I think the red is fine. The "yellow" might have to be changed.........

Now I can't post pictures - haven't worked it out - I love for you to show me how...........

That looks good Ben...love the way you've coloured the title, BRIDGES...very cool. We can delete all of these messages, when you want to start some serious writing and reflection........:-)

Ben Mannell is da man!

Interesting comments, by George Barna, on the American church post-September 11 - "Barna's Beefs: His nine challenges for American Christianity — prophetic words, or sweeping generalizations?"

Space results from an invitation to draw aside, for a moment, from the hectic activity of life. It’s about the creation of sacred space - holy ground - qualitative time opened up to the possibility of encountering and being moved by God: God most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, and present by his Spirit, through Word, language, music, image, silence, action, and symbol. These gatherings are about the ‘framing’ of space within which to relax, to create, to listen, to dream, to reflect, to pray, and to be replenished and renewed in both the presence of ‘God-who-is-with-us,’ and of each other.

We encourage and welcome your participation to the degree that you are comfortable. Equally, and importantly, you are free to simply watch and listen. This is your space.

Finally, this space is a new ‘frontier’ - an exploration. It’s fluid, experimental, and therefore able to be changed and adjusted. What happens and doesn’t happen will be the result of where God leads, and what each of us allows it to be and to become.

Next "gathering" 7.30pm. 28th July. Church Centre. Entry via the carpark. Should be finished in 45 mins, but you're free to extend the 'space.'

More on the importance of couches....

the 10 most common mistakes made by church plants
by Jim Griffith

1. Taking Spiritual Warfare Lightly
- Spend time in fasting & prayer (as an association, as a launch team, etc.)
- Get God's perspective
- Realize this is "war" and those involved are in the line of fire and will be wounded; therefore, adopt a plan to deal with the wounded.

2. Attempting to plant a church that reaches everyone
- No Focus; therefore, no strategy
- No target, no plan EXCEPT that it will change with each new addition
- Identity: what makes us unique? -- Issue of Emphasis
- Strategy: Forget to focus on what will put people in the seats

3. Premature Launch -- always shows up in "post-mortem"

4. Recruiting ceases after the "grand opening"
- Point person now forced out of "recruiting role and into "pastoral" role
- Majority of time spent on those who come through the door, rather than those who are not yet in the door.

5. No plan for the other 6 days of the week
- Must have a process whereby people are connected to each other & to God, DURING the week
- Orient attendees to the mission of the new church

6. Fear of talking about money until it's urgent
- It takes money to conduct ministry
- More ministry costs still more money
- Absence of stewardship disciple making
- Build in a "operations" budget
- Conduct yearly one-time gifts

7. Not differentiating a church plant from an established church
- It's a developmental issue
- You have to "act your age"
- Must have a few key elements in place so that you give the appearance of being developmentally sound

8. Formalize leadership too quickly

9. Once the project is up and running, Fail to reFocus on the target
- Too much time discussing "church in a vacuum" creates hardening of categories
- Must accommodate those who actually come and modify what's working and what isn't
- Don't hold each other to those things which no longer matter
- Failure to match target & strategy
- Failing to adjust to what God seems to be doing

10. Relying on the Advice of Experts
- Tempted to listen to successful people -- THEIR SITUATION IS NOT YOURS!
- It's not their vision -- keep their hands off
- Stay sober; make sure your judgment is clear!