March Breakfast Guest Speaker Scores Incredible 7th Outright At Bathurst 12 Hour!

"A Lotus Exige has punched well above its weight to finish seventh outright in the gruelling Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race." This is from the official media release from Lotus Australia commenting on the amazing result scored in the tiny normally aspirated sports car which was driven by three men including "Jesus. All About Life" V8Ute steerer Andrew Fisher who is our guest at the March 15 BBQ breakfast at Abundant Life Church Blayney. The release goes on to say... "Thanks to the Lotus’s superbly balanced aluminium chassis, tyre and brake wear was never an issue. Completing 241 laps, and covering over 1500km, the Exige covered the full 12 hours on the one set of brakes pads and one set of tyres, with only a precautionary change of the right rear tyre at the six-hour mark during a safety car period. The three-driver crew consisted of Lotus Trophy racers Mark O’Connor, Andrew Fisher and Richard Buttrose, who lapped consistently and similar to each other to exploit the Exige’s reliability and ability to run extended stints compared to the more powerful turbos and V8s. Whilst we lacked the grunt of our top ten rivals on the long straights and the climb, the superior handling of the Lotus meant that it was one of the quickest cars across the tricky top section. The Exige’s strength was its fuel economy, stated O’Connor. The Lotus Exige runs a normally aspirated 1.8-litre producing 141kW in a package weighing 875kg. Its low burn rate meant we were able to complete the 12 hour race with only five pit stops - four less than anyone else in the top 10! It meant drivers had to stay in the car for two-hour stints but being so easy to drive, this wasn’t a problem. The car was as strong at the end of the race as the start, with the Exige settings its fastest circuit on lap 191 of its completed 241. None of the 11 man crew had competed in an enduro before, and to their credit performed like seasoned professionals." Race engineer Neal Trama from Canberra is also a committed Christian, like Andrew. Neal was involved in 4 cars in the Bathurst 12 Hour with his other 3, normally aspirated Toyota Celicas, finishing 1-2-4 in class! We will be inviting Neal to speak at one of our events later in the year.

There is still time to register for the "Life In The Fast Lane" BBQ Breakfast on March 15 at Blayney. It's only $5.00 and you get to hear from Andrew Fisher and to see his awesome V8 ute close-up. To book your place email organisers Craig Hingston and Trevor Hibbs on: craighingston@gmail.com and trevor.hibbs@gmail.com

Is Busyness Next To Godliness?!

Notes from the book by Chuck Swindoll...In our work-worshipping society many people - Christians included - have created an unrealistic standard of high level achievement leading to a neurotic compulsion to perform...to produce...to accomplish. Enough is no longer enough. We have forgotten how to enjoy guilt-free leisure. Some people even boast that they have a certain number of hours each week or that they haven't taken annual leave in years. Work is a source of identity for many men. Let's face it, what is one of the first things we do when we meet someone? "What do you do for a living?" Burn out rather than rust out is not Godly. Not only is it good to relax - it is essential! Some say the more exhausted we are (from doing church work or community services) the more spiritual we are. Did Jesus take a break now and then? Yes! He led a life of balance. He accomplished everything His Father sent him to do...and smelt the roses along the way. God asks us to imitate Him in Ephesians 5:1. The Greek translation for "be imitators" is MIMEOMAI from where we get the word mimic. It is used in a continuous tense, meaning that to imitate is a constant practice or habit. Mimicking God needs to be a daily habit. That means separating ourselves from the noise and pace of the world, valuing quietness, slowing things down for a moment. Being willing to say no to more activities. "Be still" He says in Psalm 46:10. Leisure is free activity. Labour is compulsory activity (our job). So, leisure is not necessarily lying in a hammock. It can mean achieving something...but at a different pace and for different reasons. In leisure we gain a bigger perspective of the world (beyond our job profile). This can be when we help someone in the community. Go to Genesis and see that God was involved in 4 activities. He created, He communicated, He rested, He related to us. (1) Creation: God planned and imagined, he came up with an indescribably beautiful universe and placed mankind into it. Consider the amazing attention to detail of all that is around us. We should consider creating something...a piece of music, a drawing or painting, writing a letter, designing a garden bed, making something from wood, building a wall in the yard. (2) Communication: God commented on each stage of His creation and said it was good, then the Godhead communicated between themselves in Genesis 1:26 before creating mankind, then after mankind had been created God spoke to him. When you take leisure time use that time to talk to yourself in a positive, uplifting way. Don't be shy to say to yourself "Good job!" when you build that wall or stain that coffee table or fix that old engine. Be pleased with yourself. This is not conceited pride, it is acknowledging that we are capable of doing good things. And when we say it we are giving glory to our Creator. Communicate with yourself, and take time to communicate with others. Listen "slowly", don't be in a hurry to say anything back. Listen...understand...feel...respond. Like God does. (3) Rest: Genesis 2:1-3 shows that God rested. It wasn't because He was tired! Or that He had run out of fresh ideas! He stopped and He blessed the rest day. It is the only day He blessed. Make rest a priority. He did. How? We need a good night's sleep often...a full day's rest once a week...extended vacation times...moments (maybe a "cat nap"?) here and there during the week to change pace.Play, fun, rest and leisure need to be given importance. Dignity. They are not an admission of weakness. In fact, we become more efficient in our work when we do rest. Here's one simple method: change your routine. Don't get into a rut. Stop and listen to your favourite music for a few hours. Jump on a bike. Take a cooking class (the wives will love you for it!!!). Plant a tree. Go through your old family albums. Kick a ball around at the local park. (4) Relating: God saw that mankind needed a mate (Gen 2:18) and He created the solution...then in the cool of the day (Gen 3:8) He took time out to relate to His creation. We are highly valuable to Him. He observed us, talked to us... Let's make leisure a priority!!!!!!!!!

Becoming A Person Of Influence

Notes from the brilliant book by John Maxwell... You don't have to be high profile to be of influence. Everything that you do impacts others. By becoming influential you create the opportunity to make a positive effect on society. There are different levels of influence: personhood, people development, production, permission and position. Level 1 is "modelling" where people are influenced by what they see you do. Let people get to know you, become credible (you can "borrow" credibility by letting a third person introduce you to someone, and their good reputation can fast-track your relationship). Level 2 is "motivating" or being an encourager on an emotional level. People feel good about you. Level 3 is "mentoring" where you are pouring your life into other people, to help them reach their potential. Much like a sports coach. And level 4 is "multiplying" where the people you have positively influenced are now going out and influencing others themselves...adding value to people. When you delegate responsibility (to an employee) you give them authority. This is a similar scenario. What comes first...integrity. It is the platform for influence. Be good in the little things. It builds trust, respect and dignity. Character is more important than credentials. Image is secondary. Trust is the glue of relationships. It means being honest. Admitting mistakes. Our world is desperate for good leaders. They want to see someone who doesn't overpromise, doesn't hog the limelight, handles power well, is generous.