Just random stuff I wanted to share.

1. I missed out on NTE but I certainly didn't miss out on mission. Even if I'd trekked out to Canberra, I'd definitely have come back to Fairfield for mission because so much was happening. For once I was on the outside though. I watched the team of 18 from Townsville/Northern Territory work their butts off. I could hardly believe it. I know that's what you do when you're on mission. You throw yourself into it, you're of the mindset that you can rest when you get home. But it still blew me away how determined these students were to serve us. I know how exhausted they must have been, yet they were completely self-sacrifical. Can you get that apart from Christ?

2. One person in particular who was on the team humbled me very much. Her name is Esther Staines. If the name Graham Staines means nothing to you, Wiki can provide a quick overview here. I couldn't believe it when I saw her name listed among the students. Surely it wasn't the same girl... The same girl whom I'd heard quoted by everyone from John Piper to Carmelina Reed. But after several conversations with her and others my thoughts were confirmed. I couldn't bring myself to ask many questions about the situation but we did share what we loved about India and all I really had to do to be encouraged by her was... watch. Everything from the clothes she wore to her interaction with others to the way she would stick it out handing out fliers while everyone else had gone to sleep in the sun - she is a woman of God, through and through.

3. A little discouraged by the reaction of yrs 7-9 at Bossley Park High today to our Christmas assembly. I guess it just made me aware of how serious it is to turn your back on God. Unbelief is truly a sin. It hurt so much to hear and see people totally reject the Gospel.

4. But still really excited about ministry in Fairfield in general: the Scripture teachers who will be employed to work full-time in the area in 2010, our assistant minister Steve Frederick starting his multicultural church plant in Fairfield next year and all the contacts he is making, the South West theological college and conference getting off the ground, how supportive Fairfield markets has been and God providing us with free stalls over Christmas... Barneys in Bossley Park is seriously a powerhouse I'm so blessed to be there.

That's all.

Vent.

I've hit a wall. Frustratingly enough, I feel that NTE09 would have helped me to smash through it. I need to be pushed. I need something to engage with. I need a challenge. I need a reminder. I need perspective. I need to examine my heart. Rather, I need God to do so. I need... ?