Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the Uncategorized category.
Christmas is coming…time to eat…
Ok, here is a video that Pastor James took a while ago…not all that pretty but reality for the poor.
We are going into Christmas time, the western world will eat chickens, turkeys, hams and roasts in absolute abundance…
…what will some of the poor people eat…
(WARNING – animal lovers do not watch this video)
Asian Lizard…
Only in Asia could you expect to see a lizard eating what…well, rice of course…
This one gets fed daily by Marivics kids, every time they eat, the lizard eats as well…
Check out Prince Gabriel
Irene and Bonavic, two of our longest church attenders, have finally had a little boy, he is so cute.
Super happy mum…
Flood Releif Aussie Style
Hi there to all. We have been doing flood relief work now for the last 3 weeks in an area called Fairview, just north of central Manila. As a partner organisation with AOGWR and the ACCC, we have had $30,000 to spend in this area. The plan was too select 100 families and give them a “Re-start Package”. The goods are being released in a 4 stage weekly distribution effort. This package is shocking and surprising the locals, who are used to very minimalistic assistance in times such as these. They know from history that much is promised, with very little being given, as incredible amounts of money and aide disappears into the bottomless pockets of corruption…but not so with us. What were we able to do with $30,000…
Here is what families have received to date -
- week 1 – a full sack of rice (50kgs) and 500p cash money for food…
- week 2 – a family medical and hygene kit (value 1,000p) and 500p cash for food…a bible…
- week 3 – household goods too many to mention (200 plus items per family) and 500p cash for food…
- the 4th week will see 220 children receive finances for various schooling needs, another 50kg sack of rice per family and 1,000p cash money for food…
For these families, it is as if the heavens opened up over their lives and God Himself poured out blessings like rain…and it just kept coming week after week, no promises broken, nothing held back.
One of the big questions often asked of organisations such as ours, how much was spent on admin’ fees – well, so far our admin’ fees total less than 0.5% of the total budget, and YES, you did read that right – 0.5%.
A huge thanks to those that contributed to the appeal, 100 families have eaten everyday this month, 220 children are back in school, lives were incredibly blessed and restored to some form of normality…literally because you gave – THANK YOU..!
A huge thank you to our local leaders who organised a massive amount of stock this week and administered it with such ease. Another huge thankyou to Pastor James Troup, who has set this whole thing up while I was in Australia with Christine – HUGE JOB, WELL DONE.
Mark
Great Message in a secular bands song…what would you do…?
My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day’s a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day
Against the grain should be a way of life
What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts ’cause there’s no second try
So live like you’ll never live it twice
Don’t take the free ride in your own life
CHORUS 1
If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
CHORUS 2
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you’re dreamin’ of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it’s never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
‘Cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin’ stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side
CHORUS 1& 2
If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never seen?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you’re dreamin’ of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day
Unsung Hero of Faith…
The bible, and no doubt history are full of people who did amazing things but weren’t really all that well known. Sometimes they just did not like centre stage or simply did not need any applause, they did things because what they did was right, or just needed to be done and they were the right person at the right time, in the right place, which is all very noble.
But there are others, who have deliberately gone out of thier way, and without meaning to, have done things that can only ever really be measured in eternity by a God who sees all.
Here is one of these unsung heroes. I am the pastor, the preacher, the talker, the promoter, I am who people in Aust’ see, but there is one who refuses the spotlight, and truth be known, who’s work outshines it anyway.
They are the one walking around everyday with the medical kit treating sick kids and following up on sickness, the one in and out of hospitals with patients of all shapes and sizes, the one bathing kids with scabbies, the one who treats that babies burns day after day, the one who leaves their own kids and grand kids in Australia (who are missed so much), but in return has been given hundreds and hundreds of kids who see her as “Nanny”, our young leaders see her as a mother.
This is my wife, Christine, incredible lady. The photo’s show nothing of what she really does…
Why would you want to live anywhere else than right in the middle of Gods will for you…
Home sweet home…
Great House James
Here is a very small sample of the work James, Cathy and the kids have been doing while we were in Aust’…
Sort of hard to work it out, but this used to be a real ordinary slum house, sitting in water, crappy roof and the home of one of our leaders. But now it is a veritable mansion. Please check out Cathies blog for some better pics of the whole process.
Mark
Here are some thoughts…God is rebuilding me…
I have preached and taught on Team with my leaders for the last year, and no doubt there was some good stuff in it…BUT THEN GOD reveals to me it’s not a team at all, it’s a family – fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.
Your kids are not players in a game, they are your kids. You don’t just want them to work well together so the team can win, you want their entire life to be all that it can be. You don’t just give your kids rules and regulations, plays to outwork in life…you give them all that you are. From the time that they are born your life revolves around them, they are yours and you are theirs because it’s a family not a team.
There are team concepts and ideas that will still apply, but I might not love everyone in my team…but no matter what I will love my family, even when they screw up in the biggest possible way, I will still love them and be there for them, because they are family.
Institutional church cannot produce this, it has to be birthed in genuine relationships built and bonded together on love that goes beyond the task and focuses on the person.
I am so excited over what God is showing me, I feel pregnant with ideas and concepts, all still very unformed at the moment, but forming in me as the Holy Spirit broods and hovers to create order out of kaos and produce Christ in His children.
Something good is about to happen and it will spill over onto you.
Mark
