tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661848867462885062011-07-08T11:16:17.210+10:00Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-90341157312908878292010-07-22T10:21:00.001+10:002010-07-22T10:23:22.696+10:00

Check out this blog and ask yourself the question.www.perrynoble.com/2010/07/21/8-reasons-some-churches-do-not-grow/

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-69908942122861770952010-05-26T19:15:00.001+10:002010-05-26T19:17:17.919+10:00

Got this from www.carm.org this website is worth a look. RichYour Mind The Bible sees the mind as that place of contemplation, judgment, and intention. Our minds allow us to be rational, to weigh evidence, to make decisions about right and wrong, options, etc. Our minds allow us to worship, praise God, pray, love, repent, and trust. In this we are made in God's image with the mental capacities

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-27738826380917530892009-12-16T14:48:00.003+11:002009-12-16T14:55:05.958+11:00

Oral Roberts died today aged 91. he was a pioneer of the Charismatic movement and a man of revival. whether you agree with his doctrine and some of his theology much of his ministry has shaped the churches we have come to accept as normal. Oral Roberts has a legacy of over 300 crusades in 6 continents with millions of people saved through his ministry. he was a pioneer in televised church

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-24447012545569524972009-11-30T09:44:00.005+11:002009-11-30T09:57:37.343+11:00

I've been challenged by my 70 year old friend Leon (pictured with his equally amazing wife Pat) and his amazing passion for Jesus. but more than that with his wealth of wisdom. I can only dream that at that age I will be so wise and have ordered my life to the extent to which he has done. I'm challenged that I am undisciplined, lazy and easily distracted and that so many of the problems I face

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-25295351652813036482009-11-03T09:52:00.005+11:002009-11-03T10:10:22.388+11:00

I read an article by the Barna group. (see link below) about the difference in how generations view the Bible. It challenged me about how I think about God's word, what I am doing to make the Bible relevant to the Generations following and what legacy I am leaving as to the Word of God.Let me know what you think. Richhttp://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/317-

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-60538871234168106172009-08-31T07:43:00.002+10:002009-08-31T07:55:03.593+10:00

Yesterday I went with my daughter to check out University and the options in another city...seemed simple enough or so I thought. as we walked through the dorm rooms looking at the prison like conditions it suddenly dawned on me that my little Girl would be leaving.It was a bit of a 'father of the bride' moment when something inside began to hurt.This girl who has been so dependant and makes up..

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-81236573893858237722009-08-13T13:10:00.002+10:002009-08-13T13:16:18.460+10:00

I'm wrestling with the concept of what it means to go into all the world and make disciples. for so many it is the principle of lots of talk and not much action. but for me personally what does it mean and how can I achieve it? I don't want to repeat the doing it in my own strength option which ended badly for me last time. But I often feel like I'm spinning my wheels and not exactly making much

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-81310071968634724062009-08-12T21:27:00.003+10:002009-08-12T21:31:39.243+10:00

Below is a link to an article I wrote for the local paper. It was done as a response to an ex minister who wrote an article the previous week that tried to discount the miraculous nature of Christ's birth life and death and that it was all unnecessary and irrelevant.If you view down the page and look at the reflections columnhttp://www.standard.net.au/files/55/93/01/000019355/12AUGWEX013.pdf

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-59094425909514071432009-07-26T00:44:00.002+10:002009-07-26T00:46:28.357+10:00

The following is a dream I had last night.Dream Saturday 25th July 2009 Richard SnookKerry and I were invited to stay with a family for Christmas. The family was a big family but they lived in a large ranch style house with many rooms and lavishly decorated.When we arrived we were shown into a master bedroom with a huge king sized bed and other furniture, it was palatial and classy, we felt so

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-63318756462262226832009-06-28T22:50:00.005+10:002009-06-28T23:24:13.709+10:00

There has been so much in the Media about Michael Jackson this weekend. As for how I feel to a large degree I'm sad, in fact I was sad before he died. Michael was an Icon of my teen years and his music defined many of the moments I had as a teenager and musician. It made me sad to see him abuse his body and have so much plastic surgery. It made me sad to see him abused by minders, sad to see his

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-36031191024981739552009-06-22T09:33:00.001+10:002009-06-22T09:33:57.846+10:00

Last week when we went to Adelaide I asked God to make me useful and to go with a word for someone, well for 2 days all I got was the name Malcom! what the! I didn't even know anyone there called Malcom. so I went and kinda forgot about it until at the meeting I thought if they open this up to words etc I'll ask if Malcom is here. they didn't! so I let it go and after the meeting headed to the

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-59862827909014377972009-05-12T10:38:00.002+10:002009-05-12T11:06:30.012+10:00

The other night on 60 minutes there was a navy Diver, Paul de Gelder, who was attacked by a shark...what an inspiration he was. This guy lost a leg and a hand and just wouldn't stay down. the sight of him hopping through the hospital made me realise my own troubles were not quite so bad after all. Thanks Paul for your inspiration. But it got me thinking.In Romans 7: 14 - 25 the apostle Paul talks

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-21581389448589123212009-05-10T21:22:00.005+10:002009-05-12T10:38:24.859+10:00

I wrote this narrative for a preach I did recently at church on the way Peter may have been feeling just prior to the sermon on the mount. I hope you like it. It's a bit long but I think worth the read. RichThe day was a usual for Galilee the sun was beating down and the dust would rise from the road like powder filling the air and drying the throat. The feet of all the people stamping at the

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-24409898401408392192009-04-25T10:36:00.005+10:002009-04-25T10:51:59.733+10:00

Rowland Croucher wrote the following on his facebook status recently and it got me thinking about church growth and how we market things. my response on his page is below.COMMON QUESTION IN OUR SEMINARS: Why do some churches grow? Simplest answer: more people who come once come back again! A pet food manufacturer's business was going bad, so he sacked all his staff. The new staff didn't do any

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-27580753133579339822009-04-22T16:03:00.003+10:002009-04-22T16:11:01.904+10:00

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-38638324043088211992009-03-30T21:40:00.004+11:002009-03-30T21:57:10.299+11:00

Marriage mattersMy parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this week and it impresses me no end that they have been married so long. it also makes me feel old but that is another blog altogether!It got me thinking though that a happy marriage is one of the most amazing things on planet earth and to be able to spend life with a friend who knows you so intimately is a cause for absolute

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-29931582822597351612009-03-25T10:11:00.005+11:002009-03-25T10:22:33.358+11:00

I read this recently, it is a statement made by mark Driscoll. it sums up beautifully, some of how I feel about Christ and the way Christians have been portrayed. I realise that much of my own walk has been down the limp wristed version of Christianity, and I realise how often the wider community and the church tries to manipulate me into staying weak and insipid. I hate being challenged by

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-19518650670533999442009-02-07T10:58:00.005+11:002009-02-07T11:27:58.171+11:00

The only thing I can think of in defense of the government is that it is better to give the money to those still working than to wait a year and hand it out to the newly unemployed. I think this is the logic behind it. the Government seems to think the money will go back into the economy except that most people have bought plasma TVs and chrome wheels for their cars. many things purchased are

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-27247920506463709122009-02-07T10:55:00.000+11:002009-02-07T10:58:15.442+11:00

My Brother posted this on facebook.The world finances are in a melt down! this is not new news (Not sure you can have old news…) But are we addressing the issues but throwing more money at it?I read this in the Herald SunWatch your debtsAfter this week’s political performance, this step applies equally to Kevin and Co.Why do so many politicians believe that we can spend our way out of a

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-70750491112560934982009-01-19T14:50:00.002+11:002009-01-19T15:04:16.146+11:00

Having just returned from a break of nearly a month, I feel so blessed to have been able to have such an awesome holiday. So many people never experience this sort of break and trudge on through life without the restorative and perspective altering experience a holiday can provide. Just being able to have some solid time with my kids as they grow into adults and uninterrupted time with my wife

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-13405695419588346122008-12-08T09:26:00.004+11:002008-12-08T23:03:30.832+11:00

I've become increasingly aware lately of the importance of foundations in our lives and how they seem to have lost importance. whether it's the economy, spiritual, emotional or physical life. or our marriages and relationships, we seem to bypass this essential ingredient.As a builder if I built a house and even scrimped a bit on the foundations I would live in fear, and one day be confronted

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-19914294359994415612008-11-17T17:36:00.000+11:002008-11-17T17:38:30.988+11:00

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-59396847860689578402008-11-07T22:38:00.007+11:002008-11-07T23:07:50.043+11:00

I've decided to grow a Mo for Movember not so much to raise money but to raise awareness for men's health issues. With a grandfather who died of Prostate cancer in his 50s and having had my own struggle for a season with depression. As Men we are not known for going to the Doctor until the ambulance picks us up and hauls us away. It astound me the publicity given to Women's health issues and yet

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-72596904801981356402008-10-14T12:57:00.003+11:002008-10-14T13:11:50.902+11:00

The big issue in the world is the economic crashes and the trouble happening on the stock market. To be honest I have seen this coming for some time not because I'm a great prophet but because the Bible says we reap what we sow. For a long time now we have lived in the unreality of a percieved good economy. but really we have enjoyed a lifestyle of increased debt up against increasing value of

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-67797496596490636912008-10-13T09:45:00.002+11:002008-10-13T10:01:11.143+11:00

To say there is an open heaven over South Africa in many ways is an understatement. Compared to oz it is so rereshing to be in a nation where being a Chistian is not seen as the exception but the norm. I've done some reflecting over the past few days about why Australia is so closed to the things of God and I believe a major influence is that ozzies don't need a saviour. In SA the vast majority

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-9236973383877427072008-09-30T22:36:00.002+10:002008-10-11T21:15:52.425+11:00

SALTT 08 for the uninitiated is South Africa Leadership training time. And where I have been for the last 2 days and will be till friday. Here have gathered 3000 + church leaders from all over africa and from many nations of the world. It's a time for us to be envisioned and to see the bigger picture of what God is up to. And god is up to big things indeed. IN sleepy Warrnambool we at risk of

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-54346739071793577002008-09-26T19:26:00.002+10:002008-09-26T19:38:27.511+10:00

Isaiah tells us to expand the tent and increase the place of our habitation. and In being in SOuth Africa and visiting with the Bible College staff I have been so impacted with the need for us at home to grow and expand in every area of life. I feel like an intellectual pigmy here and wish I had payed more attention at school! the level of thought process I usually entertain seems grossly

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-60029985419097953962008-09-25T14:46:00.004+10:002008-09-25T15:03:56.051+10:00

I've now woken up to my first african sunrise although I am yet to see much of Africa. I've been welcomed so warmly by the people here and it is humbling to know how in the kingdom of God we do genuinely have a family all over the world. Last night we had a Briar...BBQ we call it, and sat and began to get to know each other. The couple I am staying with are so welcoming and trusting to leave me

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-9908734944703469672008-09-24T05:40:00.002+10:002008-09-24T05:48:39.161+10:00

Don't you love airports, it's the classic rush to stop scenario. everyone power walking their way to then sit and nod off or talk about what lies ahead. Then there's the posers who look so business like trying to make meaning in their life by being (in their own eyes) important and with ruffled brow so forthright and studious. I think you should have to attend the airport in your Pyjamas, that

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-15969715843695824162008-09-21T07:39:00.003+10:002008-09-21T08:04:38.581+10:00

On Tuesday I leave on an adventure to South Africa. this is the first international trip I have done since 1999, which was before Sept 11. To say I'm a lttle stressed is an understatement but the stress is not related to planes dropping out of the sky.I've always believed that God orders our steps and God's plans for us have a way of unfolding, not according to our expectations, but according to

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-20004659128276509182008-09-16T12:05:00.002+10:002008-09-16T12:15:08.490+10:00

I read this today and thought it quite profound. Christ--the Only Complete RealistNo man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German Army by fighting it, not by giving

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-26666752164070442602008-09-13T15:00:00.006+10:002008-09-13T15:15:08.247+10:00

We've just enjoyed watching our amazing daughter act and sing in the school production, (that's her front and centre in the photo playing Rosie in bye bye Birdie ) it made me realise how grown up she has become, and with her turning 16 next week and getting a learners permit I can't help thinking how my little girl is now a woman. What a great responsibility we have as parents to shape the lives

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-5005625162823949312008-09-12T09:31:00.004+10:002008-09-12T09:49:20.724+10:00

We had an amazing worship/prayer meeting last night where we let loose and gave God the meeting rather than going on and on about what we wanted from God. This got me thinking. When we pray we tend not to use the old "prayer book" type of praying, where essentially we read our prayers from a written text. It now seems crazy that we would ever have done this, although back in my methodist roots, I

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-39619636514128545222008-09-08T12:32:00.000+10:002008-09-08T12:40:45.603+10:00

Mornings are always interesting. there is that sense of excitement as a new day lies ahead and that all the stresses and crisis that happened yesterday is somehow put to bed and forgotten. I've always been one of those people who tries to do the dirty jobs at night, clean the kitchen or pay some bills. then I know that I can start fresh. there's nothing worse than getting up and facing the

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766184886746288506.post-67197873643935447112008-09-08T12:15:00.001+10:002008-09-16T14:33:14.680+10:00

Hi guysWelcome to my Blog. I've never done this before so who knows where it will end. I will endevour to add info and snippets of my mind and the ramblings of my thoughts to the site as they come to mind. feel free to visit from time to time and look through the window to my soul and see what is there.Rich

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873109386059755182noreply@blogger.com0