Bike Lovers Welcome To WILDFIRE

One of the drawcards of WILDFIRE Mens Conference 2008 (June 21) will be the display cars and bikes. Sam Laws, the dealer principal of Sam Laws Motorcycles in Orange, has today agreed to bring along some of his new bikes to take a close look at. So, if you ride or like things on two wheels...make sure you are there on the 21st.

WILDFIRE Guest Speaker: Pastor Mark Zaia...

"Mark Zaia has been in full time ministry for 26 years. He is Senior Pastor of Macquarie Life Church Newcastle, a church that had 20 people when he started and now has grown to approximately 700. Mark is best known at present for “Church Planting”. He has sent out 9 Senior Pastors and has seen 5 churches planted out of his Apostolic anointing. Mark was Australia’s first National League Soccer Chaplain and has ministered in prisons. He is an outstanding “Grace” teacher and has taken his grace message to 10 different nations. You will enjoy his honest, down to earth teaching and love his passion for marriage and family. Mark will help you laugh at life and you will be encouraged and go away feeling like you can make it. He has a fantastic “Fathers” anointing that will release the man in you and help you feel closer to Christ."

Speaking from experience, I have heard Mark present life principles before and he is a great communicator. I am looking forward to him coming.

WILDFIRE Going Into Top Gear

Ever been in a racing car simulator? This is just one more reason to be at WILDFIRE Mens Conference on June 21 at Abundant Life Church Blayney. MANZONE regulars Trevor Hibbs and Matt Hodge are currently organising a number of these simulators to be there for "chilling out" time in between the speaker sessions. Matt has been road testing one of them and recorded a lap time of Mt Panorama Bathurst just a few seconds outside the official record! I can feel a knockout coming on!

Sign up for WILDFIRE today. Call Craig on 0407 054 483 or email craighingston@gmail.com

"One Of The Finest Talks I Have Ever Heard!"

Our friend John Butterworth from Cowra made the trip to Bathurst during the week to attend the mens dinner at Bathurst RSL with former Deputy PM John Anderson as its guest speaker. And he came away very impressed...as mentioned in his email to me "Many thanks again for passing on the invitation to the Bathurst Men’s Dinner. I took one friend with me from Cowra and I would have to say that John Anderson delivered what I would regard as one of the finest talks to men that I have ever heard. John has agreed to consider a trip to Cowra at some time in the future. I really hope and pray that he will actually come. There were about 37 men there to hear John on Thursday and it is a pity there were not more – then again the venue was full up."

Hoping that John Anderson does agree to return to our region.

MANZONE MOVERS

MANZONE kicked off a community service today with our inaugural house moving team activated to help a single mum and her four kids take their belongings and furniture to Carcoar. She had earlier visited our Christian book shop in the main street of Blayney (we call it His Place) and told Shirron who was behind the counter that she had to move out within a few days. Special thanks to Craig, Matt, Chris, Trevor, Graeme and resident strongman "Little John" for taking time out on their weekend. Also to David Hoadley for the use of his truck.

Wallabies: Life101

They have a spirit of excellence.

They have a passion for life.

They are self disciplined, putting effort in every day to improve themselves - a step at a time.

They look to excel in their own area of expertise, but also know that teamwork is vital to success.

They know that even if their role is not a glamorous one it is just as important as the others, because the only way they will succeed is if every one of them works together in unison.

They might get knocked down but they know they have to get straight back up after a setback and keep going.

They don't give up and walk away just because they suffered a series of losses or made a big mistake.

They don't give up before the final whistle even if things are looking bleak, they push through to the end.

Each year they aim to be better than the year before.

They enjoy celebrating their victories.

They are brilliant ambassadors of what they do in life.

...sounds like a lot of the attributes we Christian men need in order to do life!

Wishing the Wallabies a successful 2008!

Walk The Walk

How important is it to apply Godly truths to your life...to allow them to change you to become more Christlike? For a start, if we don't change then the next generation might change even less. And this is something that international commentators on Christianity have revealed. According to Christian researcher, George Barna, many profess a Christian faith, but their lifestyles do not reflect that faith. When asked to describe their goals in life less than 1 % of Christians surveyed mentioned anything related to holiness, righteousness or purity. Among the total population (in the U.S.), the percentage of evangelical youth that believes in the fundamentals of faith declined from 10 % in 1995 to 4 % in 2002, and for adults, it was 12 % in 1994 down to 5 % in '02. The church culture is dying out among younger people. The following are percentages of people attending church on a given weekend in America: Builders (born before 1946): 51% Boomers (born 1946 to 1964): 41% Busters (born 1965 to 1976): 34% Bridgers (born 1977 to 1994): 29%. In America, approximately one-third of all adults (65 to 70 million) - including about 10 million people who call themselves born again Christians - do not go to church.

I know these are American stat's but here in Australia there are similarities with the figures. The younger generation are by and large not interested in things of God. We need to show them as well as adult Aussies that a loving, forgiving God desires to live life with them...and lead them to an eternal future. Men, commit to change. First of all, within ourselves. For our families. Our generation. The next generation.

Meditation...God's Way

When you hear the word meditation do you think of New Age mystics tied in cross-legged knots? These gurus aren't the authentic source of this life-changing practice. God is. The distorted goal of eastern mystics is to empty your mind; the goal of meditation for the believer is to fill it.

"Christian meditation," writes Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline, "creates the emotional and spiritual space that allows you to hear God's voice … and center yourself in God's kingdom, so the kingdom of this world doesn't overwhelm you."

Concerned you may never find time to reflect? Relax. If you think about it, you probably spend a fair amount of time worrying each week. "When you think about a problem over and over in your mind," writes Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life, "that's called worry. When you think about God's Word over and over in your mind, that's meditation. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate. Just switch your attention from your problems to Bible verses."

Written by Tom Blackaby, director of Blackaby Ministries International.

Saying It As It Is!!!

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard........

"Heavenly Father,We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of speech and expression. We have ridiculed the time honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, oh God, and know our hearts today. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.

May 22 - Mens Dinner, Bathurst

Former deputy prime minister and a committed Christian, John Anderson, will be the special guest at the next free mens dinner at Bathurst on Thursday May 19th.

This is a good opportunity to bring along unchurched men to hear a non-threatening Christian message.

Date: Thursday May 19 2008

Venue: Bathurst RSL

Time: arrive 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start

Cost: free

To register please contact Craig Hingston on 0407054483 or email craighingston@gmail.com or simply turn up on the night.

Men...Check Your Gauges

Guys, it's just like looking at the gauges on your car, bike or truck. Each one tells you the performance of the engine, oil, water, battery, etc. at a glance. So, where are the needles pointing in the eight crucial performance areas of your life?

See that big gauge in front of you...it is the "God's Word" (Bible) gauge. We need to be daily
studying and applying God's Word to our life independent of what we learn at church or in our Bible study group (sometimes called a home fellowship). To put it bluntly, we can't do life without God's wisdom. It is the fuel in our tank. The Bible applies to every single area of our life. Emotions, intellect, marriage, family, friendships, workplace, government, society. Men, we have an awesome responsibility to be the spiritual head of the house and that means having to know what God says about various things in life. So that you can share that wisdom with your partner and children. It is a vast book that continually unravels new insight to us. Which is why it is good to use a study guide, concordance or commentaries, to assist in your study. Try to find some time each day (not necessarily the same time if that is a challenge) when you can get away from distractions and focus on the Word. One time killer is television. Another is newspapers and magazines. Can you take yourself away from the Idiot Box for 15-20 minutes to invest in your life?!

A gauge that sits alongside is "Biblical Instruction" which is the learning you get when you study the word with other Christians. It is good to get other perspectives on the Word. And to confirm what you have found through it. It is in these environments (eg. weekly fellowship) that your confidence grows, and you can make great friendships with other men (in which you may realise that the challenges facing you are not unique and in fact confront other men as well).

The "Application" gauge shows if you are applying God's Word to areas of your life. It is one thing to know something...it is another to fully understand it to the point that it is used in your decision-making, behaviour, attitudes, thought life, etc. There are Christians who know the Bible but don't experience any changes in their life. To apply God's wisdom to your life shows the trust you have in God...yes, you do believe His wisdom is beneficial to you...yes, you do believe that God wants you to be successful and He has a plan for you...yes, you are willing to humble yourself and change...yes, you are willing to go through the hard work of change. (James 1:22-25; Ezekiel 33:30-32)

"Unity" is a gauge that many men ignore. Or the needle is barely above "LOW". It is the getting together on a regular basis of men for the purposes of community, accountability, confession, and prayer (Galatians 6:1-3; James 5:16; Hebrews 10:23-24). It can be as simple as a BBQ...watching footy on TV...a game of snooker...going fishing... Let's face it, we can talk about the things of God and share how we're doing anywhere. We are hard wired by God for fellowship but in our madcap worlds of work commitments, family, etc. we often forget to take time out "with the guys".

The "Overcoming" gauge is one that sometimes looks dormant for a while then spikes into the red zone like a top fuel dragster engine on take off. It represents our ability to address major life temptations and/or crises and to work our way through them. Often, situations hit us "from left field" when we least expect it. They can knock us for a six. Some crises are short like a quarter mile drag...others go on for weeks or months or even years like a Bathurst 12 Hour marathon. That's when we need Godly wisdom as well as the support and encouragement from ministry leaders and friends (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Each one of us has unique gifts and talents. Mine will be different from yours. At MANZONE we have a fantastic cross-section of abilities amongst our men. God has called each of us to pour out to others what He has poured into us (1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:11-13). Not necessarily a "ministry" position. Every contribution towards the function and growth of the Kingdom is worthy. So, check your "Talents And Skills" gauge too.

The "Impact" gauge has nothing to do with running up the back of someone. It shows if you have been investing any of your time and resources into the lives of other men. Men understand men. We're wired the same way. It is good when men get alongside each other to offer advice, encouragement, unity. We are spiritual mentors (2 Tim. 2:22; Proverbs 27:17; Mark 3:13-14) to our generation and those following up behind us.

The last gauge on the Christian man's dashboard is the "Sharing" one. It records the level of activity we have invested in actively share our faith in order to lead others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 28:18-20).

So...take your foot off the accelerator of life for a moment...put your life in Park...and check those gauges. If any of the needles are down near LOW you should make a plan to work on that area of yourself. Otherwise you could risk overheating or blowing an engine!!!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

THE BIG ROAST!

Succulent, sizzling, melt in your mouth roast dinner!

If for no other reason come to the WILDFIRE Mens Conference on June 21 to enjoy a mouth watering roast dinner.

It's bound to be better than what you'd be having at home on a Saturday night!!!

WILDFIRE Mens Conference is at Abundant Life Church Blayney...from 1PM to evening...with two exciting guest speakers Pastor Mark Zaia (Macquarie Life Church, Newcastle) and Rob Thornton from Orange...fun stuff (we're close to confirming a racing car simulator!)...good mates.

Cost: $25.00

RSVP with Craig Hingston today craighingston@gmail.com or call me 0407054483.

"Because you're worth it!"

June 7 - Lithgow Mens Brekky!

Hosted by Lithgow Christian Life Centre.

Hot cooked breakfast

Date: Saturday June 7 2008

Time: 8-10AM

Venue: Lithgow Christian Life Centre, 50 Musket Parade, Lithgow

Guest Speaker: Pastor John Arul of New Hope Assemblies of God Church in South India

Cost: $5.00*

RSVP: by June 4 to Phillip Webb 0263521220

*Tea and coffee available; cappuccino's and hot chocolate available for $2.00

Sept 5 - Mens Dinner at Cowra. Guest Speaker Senior Constable Colin Crome from Blayney.

By day he wears the sky blue of the NSW Police Force...but after work he changes into the Associate Pastor and Worship Pastor of Abundant Life Church Blayney! MANZONE regular Colin Crome will be speaking at this dinner event in Cowra which will be an ideal atmosphere to take along the unchurched. The food is always great at the Cowra dinners...put this date in your diary. If you are interested in going send your RSVP to craighingston@gmail.com

Date: Friday September 5 2008

Venue: Cowra Function Centre, Chardonnay Road

Thump Thud Thump Thud

Words of wisdom from author Max Lucado.

When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it “sings,” it’s ready. If it “thuds,” it’s placed back in the oven. The character of a person is also checked by thumping. Been thumped lately? Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires. You’ve-got-to-be-kidding deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat-footed. They aren’t big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor. Even as I write this, I’m being thumped. Because of interruptions, it has taken me almost two hours to write these two paragraphs. Thump. Thump. Thump.

How do I respond? Do I sing, or do I thud? Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). There’s nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living. If you have a tendency to thud more than you sing, take heart. There is hope for us “thudders”: Begin by thanking God for thumps. I don’t mean a half-hearted thank-you. I mean a rejoicing, jumping-for-joy thank-you from the bottom of your heart (James 1:2). Chances are that God is doing the thumping. And he’s doing it for your own good. So every thump is a reminder that God is molding you (Hebrews 12:5-8).

Learn from each thump. Face up to the fact that you are not “thump-proof.” You are going to be tested from now on. You might as well learn from the thumps—you can’t avoid them. Look upon each inconvenience as an opportunity to develop patience and persistence. Each thump will help you or hurt you, depending on how you use it.

Be aware of “thump-slump” times. Know your pressure periods. For me, Mondays are infamous for causing thump-slumps. Fridays can be just as bad. For all of us, there are times during the week when we can anticipate an unusual amount of thumping. The best way to handle thump-slump times? Head on. Bolster yourself with extra prayer, and don’t give up.

Remember no thump is disastrous. All thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying God.

Dedicated To All The Ford Fans At MANZONE

And there are plenty of us!!!

Another Reason For All The Bike Riders of MANZONE To Check Out This Blogsite!!!

MANZONE = Spirit of Adventure

Dedicated to all the Bike Riders of MANZONE

Our Next Event...

WILDFIRE MENS* CONFERENCE.

Saturday June 21 from 1PM.

An afternoon and evening of hearing inspiring messages...great wisdom about doing life better...chilling out with friends...excellent espresso coffee...roast on a spit...

Register that you are coming to Craig Hingston (0407 054483) or Trevor Hibbs (0437 477359).

Or if you want more details about it also give us a call.

*Mens means adults and teenagers

David v Goliath on the Race Track!

The Jesus-sponsored Lotus Elise scored an outstanding second outright at the Clipsal round of the Australian GT Championship in Adelaide. Amazingly, the combination of very light weight (a Lotus "religion" has always been lightening the car as much as possible) and a high revving 1.8-litre engine was enough to have Scott Bargwanna on the rear bumper of the lead Ferrari. Then it was daylight back to the gaggle of Lambo's and Ferraris. The black Coopers Ferrari couldn't shake off the British car despite having twice the engine size. And in true David v Goliath style the Lotus kept sniping at the Italian machine looking for ways around it. This would have to be the most visible Christian-promoting racing car in the nation. Congratulations to the team...from everyone at MANZONE have a successful season in 08!!!

See Jesus at Eastern Creek

The Jesus-sponsored Lotus Elise which is stunning audiences (and drivers!) everywhere with its David v Goliath performances can be seen at the next round of the Australian GT Championship at Eastern Creek on July 12-13. Go and support the team!

JESUS IN THE FAST LANE...

The star performer of the six round Australian GT Championship - which includes big horsepower V12, V10 and V8 Lamborghinis, Vipers and Ferraris...as well as turbo Porsches - is the smallest car in the field!

Not only does the normally aspirated Lotus Elise have a sub-two litre four-cylinder engine...it has Jesus in big bold writing across the bonnet!

Scott Bargwanna (related to V8Supercars driver Jason Bargwanna) is always at the pointy end of the field meaning he is giving Jesus an amazing amount of media exposure! I recently bought the 2007 Australian Motor Sport Annual and in the GT chapter there were multiple shots of the brightly painted sports car.

3/5 BREAKFAST MESSAGE: RISING UP.

Assoc. Ps. Colin Crome brought a very challenging and inspiring message at today's BBQ breakfast. He began with John 15:9- Jesus values us so much He was willing to die for us; He not only laid down His life for those who love Him...but also for the enemies of His Father, those who choose not to accept Him. Totally sacrificial love. Colin went on to say that God is passionate about winning the war against sin. About saving the lost from hell. There is a war for the souls of man. A war on the family. On morality. People can't survive without Jesus in their life, we need to be active in sharing the gospel message. Our workmates are going to hell. We are warriors in the battle. We face an enemy every day. Satan tries to convince the world there is no battle. That he doesn't exist. There is no hell. When we speak to someone about salvation in Christ we set a cosmic battle in motion for that person's soul. Hell is trying to take over this world. It is unscrupulous, deceiving, crafty. We need to remove everything from our life which Satan can take advantage of. Colin went on to talk of Gallipoli. The Australians who fought there were the only volunteers. They were passionate about defending freedom, their nation, the Commonwealth. They were pro-active. Willing to lay everything on the line. We have to have a passion for what we believe in . Be willing to give everything for it. To lay down our lives for it. Victory (changing our world to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and God's value system) at all costs - regardless of how long it takes. Even if something looks impossible...is there some way we can "have a go". He read out speeches by inspirational world leaders who were passionate and not willing to give up: Winston Churchill as the German bombers came over and flattened England...Josef Stalin as he faced invasion from Germany. They were not willing to give up.

An excellent message and typical of what you hear at MANZONE events.

Register your name now for WILDFIRE Mens Conference on June 21 where you will hear a feast of inspiring messages from Pastor Mark Zaia and Rob Thornton.