Your NO Defines You!

Its been so exciting seeing God move in our church community. Over the past 3 weeks we've seen 11 people baptized and 20 people commit their lives to Jesus. And This is just the beginning of the new season that we are entering.

One of the things I really enjoy in our 6pm service at Eastside church are the series that we do. We've been on a series called 'NO'... which teaches us that the word NO is actually positive as our NO is actually a YES to something else!
Any way, I thought I'd give you a few of the one-liners from Ps Simon Moetara's message this Sunday:

"What you say NO to will define you."

"If you don't say NO - you allow others to dictate your life's agenda."

"Let people people feel the full weight of who you are and who God made you to be, and let them deal with it."

"The deeper you go into your yes the stronger your 'no' will become."

"We're not just making decisions for ourselves, but for our families, friends and church too."

If you missed the message you can always grab a CD from the church office for just NZ$5.
By the way if you haven't checked out our churches blog, I've written a post called "Do You Carry The Vision?" Just click HERE to check it out.

Until next time...
I look forward to your comments : )

online videos are the new revolution

I was reading mediaexplosions blog tonight and came across some really interesting stats about online media:

• U.S. Internet users viewed 11.5 billion online videos during March, 2008, representing a 13% gain from February, 2008 and a 64% gain from March, 2007.
• 139 million U.S. Internet users watched an average of 83 videos per viewer in March, 2008.
• 73.7% of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video.
• 84.8 million viewers watched 4.3 billion videos on YouTube.com (50.4 videos per viewer).
• The average online video duration was 2.8 minutes.
• The average online video viewer watched 235 minutes of video.

So how are we 'Christians' using this new media form to share our story and the Good News with the world.

See below for a great random video:



The good news is that you don't need heaps of fancy equipment... just creativity and to have heaps of fun along the way.

How has your church or ministry used youtube and other online media?
I'd love your comments : )

Resourcing Yourself

Hey gang, great to have you visiting my blog. I have just written a great post on my churches blog which has a really great thought, a challenging quote and an encouraging video. Its well worth the visit! Just click HERE to check it out.

I was just thinking about it the other day and I have really noticed a significant shift in the way I resource myself. I used to have about 3 - 4 books on the go all the time... but over the last month and a half my reading has really slowed down while my listening to podcasts has really shot through the roof.
What are your top 3 methods of resourcing yourself? I'd be really interested in hearing from you!

Well, I will sometime in the near future get the podcasts that I'm listening to on the side bar of this blog. Who are your favorite preachers to podcast?
My top 3 have differing styles but each one really hits the spot for me.
In case you're wondering who they are here goes (in no particular order):

• Andy Stanley
• Brian Houstan
• Craig Groeschel

Till next time...

I Can... through Christ!

At some stage in our walk with God we all find ourselves feeling inadequate and unable to do what God is asking of us... I thought this Scripture and video might encourage you (and me)...

"...Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us.
...I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me..."
Philippians 3: 3c,9b

How have you overcome your feelings of inadequacies?
What Scriptures have been important to you?
I look forward to your comments : )

Proof of God?

Heres a great video that I'll know that you'll enjoy...



Let me know what you thought : )

Serving Free Rice

If you have been following my blog for a while you will know that I have been promoting Freerice.com... a great sight where for every word definition that you get right the sight donates 20 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program. At the same time you benefit by increasing your word power. If you haven't visited the sight yet then click HERE.



I took up a 30 day challenge to each day go on freerice and get 500 grains of rice per day. It has been fun and all the better... I've been able to see donate 15 000 grains of rice or 150 bowels of rice. Just 5 or so minutes a day has meant that I have provided 150 meals. It was simple, free and fun. (These are the figures to date from freerice: 77,122,560 grains of rice donated yesterday. Over 35 billion grains donated to date)
I challenge you to take up a 30 day challenge!
We might not be able to change the whole world... but we can certainly make a difference in a few people's lives!

On the subject of serving others... click HERE to see a really funny and thought provoking video by Igniter Media.

Until next time...
I look forward to your comments : )

Ed Young on Authority

How great is a long weekend? I absolutely love it. I got to hang out with my brother and his wife and the folks. And we had 10 baptisms at church over the weekend. It was just good all round!

Authority is a subject that I have been interested in for a while now... so I thought I'd share this YouTube video.




Let me know what you think it means to be 'under God's authority'.
I look forward to your comments : )