There is a phrase in scripture that has been running around inside my head over the last days…The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away…BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. Having had three months of sabbatical and come back together to discern the Lord’s direction we have come to the decision to close Bay Vineyard.  It is not without sadness of course, however since coming to the decision we have been carrying the Lord’s peace in this decision which has been such a blessing.  The Lord  is so good.  Of course we never set out 6 plus years ago for this outcome, but as we have looked at ourselves as a group and attempted to discern His leading, this is where we believe He has led. At times it is easy to get into all the why questions, but we unanimously feel this is the Lord’s way which has brought the peace and stopped the questions.  It is almost like the Lord had us plant a church for a season, filled with people in transistion.  That now seems to have come to an end. Of course this is not the end of our journey with Jesus, or our connection to church or our serving of Jesus; simply a redirecting, a changing ,a new beginning. Thanks to those who have read our blog, visited our church, prayed for us.  May the Lord bless you as you follow Him. Personally I intend to continue to blog…so watch out you may find me again in cyberspace..Blessings

As a church we are having a change of pace over the summer months.  See our calendar page for details.  We decided that we needed to change what we were doing, and many of us needed a slower pace over the time.  I am going to be having a break from writing and other ministry tasks over summer and taking some time to rest, pray, play and pull back.  Sabath rest is something that even the Lord practiced and advocated.May your Christmas be refreshing and may you see Jesus afresh…the reason for the Season.

In my friends book, Movements that change the world, Steve quotes from Philip Yancey…”As I travel, I have observed a pattern, a strange historical phenomenon of God “moving” geographically from the Middle East, to Europe to North America to the developing world.  My theory is this: God goes where he is wanted.”    My question do you want Him?

Church will be different this Sunday.  We are closing up shop at the primary school this Sunday and traveling to another part of Melbourne, to Boronia to join another church, another Vineyard community to join them for the morning.  Mountain District Vineyard.  They have been in rough spot and it will be great to join them, to stand with them.  The Bible is clear when one part suffers we all suffer and when one part celebrates we all celebrate.  As we follow Jesus, we just want them to know they are not alone.  We will be back at the school the following Sunday.

Yesterday during yet another spring rain one of my children wanted to go for a walk.  Get all rugged up and go.  We discussed the logistics of this; getting wet, being sensible…I am glad we put that aside and went.  And then my son saw the first puddle, he ran and jumped in it, then my daughter, and then myself.  Again I hesitated before I did.  And the Lord said become like children.  As an adult it is so easy to forget.  To become sensible.  To only do the “smart”. My kids reminded me yesterday…we need to live.  Throw off the chains of adulthood and live.  I still held back when they rolled around in the puddle drenching their coats…but maybe next time I will take a leaf out of their book, and really live. Today, now, this moment…is all we have.  We need to be children, live and enjoy the moment.  

Off to this years Vineyard pastors and leaders conference in sunny Queensland.  Joking with people about suffering for Jesus on the Sunshine Coast.  The wild thing is, it is another year gone…since the last gathering of this kind.  Time sure fly’s by. Looking forward to the theme, God’s presence.  Boy do we do that.  And as Moses said in the old testament of the Bible in Exodus 33:15, “Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”"  As God’s people we are people of the Presence of the Lord.  As Moses says following this…”How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?  What else will distinguish me and your people form all the other people on the face of the earth?”  (Exodus 33:16) A few things should mark the people of God, the church, His body: His presence and His love the foremost of these.  Look forward to sharing things that come from this time.  

Hi.  Last week I wrote that we were having a church camp and so therefore would not be at the school on Sunday.  We had a great weekend; having fun, talking, playing, worshiping, thinking about where we had come as a church and where we were going, and of course eating. It is so good to stop and rest even though in some ways we went back to work Monday tired. We will be back at the school this Sunday.  See you then.  

Hi.  Just letting you know that we are not meeting this Sunday September 06, 2009  at the school as we are having a church camp at Philip Island.  Hope this is no inconvenience for you and that if you would like to visit us, you might be able to join us the next Sunday.  God bless you and feel free to get in touch with us through info@bayvineyard.org. au or 040 227 2088 if we can be of any assistance.  Blessings. 

Continuing to read from Dallas Willard, this time from his book The Great Omission.  Classic Willard.He keeps making a statement which I think is brilliant.  Put this in your pipe and smoke it. Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning.  Just brilliant.  

Coaching in its various forms has grown as big industry in the last years.  I was reminded again the other day of the power of conversation and the power of coaching, of asking the right question or making the right comment.  In conversation with a friend, a comment was made…and clarity came to a “dilemma” I had.  All of a sudden the clouds parted and I saw life(at least an aspect) clearer again.  So simple but so profound.