"A Harmonious Event" or something equally as cringeworthy and predictable

After the skate conference Dave drove Josh up to us on the Sunny coast to judge a game of S.K.A.T.E. outside Boardstore and play an acoustic gig in the gallery. First prize was a $300 Boardstore voucher followed by one of Josh's pro model decks and a pair of his signature shoes for 2nd and 3rd so quite a few skaters turned out for it. Shannon brought along his massive bbq so we could cook free snags for everyone whilst Josh played some songs. Our friends at the Australian Christian Channel came down to film a piece on the evening and Josh spent time giving an interview with them at the end of the night. The whole evening had a really good vibe and went super smooth, praise God!

I'd encourage you to buy Josh's albums on itunes by searching for Josh Harmony, and pray for him and his family. He was a really great witness to the kids that came, super friendly and willing to spend time with anyone and everyone.

Check out one of the songs from Josh's new album below:

Chattychat in Tweed Heads

One of Rob and Boris's friends, Dave, organised the Christian Skaters Conference this year and we went down to check it out. As we all wanted to go, Des and I just went down for the day to check it out then came back so we could go to the graduation of the January Waves DTS and then cover Boardstore.

It was held in Tweed Heads down on the Gold Coast and was planned to be a few days of fellowship with various speakers and an outreach youth event. I was fortunate enough to be there when Rob spoke about what we do in One Friday Ministry on the coast which was really refreshed in my heart the reasons I am here and what I am working towards. They had flown over pro skater Josh Harmony to share some of his music and he also shared his testimony, reminding us that amongst everything we do in ministry, the most important thing is our relationship with God. A really well timed message for me to hear with everything I've been filling my time with trying to "get done." We were also blessed to have Stan Walker who won Australian Idol lead worship on the morning I was there.

We couldn't stay for the youth event but I heard it went really well and it was good to meet other people in skate ministry in Aus. Dave did a really good job organising it and I hope it happens again next year.

Mr Rob giving it the One Friday chat

Miss Nikki Hammers

My friend Nikki out here is really dear to me, she's such an awesome chick. About ten days ago she fell whilst skating the 15 foot vert ramp in Coolum and suffered 3 fractures in her pelvis. It's not healing at all so far and the doctor has told her it will be 6 months before she can skate again. She's understandably disappointed and very bored. Please pray that she would receive fast and full healing, that God would draw her close and give her patience and wisdom to rest as recommended. She has been accepted to do the snowboarding DTS in Switzerland in September which is obviously looking ropey now so please pray about that too, that God would speak to her about His plans for her. Thanks!

Reach the Beach 2010

I got my photos back from Reach the Beach hurrah! I forgot how long it can take to finish a 36 exposure film!

Reach the Beach is an event which our friends Mark and Melissa Geltch organise every Easter at Coolum beach skate park. They started it in memory of a young skater who tragically took his own life. Wanting to speak positivity and hope in Jesus to the local young people, they began this annual free skate competition. It takes them a lot of work each year and has grown and grown. God has provided some great sponsors to provide big prizes resulting in a high level of competition, drawing a huge crowd. Last year myself and my DTS outreach team helped on the day and this year again we were privileged to be a part of helping it run on the day.

Before the competition kicked off, Des gave the Easter message over the PA and then before the winners were announced Mark again spoke to the crowd about God. Free Skater Bibles were given out to anyone who wanted one and LOTS of kids wanted one!

It was a great way to kick off Pure Parks. The atmosphere was great, the weather stayed fine, we only had one injury (one too many but better than lots) and lots of people heard about Jesus. God is just so good.

A colour co-ordinated Melissa on registration

Mark speaking before prize giving

Be a member, not an attender.

Whilst I was back home Mum invited me along to the Alpha group that she has been going to. It's made up of a number of ladies who had kids going to playgroup at Christ Church and approached Sandra the vicar asking if an Alpha group could be set up for them. They're a rad bunch of ladies, so funny.

The theme this week was on Church and what Church is. We watched Nicki Gumble's DVD and then talked about what makes Church - the building? the people? What you do? It was great to hear them talk. What struck me was the notion that Church is a family of people and everyone is welcome but it makes all the difference when you choose to be a part of it. To be a member, not an attender. Looking back on my experiences of looking for a church, I did see a pattern that in those churches where I did not seek to become involved in the life of the church, where I did not serve the church body in a way, those were the churches I left easily. I might have got to know some people there and been fold of them, but it was the times when I served people that I felt most a part of the church family and most at home. I recognised that it started when I began to help out with Friday Night Group at SMOB and the pattern has continued with helping to set up the chairs at Good Life in Australia. Whatever it is, whether it's organising a cell group or vacuuming the floor, serving your brothers and sisters encourages that sense of community, of being a part of something. Of course you are still a part of the body of Christ if you just go along each week and sit in the back but I think you gain so much when you muck in.

So I want to encourage you; be a member. Not an attender. Make a choice, commit, get involved.

And check this out!

Thanks to the awesome ladies of Ottershaw Alpha!

Visiting with Fairview

Back in May I was invited by Graham to come and share at the Fairview group which is Smob's housegroup for people with learning difficulties.

They start off with coffee and catch up then have a time of worship and talking about God.

Graham had brought along a big map of Australia so that I could show them where I live, and had worn his Australia Tshirt and corked hat to fit the part!

I told them about what I was doing in Australia and they asked me questions. It was so cool, I loved meeting them all and hanging out with them. At the end they prayed for me and I felt so blessed. When they prayed for me it felt so genuine and from the heart and reminded me that prayer is simply talking to God, sometimes I think I make it way too complicated. Big thanks to all the Fairview group and everyone involved in running it, you are such a blessing.

The good endless cycle

I've been back in England for three weeks now, spending time with my family and catching up with friends. A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to share at my church St Mary of Bethany in Woking. I came to church prepared to share about Pure Parks and our plans for the project. However, when Steve my vicar saw me before the service he asked me to share during the "Fingerprints" slot in the service. This is a time where people are invited to come up and share with the congregation things that God has been doing in their lives, situations where we have seen God's fingerprints.

To be honest, I kind of panicked. I had nothing prepared and spent the first worship song praying about what to share. I felt God say "singleness" to which my immediate reaction was "nope too personal I'm not talking about that" and then came the reply that someone sitting there might need to hear about it.

So I stood up and talked about the last few months of my life. How although I was excited that all my friends were married and having babies, I had been feeling alone and left behind and had allowed this to pull me from God and distract me from ministry. I shared how recently one of my friends had phoned me and asked to meet to talk. He told me that his girlfriend had broken up with him and he was devastated. During our talking I encouraged him to look to God for his self-worth and identity. Reminded him how God loved him and his security needed to come from that rather than anyone else. And whilst I told him this I was thinking "but I'm not doing that, I'm not going to God for my security and value." God used that conversation with my friend to bring me back to Him, to turn me back in the right direction. He used a situation in which I was trying to bless someone, to bless me. I encouraged the congregation to go to God to know their value and security and to trust Him.

During the next song in church a lady came and thanked me, saying that although she is married and has a son, she realises she is looking to her job and her role as a provider for her son for her self worth, rather than going to God for her value and trusting Him. After the service two other women came and told me that what I said about being single spoke to them, having painfully come out of relationships recently. I still find it incredible when God surprises me with an opportunity to share when I have nothing prepared and then moves through it; I know it's Him and not me. If you feel God prompting you to share something, even if it takes some humbling on your part (it often does), do it. You never know who is there that might need to hear it.

Blessing and encouragement - it seems like a cyclic thing. You try to bless or encourage someone and end up being blessed and encouraged yourself. Awesome.