Today was my last Sunday with West Penno church for quite some time. My good mate Dave Peacock preached a cracker sermon from 2 Peter 3 about the day of the Lord. I'm about to head back to Ukraine. I compare so many things between life here and there. I think about the up coming months and the plans further into the future. I was greatly challenged to have a much greater focus upon the day of the Lord. Do I look forward with joy and anticipation toward the coming of Christ? Am I making every effort to live a holy and blameless life?

Whatever this week holds for you, I hope this short note refocuses your vision, and mine, upon things which are eternal. And if you have the time, listen to Dave's sermon.

Why do I write a tribute to Steve Irwin?
I want to thank him for living his life unashamedly
I want to thank him for living his life with passion
I want to thank him for his courage to be real.

Steve Irwin had such a burning love for wildlife that it consumed his life
He poured all of his time and energy and money into this love of his life
He did all he could - any means possible - to share this love of his to as many people as possible across the whole world
He stood in the face of criticism because he believed in what he did
He wanted his whole family to be totally involved in his passion
Finally, he died doing what he loved.

What about me?
Does my love for God consume my entire life?
Do I pour my entire time, energy and money into my love for God?
Do I do everything possible in my power to share my love for God with as many as possible across the whole world?
Does the idea of criticism dampen my enthusiasm for God?
Will my family know and feel my deep love for God?
Will I die and hear "Well done good and faithful servant!"?

Here's just a sample of some of the things planned for this week
Monday
Teach at Pacific Hills
Afternoon tea with a friend
Dinner with more friends
Tuesday
Staff devotions at Pacific Hills
Preparation for Missionary Convention
Wednesday
Teach at Pacific Hills
Dinner with friends
Beecroft rugby training
Thursday
Speaking at Fresh at school
Start to pack up
School musical
Friday
Special hairdo (wait for the photo)
Set up Missionary display
Watch Blues beat Waratahs
Saturday
Birthday party in the morning
Play rugby for Beecroft (last game til 2008)
Speak at Missionary Convention
Sunday
Church at 10
BBQ Lunch and afternoon tea
Church at 5:30
If you are in Sydney you are welcome to lunch, afternoon tea and/or church
Lunch and afternoon tea are at 14 Garemyn Road, Middle Dural.

THE DOG OR THE MOON

Recently I was asked “Is the moon bothered by the dog that howls at it?”

Sometimes in life we let little things, or things that we can’t change get us down and bother us. It’s not worth it. Be the moon not the dog.

And as I thought about this concept I’m reminded that the moon is a reflector. It reflects the light of the sun. We should reflect the light of the Son and not be bothered by the little ‘dogs’ that yelp around here on earth below.

The next monthly update will be written from Ukraine. My time in Australia and NZ has just flown by.

On Sunday I shared at Elouera Gardens Retirement Village, next Sunday I will be speaking at a Mother’s Day service in St Clair. The following weekend I’ll be speaking at West Penno’s Missionary Conference. Then I will be farewelled from West Penno.

I travel north to Brisbane, stopping at the farm in Eureka for a couple of days. I will be sharing at Village Ave’s Missionary Conference in Brisbane and flying out from Brisbane on May 30th.

Welcome to April. That title has nothing to do with this update and I want to stack a lot into these two pages. But up front I want to say thank you for reading and thank you for praying.

March went by fast and was packed full of activity. I worked a lot at Pacific Hills Christian School and I preached at church (sermons can be heard on line).

This past week has just flown by.
I taught at school every day
I prepared a sermon and preached it on Sunday (sermons can be heard online.)
I did devotions at youth group on Friday night
I went to rugby training Wednesday and a trial game on Saturday
I visited friends
I scrap booked my photos
I met with the Missions Advisory Council for AMT
I went to the doctors
I bought my tickets to Ukraine

Yes Praise the Lord I have bought my tickets back to Ukraine and will be flying out from Brisbane on the 30th of May arriving in Kyiv the following day.
I have yet to send in my application for my Visa, please pray that there will be no difficulties in this regard.

Flat Out
God has been good in providing plenty of casual teaching for me. This is keeping me really busy with sermon preparation having preached the last two Sunday nights, preaching again this coming Sunday morning and also doing studies at Youth Group (Live Wire) on Friday night. I like being busy but please pray that I don't get snowed under or burned out (how's that for opposites!?!).
Today I started looking at buying my return ticket to Ukraine. There are lots of options and getting the best one and one that fits in well with frequent flyers to make the most of my money can be tricky. Please pray that this will work out really well.

Milestone
Last week I hit 32. Doesn't feel any different from 31 really but my younger friends tend to like rubbing it in that I'm getting older. The Watkins (family I am staying with) took me out to an Indian restaurant for a really nice dinner. I also received a number of well wishing emails so thanks heaps, it made my day especially getting a big one from a number of the youth group in Rzhyshchiv. I'll share a bit with you.

Practice What You Preach
Tonight I preached at West Penno from Matthew ch 3 and talked about "producing fruit in keeping with repentance". We looked at producing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) by remaining attached to the vine - Jesus. (John 15)
I was particularly challenged. One characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. This is something that God is. But it is also something that I so often am not. Man I desire to be consistent and faithful in my daily walk with God. I'm preaching again the next two weeks. I feel very much my need to rely on God and to work in His strength and not my own efforts.

New Zealand
I'm glad the rugby season is here because we can't play cricket for nuts. February was a great time in NZ. Look up the website for the weekly reports and photos about where I have been and what I have been doing.

God Defend New Zealand

I'm a Guinea Pig!!

Last week it was goodbye Nelson and hello Dunedin. The main reason I was there was to attend one day at the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit (DMHDRU).

Here I was poked and probed and measured and asked 1000s of questions all in the name of Scientific Research. This study actually has world-wide recognition. They have been studying me and about 1000 others my age ever since we were born. So it was great to be in Dunedin again after 6 years and catch up with some relatives. I also had the opportunity to share about the work in Ukraine at a Christian School in Dunedin and at a home group of which one of my second cousins is a member.

I then headed north to Auckland and have been staying with my littlest sister Priscilla, her husband Sjoerd and have become acquainted with my latest niece, Johanna Rose. She is a gorgeous little baby and hardly ever cries.