Brians blog
The Making Of COLOUR - Part 1
So Adam the Brave (aka one of our lovely COLLECTED editors) said that some people might be interested in a little insight into "the making of Colour". So if you are up for it, I'm prepared to give it a bash. I know that sometimes I look at events and creative moments and think, "whoa, how on earth did they do that?".
So we've been doing Colour for around 14 years! Like many things it began as a seed (won't tell the whole story here, because I'm currently writing the Sisterhood book and some of that big picture journey will be found there) ... but the JOURNEY BEGAN with an unmistakably "clear directive" - a clear directive that I believe we haven't diverted from, nor added to. The directive/mandate has grown, refined, matured and shaped itself into a stunning Movement of women across the earth over the last 14 years... but the bottom line of WHY we do it, is as clear in my thinking today as when I felt the Holy Spirit seed it.
The Mentality of A CROWD vs. The Spirit of THE CHURCH
Hillsong Conference 2010 was just over one month ago, we have moved well into the second half of this year and I am filled with anticipation, expectation and belief that God is going to do something fresh and new in all of our lives.
Each year, our guests travel from all over the world and our selfless armies of volunteers welcome and serve thousands of people, as we once again gather to be equipped and refreshed together and move into this new decade worshipping our worthy King.
Sixty Something
I grew up in New Zealand. I say fish and chips with a funny accent. When I ask for a pin to clip something together, I get given a pen to write with. Growing up in that beautiful land where the ocean waters have this beautiful emerald tinge, we were always told that the land had 3 million people and SIXTY MILLION SHEEP!
Those stats have probably changed by now... but sixty million sheep is a lot of sheep. I still get excited when I drive in the countryside and see sheep or lambs. I remember once my dad (who was a brickie... bricklayer) did a job for a couple of weeks on a farm. I was a little girl and he took me with him and that year, every ewe on that farm had twins. It was completely surreal. Actually, I'm just having this memory now, but when we pioneered our church, I helped organize the kids department and we called it "little lambs" for a while. Maybe that was a hangover from my kiwi background.
Evoke Her Beauty
Look up "evoke" in the dictionary and it says "To bring or recall to the conscious mind". Search for “evoke” in the bible and you find (in Ephesians 5, Message) the most magnificent of statements ... "Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her".
These verses also speak of The Church, in context of a beautiful bride being prepared to one day stand alongside her Saviour King. Heaven delights in this analogy and people who have felt and experienced the warmth of this reality delight also. But let's never forget that those who (sadly) position themselves as "enemies" of this same Saviour, will also position themselves as enemies of His bride. They will never delight or be enthused about her ... To them she is an equal threat, no matter how kind and gracious she (continually) shows herself to be.
HOPE - Part 3
One of God’s greatest promises of hope is found in Romans 5:2-5 (NLT):
“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where
we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.
And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
Hope in this life and beyond. A hope that never disappoints us and one that gives us access to God and to heaven through Jesus.
HOPE - Part 2
There is no question that many people today are living in desperation. Throughout my travels, I come across so many people who are really hurting… gripped in fear… and looking for hope.
You know, the truth is that we are living in a time when so many people are confronted by pressure and seemingly hopeless situations. People in today’s climate are losing their homes, losing money and losing hope. Families, banks, and some of the world’s most high powered governments are taking desperate measures to prevent what some are predicting to be the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Many people are asking “Where is God in it all?”
HOPE - Part 1
The Word of God is a collection of the most hope-filled passages ever to be recorded.
John 3:16 (NLT) says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This scripture is the anchor of our hope, the basis of all that we believe. It is the reason we can look to the future without fear and uncertainty, but with promise and expectation.
Throughout the bible, all of God’s great promises give us hope: HOPE for our past, HOPE for our everyday, and HOPE for eternity.
