Number 44

On this day in 1963 William Whyte Ritchie ventured into this world. I discovered today through the Internet that I share a birthday with Albert Einstien, not bad company eh? Also the actor Michael Caine.

It still blows my mind that I can sit in Starbucks with my morning coffee catch up with events in some great churches from half way around the world and access information using something called Google. Much has changed in the world in 44 years. I still remember at the age of 11 at school when the computer coming to school was a big event. It came for just a few days and covered nearly half a classroom. We spent the week leading up to it filling in cards to give the computer instructions so it could understand it and complete a very simple arithmetic equation. Now I carry around a little box capable of things that were inconceivable then.

Time passes so quickly and things change daily. Its good to know that I have a relationship with a God that does not change. The Bible says he is the same yesterday, today and forever. His love for me and mankind never changes. His longing for relationship with His creation never changes.

Today I am a bit older and hopefully a bit wiser. 44 sounds good. Excited to see what God has in store for me till I reach 45.

Pleasant Surprise

Over the last 2 years we have had a bit of a torturous journey in our efforts to develop our church campus. We have a great facility but it is really too small for us now. We have added a second service on Sunday morning which is growing and more recently a third on Sunday evening.

Not only is our present building starting to shape our activities on Sundays but it getting too small for our week day activities.

Over the last 2 years we have had a couple of rethinks on what we really want and been let down by our architect. We interviewed for new architects before Christmas and appointed the successful firm in early January.

We have had 2 meetings with them outlining our requirements and they have just come back with some plans and renderings of their initial thoughts. I was completely bowled over by their solution to our needs. I am now pumped about presenting this to our members at our special meeting on Saturday night.

Will post a couple of sketches after Saturday.

Leadership

This week has been a slog. Nothing seems to have come easy.

Problems with cars and busyness has taken its toll. We are gearing up for our annual members meeting at MKCC. They are great evenings where we have some good food, celebrate what God has done in our church over the last year and look forward to the next year.

BTW not like some of my dreadful experiences in some other churches where voting and arguing were top of the bill. To think we would have a vote over the colour of paint or an argument around awarding the pastor some minuscule raise on an already laughable wage.

It was a time when small minded people with very little vision other than being king of their small world ruled the roost.

Here at MKCC we are blessed to have good godly leaders who use their gifts and talents to complement each other with the common vision of reaching a world.

This Saturday we will be recognising a new leadership team. (They are already doing the work) and appointing some great new people to our Governance Board. We will also be presenting the latest update on our new building project.

Highs & Lows

The last few days have had some great highs but I am left today feeling quite low. Not sure why. I have no real reason to feel this way but can't quite get out of it. Maybe a good nights sleep will help.

Friday was a great day. We got together our new leadership team for MKCC for the first time. It really was exceptional to have the people who are really active in leading the church together. We have some awesome people who give incredible amounts of time and effort to our church. We planned some great things for the rest of the year but even more importantly we were doing it together.

Sunday was a crazy day. Mark Sherratt and I preached together. That always seems to make it longer than usual. We laid a dud in the first service but got our act together in the second service. We talked about making Changes. Probably the thing we find the most difficult. But as someone once said: to change is difficult, not to change is fatal.

I want to continue to change and become like Christ.