About Time
Friday, August 6th, 2010 Our latest podcast is up on iTunes (CM1234), it’s been a while! Recorded in Manila.
Hear some of what we have been up to lately as we prepare for KIDSHAPER TASTE!
You can also listen to our latest Kidshaper Podcast by going to the Kidshaper Blog.
Hear some of what we have been up to lately as we prepare for KIDSHAPER TASTE!
You can also listen to our latest Kidshaper Podcast by going to the Kidshaper Blog.
CAMP RED
Monday, June 28th, 2010 What an a amazing camp! We have just returned home from our annual CAMP RED. The camp sold out for the first time, we even had to order another bus. We had prayed with focus and intensity over the camp and the results were amazing. No home sickness, accidents, illness or issues. Every child who didn’t follow Jesus now does! And children were filled with the Holy Spirit. The creativity of the team is amazing creating Major Disruption and Private Joke, the Ricky report, Aunty Sunta, the Shifty Penguins , and the Game King had kids laughing gasping and shouting. Ted Hatza our local genius came up with the bright idea of having a few tonnes of soil delivered so he could wet it down and create the first CAMP RED mud fight. I love camp time, seeing kids dance and sing and celebrate God is so exciting.
The weekend was capped off with a new record we cracked the 300! Thankyou Lord!
The weekend was capped off with a new record we cracked the 300! Thankyou Lord!
4 on Saying NO to Temptation Released!
Friday, May 14th, 2010 We are VERY excited! Our latest 4 module, ‘4 on Saying NO to Temptation’ is available now @ http://www.4store.com.au/4store/ !
One of the most valuable things that we can teach our kids is how to respond to temptation. 4 on Saying No to Temptation! teaches the 4 R’s – Recognize it, Resist it, Run from it and Repeat it – that will equip children to understand what temptation is and how they can overcome it.
Week 1: Recognize It
This week, Rob takes us back to Adam and Eve and shows us where temptation comes from and how to recognize it.
Pulse: Temptation is something I’ve seen before, so I’ll recognize it and shut the door.
Week 2: Resist It
Jen brings the word this week and reminds us of how David was able to resist temptation when Saul was chasing him.
Pulse: Prayer is an action that stops the attraction
Week 3: Run From It
This week, Paul shares with us about how a mighty man of God had to run away from temptation at Potiphar’s house.
Pulse: Temptation wants to talk to you, but only about the fun. But you know you’ll only get in trouble, so get out of there, RUN!
Week 4: Repeat It
Rob walks us through all of the ways that the enemy tempted Jesus in the desert. He shows us how, through scripture, Jesus was able to resist.
Pulse: Sin wants to make you weak, like a little kitten. Next time you are tempted, repeat ‘it is written.’
One of the most valuable things that we can teach our kids is how to respond to temptation. 4 on Saying No to Temptation! teaches the 4 R’s – Recognize it, Resist it, Run from it and Repeat it – that will equip children to understand what temptation is and how they can overcome it.
Week 1: Recognize It
This week, Rob takes us back to Adam and Eve and shows us where temptation comes from and how to recognize it.
Pulse: Temptation is something I’ve seen before, so I’ll recognize it and shut the door.
Week 2: Resist It
Jen brings the word this week and reminds us of how David was able to resist temptation when Saul was chasing him.
Pulse: Prayer is an action that stops the attraction
Week 3: Run From It
This week, Paul shares with us about how a mighty man of God had to run away from temptation at Potiphar’s house.
Pulse: Temptation wants to talk to you, but only about the fun. But you know you’ll only get in trouble, so get out of there, RUN!
Week 4: Repeat It
Rob walks us through all of the ways that the enemy tempted Jesus in the desert. He shows us how, through scripture, Jesus was able to resist.
Pulse: Sin wants to make you weak, like a little kitten. Next time you are tempted, repeat ‘it is written.’
AFTER THE EVENT
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 Well another Planetshakers conference has come and gone, Hisense arena was jammed, and our conference continues to grow in numbers creativity and power. The kids conference, ’Planetshaker Kids go ARMY’ was a huge success as well. Early childhood sold out, and the primary program almost doubled.
Post event, and there is always that mix of emotions. The sense of accomplishment, pride in the team, the encouragement from the parents reports and the joy of the next morning sleep in!
It is easy to move on from the event into the luring arms of sleep and then into the next date on the calendar. However this is the best time to evaluate and strategize for the next event. We sometimes think everything that happened will be recorded straight onto our brains, but the truth is we forget a lot of it, that’s why an evaluation time is important.
INVOLVE THE TEAM
Post event evaluation can occur with the key leadership group, but I like to involve the entire team brainstorming on ‘how we could do it better’ as quickly as possible while the event is fresh in their minds.
Question 1 I ask is where did we do really well? Starting the meeting focusing on the positive sets a foundation for the tone of the meeting
Question 2 where could we have performed better? I remind people that we need to be careful on how we offer up these responses. Sometimes the negatives spring to mind a lot quicker than the positives which is a reflection of where hearts are at. With that in mind the ‘De Bono’s black hats’ add to the meeting in a constructive manner. We don’t want to hide from where we had challenges, neither do we want someone’s response to bring the meeting down and hurt someone else’s ministry.
Question 3 I ask is for any other comments These are general miscellaneous comments related to the event.
Question 4 When is the party? Sometimes we blur from one event to the next without taking a break and celebrating. Israel fought some mighty battles but they also knew how to throw a party. Their festivals were to celebrate what God had done for them in another particular situation.
After my whiteboard full of ideas is recorded, I take those comments to our key leadership group for further evaluation after a few days rest.
COMPILE
Gather all your notes and save under the name of the event on your computer. The following year you will be surprised at how much you have forgotten and what great ideas your team came up with the year prior. Learning what did and didn’t work last time will put you streets ahead on the next event and ensure you are developing and progressing as a leader.
The window post conference is open for a very short time, so gather the view before the window shrinks and closes.
PARTY
Now we kick up our heels (funny expression , I don’t wear heals, I kick up my Adidas’s) and have fun. We retell the stories of the event like Ted setting up the Planetshakerkids go Army at the wrong venue! I mean the stage was set!
All through conference we continued to have a little fun with Ted saying the Etihad stadium had called and were wondering when he would be over;
“Er Ted, Acer arena called and wanted to know when you are coming to set up.”
“Teddy, it’s Madison square garden they wont hold the booking much longer”
Then we even presented him with some invoices from other venues including the Woy Woy scout hall.
At the party we will throw some pictures up on screen and reminisce over another great God event, I will crank up the wood fired oven, we eat like kings and then we thank God for what he has done again.
Don’t complete running an event and collapse, go through he appraisal process. Spend some time and you will close the event strong and set yourself up for a brilliant event in the future.
You might want to even run a personal appraisal on how you led the event. Ask yourself the same questions the team was asked, include some mentors who saw you under pressure and ask them the same questions about you.
Post event, and there is always that mix of emotions. The sense of accomplishment, pride in the team, the encouragement from the parents reports and the joy of the next morning sleep in!
It is easy to move on from the event into the luring arms of sleep and then into the next date on the calendar. However this is the best time to evaluate and strategize for the next event. We sometimes think everything that happened will be recorded straight onto our brains, but the truth is we forget a lot of it, that’s why an evaluation time is important.
INVOLVE THE TEAM
Post event evaluation can occur with the key leadership group, but I like to involve the entire team brainstorming on ‘how we could do it better’ as quickly as possible while the event is fresh in their minds.
Question 1 I ask is where did we do really well? Starting the meeting focusing on the positive sets a foundation for the tone of the meeting
Question 2 where could we have performed better? I remind people that we need to be careful on how we offer up these responses. Sometimes the negatives spring to mind a lot quicker than the positives which is a reflection of where hearts are at. With that in mind the ‘De Bono’s black hats’ add to the meeting in a constructive manner. We don’t want to hide from where we had challenges, neither do we want someone’s response to bring the meeting down and hurt someone else’s ministry.
Question 3 I ask is for any other comments These are general miscellaneous comments related to the event.
Question 4 When is the party? Sometimes we blur from one event to the next without taking a break and celebrating. Israel fought some mighty battles but they also knew how to throw a party. Their festivals were to celebrate what God had done for them in another particular situation.
After my whiteboard full of ideas is recorded, I take those comments to our key leadership group for further evaluation after a few days rest.
COMPILE
Gather all your notes and save under the name of the event on your computer. The following year you will be surprised at how much you have forgotten and what great ideas your team came up with the year prior. Learning what did and didn’t work last time will put you streets ahead on the next event and ensure you are developing and progressing as a leader.
The window post conference is open for a very short time, so gather the view before the window shrinks and closes.
PARTY
Now we kick up our heels (funny expression , I don’t wear heals, I kick up my Adidas’s) and have fun. We retell the stories of the event like Ted setting up the Planetshakerkids go Army at the wrong venue! I mean the stage was set!
All through conference we continued to have a little fun with Ted saying the Etihad stadium had called and were wondering when he would be over;
“Er Ted, Acer arena called and wanted to know when you are coming to set up.”
“Teddy, it’s Madison square garden they wont hold the booking much longer”
Then we even presented him with some invoices from other venues including the Woy Woy scout hall.
At the party we will throw some pictures up on screen and reminisce over another great God event, I will crank up the wood fired oven, we eat like kings and then we thank God for what he has done again.
Don’t complete running an event and collapse, go through he appraisal process. Spend some time and you will close the event strong and set yourself up for a brilliant event in the future.
You might want to even run a personal appraisal on how you led the event. Ask yourself the same questions the team was asked, include some mentors who saw you under pressure and ask them the same questions about you.
THE UP PLAN
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 1 Peter 2:1-3 Talks about growing UP in our salvation. As family pastor I want to see all of our kids grow UP into strong Christians who love God with the lot. But how do we do that? We are talking about building children’s lives, if we were building a structure we would use a plan, we wouldn’t just start putting down some concrete and putting up a a few beams (OK so my father in-law did that but he doesn’t count, he’s not in kids ministry) So what is the plan to see kids in our care grow UP in God?Introducing the 7 steps up plan ( I tried to squeeze it into 4 but it just wouldn’t budge!)
1 CLUED UP We are the best kept secret in the community, families need to know we are in town, if more people knew more people would turn up
2 TURNING UP Now that they know about us, families begin to attend our program
3 CHANGE UP As they hear the gospel message and meet people who love God, the families start to change
4 JOINED UP Everyone wants to belong to something, we have designed a free kids membership card, they’re not joining the church, it simply means they are a part of Planetkids. When kids belong and are accepted they are far more likely to make a commitment to keep coming and growing. The card itself is just a plastic card that entitles a child to discounts off at our events. kids are proud to be a member of something and they love the card.
5 TRAINED UP Now kids are attending, we help them out with whatever it is they want to do. Singing, organising, up front skills etc
6 SERVE IT UP Kids who are trained can now begin to use their gift to serve at church or in our outreach. Marking rolls, singing, sound desk, running games etc
7 SPEAKING UP Now kids are sharing what God did for them with their friends. Their faith and gifts are growing UP
Plans are important, they detail our dreams and visions and give us something to follow. These posters are in all of our training rooms so that we follow the plan.
I am very sorry to hear this account and pray that wherever the author is that Gods blessing is upon them and pray that they find a great church to keep growing!
In regards to going to church even when your sick – i believe its a personal choice. I hate getting sick especially vomiting, but PS are hardly to blame. Planetshakers church doesnt hold a role-call as im sure every church doesnt, yet im sure they would have meant it with good intentions (healing/prayer team ready) when they said to come even if ur sick. If i had a serious illness there would not be a better place than at the alter and have people pray for me because Gods words says to bring the sick for the elders to anoint them with oil for healing etc….
In regards to tithing and accusing planetshakers of leeching: I give my tithe because its a biblical principle… 10% belongs to God and we are to BRING IT to the storehouse/his house – its in HIS WORD. God looks at the heart and I would rather look to God and honour his word than worry about how the church is using the money. Because at the end of the day they have to deal with God if they are doing wrong not me! And at the end of the day when we bring or tithe/give offering… we do so IN FAITH… its not faith when you question and worry about where that money is going to.
In regards to love offerings etc…. its a matter of the heart! Ive never felt influenced to give more than i have prepared. although sometimes i have felt convicted… but those times where wen i didnt prepare my tithe so i felt i should give something but nothing can replace giving God whats his so the 90% is blessed!
With the comment about buying conference tickets for family and friends – its obviously for those who have the means to. You really shouldnt have starved so if you helped people out and starved then im sure God saw your heart. I think its great to be a blessing to someone and even mroe amazing that if you cant afford to go there are people in the church willing to bless you too-just reach out!
ANYWAYS I could keep going but i will leave it here for now.
At the end of the day if planetshakers, or any other church wasnt doing the right thing the church would not propser because we know God is not one to mess with! Even looking at Mike Gugz… many could never have imaged what he was hiding but at the end of the day everything was brought into the light and everything stopped.
Planetshakers is not a “group” but a church and if that church is covered by the blood of Jesus and you judge it…. your not judging them but your judging Jesus because his blood is covering them!
Ps im a new christian and would have loved to add scriptures but im still learning everyday by the Grace of God!
GOD BLESS!
So you are Jewish, still under the Law?
No, of course not. You are under grace, don’t believe the erroneous teaching about the 10% tithe. Give, and give generously, the Lord loves a cheerful giver – search the scriptures, see the Truth written there for the New Covenant believer.
Read this article “Thoughts On Tithing” by John Macarthur ….
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/tithe.htm
Just two comments.
You said, “At the end of the day if planetshakers, or any other church wasnt doing the right thing the church would not propser because we know God is not one to mess with!”
Actually God lets lost of crazy groups, even non-Christian ones “prosper”, if by that you mean grow in numbers and have lots of money and buildings. Look around. And if Planetshakers or any other church has a decrease in numbers or money, it won’t necessarily mean that God’s blessing has gone. These things happen.
Second. you said, “God looks at the heart and I would rather look to God and honour his word than worry about how the church is using the money. Because at the end of the day they have to deal with God if they are doing wrong not me! its not faith when you question and worry about where that money is going to.
I think you have a great heart and a great attitude. But don’t let anyone tell you that you are lacking in faith if you question something. Please! Questions are good. They can save your life.
Lastly, if you read the article Teddy introduced, and you study the scriptures, and decided that macarthur is wrong and tithing is right, go for it! If you on the other hand, realize that tithing is not a requirement for New Testament believers, don’t throw away everything you have been taught at Planetshakers. I’m sure there are great people there. ANd that they teach a lot of great stuff.
But one thing I can say is that not a lot of preachers have really studied much about tithing – it was a lot more complex than what you might have been led to believe.
God bless. And remember mostly reality and truth is somewhere between two extremes
There’s room between 1. Planetshakers is the best church and nothing is wrong because they are prospering so I shouldn’t question anything and 2. Planetshakers is a money cult where nobody experiences God.
http://www.gotquestions.org/search.php?zoom_sort=0&zoom_query=tithing&search.x=10&search.y=21
Of course we are still to follow the Law. Grace doesn’t mean we are exempt from the Law, grace is actually empowerment to go beyond one’s natural ability to follow God. God put the Law there to protect us.
Just because the Old Testament is way in the past; it doesn’t mean it no longer applies to God’s children who are saved by the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
@The writer of this article: I’m actually from Planetshakers and they’ve done nothing but encourage me to grow in God!
I’m sorry you gave out of compulsion. I doubt someone actually put a gun against your head and told you to, hey? I honestly don’t care how right you think you are (along with anyone else). It is for God to judge who wolves on sheep’s clothing are, not us!
I pray God has dealt with your heart between the time you wrote this, and now. If not, then I pray He will.
I”m not trying to be sarcastic. It’s an either/or situation. Either Law or Grace. Read Galatians. Take a look at the incredibly ignorant man who tried to obey everything in the Bible for a year as a way of dissing it (“The Year of Living Biblically” was his book), or on a more positive note Philip Yancy’s book “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”
Also it absolutely IS up to us to discern who are the wolves. Why else would Jesus COMMAND us to watch out for them?
And heads up, Leigh, when you use phrases like “God has dealt with your heart” … it comes across as judgmental.
*credits to: http://groupsects.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/seeing-through-planetshakers/