MIKE HARDIE

Conference Highlights

Hillsong Conference Highlights: snapshot...

Our friend Catherine Vasilakis opened the conference with a great version of U2's 'ONE'. We were very proud and know her family would be too. 

Tim Costello (World Vision) opened the conference in prayer. That was cool considering teh conference is in partnership with Compassion. I love the BIG picture stuff.

Robert Baringer from Peru was very inspiring. Reaching people with wheelchairs and making a huge impact in their country.

Next morning, Brian preached a great message followed by Tim Costello who spoke so highly of Brian Houston and then gave a great message on economic, social and spiritual REDEMPTION. I loved this! I have to share some of this stuff at THRIVE.

Other highlights were, Joyce Meyer's messages on love and justice; Paul De-jong, Judah Smith, Joseph Prince and Joel Houston were all very encouraging and challenging.

I have to say that the songs this year are very powerful both musically and lyrically. This was a truly inspiring and refreshing conference. Thanks you to the 4500 volunteers who made it an amazing week!

More to come...

Monday Movements

Summary: On our one week holiday Terasa and I are so thankful for this break.

TODAY:

Scripture Reading:

1 Kings 2

James 1:5

Book Reading:

Simple Church, Thom Rainer

Activities:

Coffee @ Huskisson

Sun rays at Hymns Beach - Jervis Bay (whitest sand in the world apparently). We came here for our honeymoon. Great place.

Whale watching at the Lighthouse. (No whales though). 

More reading.

Cheap Chinese food that was quite good!

DVD.

Now that's a nice relaxing day.

Oh...and I ran on the beach for more than 50 metres!

P.s. And I got some encouraging text messages from people telling me Dan preached a great message and that they are keen for part 2. I am loving this short break and at the same time excited to make the second half of this year really count. 

Update

Well Terasa and I have just had a soul building week at the Hillsong Conference. I didn't expect that I would be so impacted. I went feeling quite worn out and even keen to not attend the whole thing and as it turned out I couldn't get enough of it. The speakers were great and the worship times with 24000 people were very powerful. I will post a bunch of stuff real soon.

small is the new BIG

We just finished a series at THRIVE called 'small is the new BIG'. This series was based around the principle in Scripture that God doesn't need much to do much. We discussed the biblical accounts of the mustard seed (small faith that can move BIG mountains); the loaves and fishes (little offered turned into abundance). There are so many examples all through Scripture that reveal that God can use small things in a BIG way. he can use a few people to do great things (Gideon; Israel; David & his 5 smooth stones; 12 disciples etc).

On the second week we handed out $10 notes to everyone who was up for the challenge in our church. This surprised a lot of people. There job was to take this $10 and invest it in the lives of people beyond our church to bless them. The aim was to demonstrate how a small amount can make a real difference. The stories coming back are fantastic. 

Many times people underestimate their contribution's importance. It's often the little things we do that have a big impact. What small thing could you do today that may have a BIG impact?

Just do it. A small investment may result in a BIG return. 

Courage precedes confidence

I have been reflecting on the need for courage despite confidence. A friend and I were chatting about wanting and needing more confidence in areas of life. I looked at their life and thought, 'I see them as a courageous person even though they lack confidence. They have a go at so many things that most people would never do.  I said to him, "You may lack confidence but you have the courage to have a go at things despite your lack of confidence."

We don't often feel very confident so we don't attempt certain things. It occurred to me that sometimes it takes courage first and then confidence comes as we launch out in faith. Perhaps you're afraid to do something. Be courageous. One day you may be more confident, but until then, remember that leaders aren't necessarily more confident just courageous enough to have a go.

God said to Joshua "be courageous" not "be confident". Joshua 1:6-9.

COURAGE PRECEDES CONFIDENCE. Don't wait to be confident before doing what you're called to do. Be courageous and let God establish confidence as you step out.

Connectors

I have been thinking a lot about 'people connectors'. These are people gifted and excellent at networking and connecting people to each other. I have been thinking about the crucial importance in church community of connecting people in cause oriented community.

Malcolm Gladwell's book The Tipping Point talks about how connectors play a role in social phenomenon's by linking people together where ideas and economic trends and even disease spread rapidly. The relational network through connectors provides a powerful platform to communicate and spread important news or gather help for a cause. Connectors bring the world together.

Signs you know a 'connector'... (Who are they?)

SUNDAY 1st June

This Sunday we are looking forward to having Catherine Vasilakis & Band @ THRIVE 10am to lead us in worship and inspire us with her songs. We'd love to see you there! Catherine and her family are great friends of THRIVE and she was recently a top 20 Australian Idol finalist as well as a dance instructor and currently recording a new album. Catherine has a great heart to share her faith and gifts to inspire people to faith, hope and love.

Ears wide open...

I was very proud when one of our young men Jesse took up the challenge to speak at our Sunday night gathering. I was encouraged by his willingness and seriousness. He's a very funny guy. While he was speaking a few things went through my mind...

* I was analysing his speaking style, content and delivery in the hope of seeing potential and room for coaching and improvement.

* The voice of the Spirit reminded me not just to look for how I can help him but to listen to how he can help me.

I was reminded of my own preaching teacher in college (Dr Barry Chant) who said, "I keep one ear listening to how I can guide the speaker and one ear open to what God is saying to me while they speak."

I am glad I listened to learn. I was challenged about my attitude and also keeping a soft heart.

Next time you're listening or watching someone in any area that you will coach, be ready for how you can learn from them also. 

Most important person in the room

Consider this

Scandalous.

Luke 6:27-36

Conspiracy of Love.

Francis Chan - Catalyst Conference

Downsize is the new cool

After coming across an interesting website Junky Car Club, endorsed by National Community Church's Mark Batterson (AOG / Willow Creek / Mosaic alliance church in Washington DC) It got me thinking about downsizing issues.

The idea is that because consumerism and materialism is the great modern day enemy of faith and generosity in the west we should practice downsizing so we can live on less and give more.

Now some economists may debate the pro's and con's of buying new products or used products or the consequences of not buying products at all but we should seriously consider this. The fact is I spend more than I should. I am not against spending. I am not against nice stuff. I like and even think God doesn't mind nice stuff. I do think however, that God has problems with us living beyond our means and having no margin for generosity and Kingdom purposes. Perhaps if we did make buying cheaper cooler and we cheered one another on when we did rather than thinking people are cheap we could maybe be more freed up to help build an orphanage or plant a church.

Downsizing shouldn't be a law. Don't make someone out to be evil if they buy new. But just tell people they are "cool" if they go cheaper when they didn't have too!

Anyway...I gotta go buy a used coffee. See you soon...
Mike

Friends

I was reflecting on what things have helped shape me in my life and ministry the most. I would say that without a doubt my close friends have had the biggest impact.

I am a people person. I love spending time with people. I am most likely to stay a bit too long at your house or at the cafe if I'm not carefully considering your time schedule. Why? Because I love talking and listening and engaging in real life discussions.

The other night a friend of mine was over from Paris, France with his new wife. We had dinner at my best friends home. It was a great night of sharing stories from crazy 4WD beach holidays and much more. We had a great time reflecting on the great times. My friend Brendan brought up the fact that it was going around to my other friend Matt's house after midnight when we were in our late teens & early twenties to pray in the park that was powerfully instrumental in how ministry and leadership has unfolded in his life. I started remembering this too and how we met together as a group of about five guys each week to pray and keep ourselves accountable for godly living (except for wild 4WD speeding on Frazer Island sand dunes).

Having godly and committed friendships over the years have helped me more than I can convey here. My Dad said to me once out of the blue when I was about 19, "I wish I had friends like you do when I was your age. Don't take these for granted." That profoundly impacted me. I took my Dad's words seriously.

Friendship reflections:

1. Invest in friendship.
2. Chase relationship, don't expect it to come racing to you.
3. Be the friend that you want others to be to you.
4. Expect challenging times but be committed to reconciliation and long term.
5. Always seek understanding if in doubt about a friends view or opinion.
6. We are too quick to drop friendships when we feel uncomfortable.
7. Authenticity is critical. If you can't be real you don't have a friendship but an acquaintance.
8. Vulnerability builds trust.
9. Confidentiality MUST be respected. This is friendship integrity.
10. Prioritise time for friendship.

Most weeks of the past 15 years of my life I have prioritised time for coffees with friends. 7am breakfasts or Saturday morning coffees have been the best times of my life. Don't make excuses. God gave us friendships. God created us for community. When life gets tough you want people standing with you. I am so grateful that I have had this.

I remember hearing about Billy Graham telling Bill Hybels about how in his street lives many of the people he has served with in ministry for over fifty years. His street had friends of a lifetime along it. That was so inspiring for me in a world that is busy but desperately lonely.

ONE year part two

Ongoing reflections on my first year as a pastor of a new and growing church community...
These are random but genuine.

* Don't let fear of what people will say stop you doing what you know God has called you to do.
* Don't confuse fear of what people think with wisdom of godly counsel.
* Don't let fear of failure stop you trying new things.
* Don't let fear of success and what unknowns that will bring stop you.
* Don't let false humility stop you thinking big.
* Don't let thinking big get in the way of God's values.
* Sometimes thinking smaller is important.
* Under promise and over deliver. (Thanks Rudy G.)
* Smash your way out of the "Christian bubble" without smashing fellow believers.
* Love your way out of the bad perception people have of Jesus followers.
* Jesus loves me this I know but not because of what I do for him. He loved me when I did nothing!
* Most of the time I have no idea what I am doing.
* Do less reading. Do more praying and thinking. But read as much as you can! : )
* Guard your heart from disappointment turning into bitterness. Gratitude is a big help.

* Love your wife. (If you have one). This is my most important ministry to God.

* Ask how you can love her better.

Hmmmm.

ONE

Well here we are.
ONE.
We will celebrate 12 months of being a new community of faith this Sunday 2nd March.
Here is a few reflections and lessons learned on the first year.

* Don't copy the structure of a church that you admire if it's not the structure that you require to fulfil the vision God has given at the stage you are at now.
* Celebrate life transformation not numbers and numbers will not be an issue.
* People want to follow healthy leaders who are called to serve not driven to succeed.
* Healthy leaders produce healthy leaders.
* Busyness is the enemy of intimacy.
* Busyness is sometimes what I do to make me feel better at what I can't always produce.
* I am learning to be less busy and more present with people.
* I am struggling to work out what is appropriate busyness to get the work done that God wants done and discern the difference.
* Authenticity is desired more by people than great vision. Great vision inspires people after they see authenticity.
* Pay attention to your gut feeling but don't trust it. Test it.
* I would never want to do this adventure without friends and in community.
* It is very easy to prepare messages and not your heart. Do the heart first.
* It's all about Christ, but oh! how we make it in practice too much about us and not enough about Him. Forgive me Lord.

I will post more reflections over the coming days.

Have lunch with us this Sunday after the 10am service. www.thrivecommunity.com

Attitudes

There are some core attitudes that are crucial for making ministry teams and leadership teams work. When they are not present there is always pain and disunity. We can't waste time ignoring these. I am aware building some new teams that these are critical components.

Commitment: Is my yes my yes and my no my no and do I give up easy or push through quitting points?

Humility: Am I thinking of myself more highly than I ought too?

Servanthood: How can I best serve this team and /or leader / people?

Faithfulness: Will I be there in good seasons and tough seasons or am I easily distracted from the goal?

Patience: Will I be patient with my leader and team as they grow and learn and fail?

Courage: Will I do what is dificult in order to gain what is rare? (Tell the truth, confront, listen to understand, finish a task that is difficult).

Encouragement: Will I let the people around me be discouraged or will I be a major encourager?

Graciousness: Will I be gracious and understanding or will I be judgmental and arrogant?

Holiness: Will I seek to live with integrity or will I compromise when it suits me?

The list could be endless. The key is asking yourself what attitudes do you need to develop or change to be the servant leader he is calling you to be. If in doubt ask an honest friend.

LOVE of another kind

Ok, so it's Valentines day. Yes I did something even though I hate the commercial side of it...but I also hate the commercial side of Christmas, Easter etc and still buy stuff so maybe I don't hate it as much as I say. I love my wife. I think she is amazing and I am blessed. Love is the greatest. I read that somewhere!
Well, Love goes well beyond romance. God is Love. That's pretty profound when you actually think about that.
So...I have had some profoundly challenging and confronting conversations with people recently. One person told me of marriage challenges. One person told me of faith questions and doubts. One person told me about their struggle in the church in silence with homosexuality. What a week so far. In every case I was amazed at the raw honesty, courage and pain that each person is facing and has had to deal with. So many questions raised of WHY? I didn't even know how to answer some questions. I didn't want to give some off the cuff quick fix (get this monkey off my back) answer. That doesn't help people generally struggling and wanting serious answers.

This week I have again become convinced that people need to know LOVE. Pure love. God love. The God is Love kind of love. How could I show this? Avoid difficult questions and answers? Just listen? Just agree? Just change the subject? Just ignore this stuff and get on doing my life in my comfortable bubble?

No.

I have had to truly wrestle again with what it means to show love, compassion, understanding, truth, and hope. People don't get this just from our words alone but from our body language; listening ear; non-judgmental attitude and absolute commitment to them regardless of their situation. When someone feels safe with us trust is built. That is something we all desire.

I have been humbled when I consider people's challenges and genuine struggles. I know that I need "God is Love" to change me and fill me and help me be His Love to all I meet. It's messy. It's sometimes confusing and sometimes we get it wrong but we must pursue loving people. After all, that's what we want ourselves. "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you", Jesus.

Oh...and by the way. God changes people. God makes people grow. God does miracles. God sometimes heals and sometimes doesn't. And when he doesn't take away the "thorn in my side" or your side or your your friends side, and says, "my grace is sufficient for you" I then need encouragement, support and genuine community to sow seeds of hope and water lots of mercy, patience and prayer so that God can keep doing his work of growing me. LOVE is a verb. Live it. Be it. Give it.

Shalom.

NEW environment

THIS Sunday Night 10th Feb 08
6pm
Venue: Yowie Bay Primary, Wonga Rd, Yowie Bay.
Young Adults gathering begins...

All ages welcome even though it's aimed primarily at 18-30's.
This is not your typical church service.
This is a GATHERING! Simply...we are gathering young adults together around the mission of our church 'to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.'
This will be an interactive environment. We will use all various means to communicate and experience community, give THANKS to God and be inspired by God's Word as part of our WORSHIP.
I believe this will be a great environment for new people to come and authentically get a taste of what it means to follow Christ.

It's new. It's experimental. It's a risk. It could fail! BUT...you'll never never know you never never give it a go. FAITH.

Hopefully we'll see you there.
Alternatively come along to our Sunday morning family gathering, 10am. I love this Church!
What an honour it is to lead and serve.

Oprah Church

Conference

I just spent the weekend down in Phillip Island, Victoria (2 hours from Melbourne). It was the National CRC Youth Conference. This was a brilliant weekend for me. Not only because there were hundreds of youth at this event but there was a great group of leaders and speakers that I got to meet and hang out with.

The reason why I loved the weekend so much was because of the diversity of backgrounds and input. I have put down here a few lessons learnt from reflecting on the weekend.

1. Don't judge a CD by it's artwork:

I met leaders and speakers who have nothing of what the world tells us is important for success and leadership yet they shone with inspiration, courage, character and humility. I want to know leaders who may or may not look great but have the substance and character to last. Look past the exterior to what God has always been looking at. Heart.

2. Don't hang out with like minded people always, hang out with like spirited people:

Of course Jesus hung out with people who had neither the same thinking or the same intentions or values. What I am talking about is mixing with leaders and people who think different to you even if you have the same goals and values. As a Christian leader it's an easy habit to only hang around people who always agree with us and think like us. We grow most when we hang out with people whose context is different to ours. This stretches us and makes us think. I met some great leaders who are facing ministry situations very different to mine and also facing my challenges from different angles. It's so good to be inspired and challenged by these people. We have the same Holy Spirit and desire to serve God, it just looks different how we do it.

3. Be content to be yourself:

It's only been in the past few years that I have been content to be myself around other leaders. Sometimes in wanting to impress or connect we try to be something we are not. This is hypocrisy. It's acting. It's not real and wins no smiles from God. I am finding great joy in trusting God that how He has made me and where I am at on the journey of faith is OK. God promotes. God blesses. God connects. God gives peace. God honours humility. So I don't need to be something I am not or 'not yet'. Enjoy now. And incidentally, I am finding that other leaders start to relax around you too and respect you more. I think authenticity comes to mind. I am still learning how to do this better.

I'll post more about some great people and ministries soon...