are some simple ways to help kids get some feeling of control.

5. Help them retain their perspective: One way to help children who become excessively anxious about an event is to ask what’s the worst thing that could happen? Okay, they may not do as well as they would like but the sun will stay rise tomorrow, if they don’t do as well as they’d like. Keeping perspective is a life skill that we all need to practise.

A positive, caring parent attitude is one of the best gifts you can give a child when they are apprehensive or nervous about approaching any different situation whether it’s going on school camp, joining a new club or sitting a NAPLAN test.

Mother's Day Competition Winners

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:37:00 +0100

CONGRATULATIONS!
FIRST PRIZE goes to Amanda Heit from Biloela in QLD with this winning entry:

My mum is a wonderful woman
She is kind and loving and true
She is sincere and thoughtful and giving
She is beautiful the whole way through

I know my mum really loves me
Not because of anything I’ve done
It’s just because she made me
Just like the way God loved his Son

I want my mum to know she is loved
Not for all that she’s done.
To know that Jesus died for her
So that she and He could be one

I want to be with her in Heaven
When God finally calls us there
My Prayer is that she knows Jesus
And can commit to Him her every care

Amanda won a Kindle E-reader for her Mum packed with 10 great Aussie Christian fiction books.

CONGRATULATIONS also!

SECOND PRIZE goes to Ellie Bach from Marrackville in NSW for this wining entry:

When it comes to my Mother
I know there is no other
She's made mothering her career
Working 365 days a year!

Every day, she lovingly caters and tenderly cares
My worries, she devotedly bears
Through good times and bad, wrong or right
She's always loving, cheerful and bright

She's my closest friend
Dearest chum
She's the greatest
She's MY Mum!

Ellie won the trilogy of books, "The Resolution Series" by Rose Dee PLUS a great book seat as well :)

Book Prizes are available from www.ucbdirect.com.au

Righteous anger-Matt's Journal

Tue, 07 May 2013 23:16:38 +0100

In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." John 2:14-17

I used to think it was a sin to get angry. In the marriage course recently they talked about how people are either a hedgehog or a rhino when it comes to anger. Some of us bottle things up, some of us explode. We need to understand that we are all unique and we display our emotions differently. However the Bible reminds us, “In your anger, do not sin.” There is a line we can cross when we are angry, the Holy Spirit can give us self –control to not cross over that line…
Here Jesus had a righteous anger. Zeal for his Father’s house had consumed him. He would not let his Fathers house be turned into a “Den of Thieves” as one version puts it.

We in the church need to constantly examine ourselves, that we are honouring the Lord in His House. He said his house is a house of prayer for all nations, that there should be a word of instruction, a revelation etc. That we speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. That we should not give up the habit of meeting together as some do.

It’s interesting too that Jesus cleared out the Jewish temple of worship here, and Paul tells us that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit; we need to keep our bodies clean in the same way that Jesus cleaned out the Temple in this passage.
One of the other things we need to clean up is to be free from idols. I heard a Pastor from Perth speak on this recently. He said that One of the reasons why God doesn’t like idols is because it only reflects a small part of his character. If we have an idol of Christ on the Cross, it only shows him in death, but he is resurrected. If we only show him as a shepherd, it doesn’t show him as a king. And God has so many awesome attributes to him that any idol of him would do him no justice.

Lord, I pray that as a church we will honour you in your house. I pray that I will worship you well with my body, I pray that we will get rid of any idols, and worship you only. Come and clean out whatever you need to Lord! Amen.