Here's a really helpful, (and short) update explaining how the Jesus All About Life campaign is panning out so far, and how it will work. The dates given are for the NSW campaign and so WA readers will need to take into account a two week delay.

Jesus. All about life - New Creative from Martin Johnson on Vimeo.

"Missions means loving people so much they're forced to ask 'Why?'" (Phil Cooke)

What to say?
Its weird seeing him up there where Mark normally is. View
Steve is part of the 'Crowded House' Network, and I have heard him speak.
(Crowded House)

To see him in Driscolls mega church in Seattle is unusual.

Is there a government leader who is more online than our own Kevin Rudd?
I doubt it.
He is on Twitter, and now has a blog. Here

I myself find that well over 2/3rds of my church people have email, which means they are on the web.
Each week I send out a weekly 'e-news'
I am on Facebook, and Twitter, and obviously have a church blog, and a personal one.

Over 70% of new people to our church have come through our church website.
Things have changed, lets not think they have not.

I really like this vid. Something to add to your church home page perhaps? While you're at it you can also sign up for the Jesus All About Life campaign coming to WA and NSW in September and October.

Not usual that a average sized Baptist church in Adelaide would have national exposure to lead people to its website.
Unfortunately it is usual that the website would not be a great example.
Evangelist 'Sy Rogers' has been encouraging young people to abstain from kissing before marriage. (Story)

Now we could unpack that for a while.

But my point is that the article pointed people to Enfield Baptist Church's website.
http://www.enfieldbaptist.com.au/

It is a shame that some basic stuff was not understood in the implementation of this site. I don't want to pick on them unnececarily, but it is a bit of a mess with underlined words, scattered illogical placing of events and notices.

Looks like a great church, doing some great things, but a website very important in how we present ourselves in the 'marketplace'.

Today I got a letter from a mate of mine, explaining how and why he is leaving his church.
Basically...the realisation of transitional change ahead of him, was something he just could not take the church through.
He explained this to the church, which was brave of him.

The church has seen a decline in numbers, despite doing a lot of things right.
Will the church go on?
Time will tell.

But history tells us that we pastors are possibly not as important as we think we are...sometimes.
The Church, the Body of Christ, will keep going.

Maybe you are feeling trapped, as though you have to keep banging your head against the wall, just because you feel the responsibility of keeping the church going.
That is not healthy, even if you want to keep going!
The best place to be as a pastor is to realise that the church will continue without you. Then you can put your best energy into it, free of unhealthy expectations.

Here's a question for you .... "When someone comes to Christ in your church where does it most often take place?"

Mark and I met with some of colleagues today and we asked this question. We had some interesting responses. We also shared about how we each came to Christ. Interestingly, although some of us had responded to an altar call at some point, it was agreed that this was not the point of conversion. Some of us didn't have a distinct point of conversion, rather a gradual awakening. Others made their decision in the privacy of their room. As for me I was discipled by my youth group leader. He correctly discerned that, although I believed in Christ, I had not understood that I could have a personal relationship with him. I needed to move my understanding from my head to my heart. So he spent a number of weeks teaching me, not formally, but simply in conversation as we hung out together. Then one night he put the challenge to me to make my decision. That was the 19th March 1983. I discovered later that he had gathered a bunch of people to pray for me at that moment. I am forever grateful to them all and to my Lord who saved me.

As we discussed this question today we laughed about the fact that none of us came to Christ as a result of a Sunday sermon! So let me ask you again, "When someone comes to Christ in your church where does it most often take place?"

News from Vose Leadership
Leadership Link Mornings

Mark Sayers: “Knowing our Culture: Living as Missionaries”
When: Wed 22nd July 9-10.30am
Where: South Perth Church of Christ
Cost: $15 (bargain!)
Mark Sayers is an author and speaker who specializes in interpreting popular culture from a Christian viewpoint. Mark is the Director of Über, a ministry that specializes in issues of youth and young adult discipleship. He is also leader of Red East in Melbourne, Australia, an innovative Christian community specifically reaching the young adult demographic. He is a highly sought after speaker, consultant and thinker in the areas of popular culture and faith. Mark is the author of the Trouble with Paris: Following Jesus in a World of Plastic Promises.

Bill Mills: Flourish Now & Finish Well
When: Tue 21st July , 9am – 3:30pm
Where: Real Life Church
Cost: $60
“...no flash, no show, just rock-bottom truth.” Whether you are a pastor, missionary or church leader, this seminar is a “must attend”. If you are struggling with burnout now, you will be greatly encouraged. If your heart is free and your ministry is going well, you will receive strong protection for the days ahead. Register now! Download a registration form from www.vose.com.au or call 6313 6200

Money Matters
When: Saturday 8th August
Where: Vose Seminary
Cost: $60
Money Matters is aimed at Administrators, Treasurers, Finance Committee members, Church Bookkeepers, and all those involved in the financial administration of a church or not-for-profit group. Anna Sheehan provides practical, current information on processes and knowledge you need to have when handling church finances. Pass this on to the money managers in your church.

For more info, visit the Events page at
www.vose.com.au or contact
Monica or Katherine.

I spoke with a colleague last week about our preaching calendars and he was stunned that I plan my guest speakers up to six months out. He was more of a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" kind of guy. Maybe I'm unusual, I don't know, but I find planning guest speakers three to six months ahead takes a HEAP of stress off my shoulders - it's also a basic courtesy to your guests.

On the topic of preaching I thought I'd share my plan for this year so far and a couple of months ahead - just in case you're interested.

January - very slow, I was away for most of it :-) I spoke on the first Sunday about "Preparing Spiritually for the Year Ahead."

February - Theme: Worship. Series title, "The Summer of Love" Mark 12:30

March/April - Theme: Discipleship. Series title, "Cross Words." The cross was never meant to be a puzzle to us so in the lead up to Easter we took in some theology of the cross to solve a few mysteries. I even spoke on the word "Mortification"! It's an archaic (perhaps forgotten?) word but it's meaning and application was liberating for many.

April/May - Theme: Fellowship. Series title, "How to Create Enduring Relationships." People walk away from relationships far to quickly these days don't you think?

June - Theme: The Church. Series title, "I Can See Clearly Now" A series on the vision, mission and values at ABC. We also had a Kidz Church service and yesterday I spoke on Finding Financial Freedom.

July - Theme: Missions. Series title, "Breaking the Sound Barrier" How to get the message across.

August - Theme: Discipleship. Series title, "Your Divine Design" Discover, develop and deploy your gifts for ministry. This is in preparation for our one day, "Master Your Ministry and Thrive" training conference. Looking forward to Vose Leadership coming down here for that (Onya Monica). Last year we played host to 13 southwest churches from Mandurah to Margaret River. We're hoping to build on that success this year. More details about it later.

I'm reading Peter Block's, The Empowered Manager and I've really appreciated these quotes.

• "There is one type of courage we don't want. Sometimes people use courage as an excuse for aggression. A [leader] will use condemning and judgemental language in arguing an issue. This person will publicly condemn other groups and individuals. Public acts of rebellion are not the kind of courage we need. A mutiny or armed revolution does not serve any one's vision. Part of our vision is a statement of how we want people to treat each other."
  
• "You can't treat your customers any better than you treat each other"
  
• "We are the architect of the organization, choosing its form and future. We are not just a laborer, following another's plans" (This is in relation to being innovative. Naturally in the church we are all about following God's plan for our particular church - but not God's plan for someone elses church)
  
• "We set goals that are unique and that no one else has achieved before in the same way."
  
• "We choose the path of high resistance and live with the anxiety that creates."
  
• "We risk all we have. Not for the thrill of it, but because there is no safe path."
  
• "We are the place of last resort. There is no one to take care of us." (This is in relation to being a mature organisation that is not dependent on others and which does not blame others for our failure).
  
• "We are responsible for problems. If we don't handle them no one else will."

Some of these may seem obvious but I like the way Block puts it. These thoughts certainly have significant ramifications for ministry. What do you think?

Twice this week I have been shocked at the despicable evil that can be done in Jesus name when the Word is not correctly discerned. The first was this weeks episode of Four Corners in a report about saving Africa's witch children. This was truly horrifying to see. Perhaps you would pray that so called "Pastors" in Nigeria will be truly born of Holy Spirit. The second instance was right on our own doorstep and involved a church leader invoking New Age practices along with the Word in a deception that beggars belief.

Never despise a sound theological education. It certainly is a privilege that in Australia we have the freedom to study the Word of God under quality teachers. That's something I hope I never take for granted.