Obama’s Election

What an amazing couple of days watching the US election and the speeches of concession and acceptance by both McCain and Obama! I haven't seen anything quite like the excitement this has generated since the days of the Kennedy’s and the Rev. Martin Luther King jnr. It evoked in me similar feelings to the historic possibilities that could have occurred in 1968 if Robert Kennedy lived to became president. Imagine, no Nixon, Watergate, a quick end to the war in Vietnam and a focus on lifting people out of poverty. I remember those exhilarating yet dark days well, even though I was only a teenager.

There is the same genuine hope for change and a refreshing redirection for the USA and of course the world through Barack Obama’s election.

Obama to me is an inspiring phenomenon, a truly charismatic communicator, who seems to have the right super cool temperament, great intelligence and good character to become a great leader. What’s more his profession of faith in Christ (as he revealed in the Rick Warren interview), his commitment to wife Michelle and obvious affection for his family, stand him in good stead to be a terrific role-model particularly for African-American men. It appears that there are no skeletons in the cupboard, and his integrity and authenticity impacts all who come in contact with him. However, power can easily corrupt and we need to pray for him, his policy decisions, the team he gathers around him and of course, for his personal safety.

Obama in one interview stated that Presidential leadership was all about vision, judgment and character. …“Do you know where you want to take this country?”… “Do you have the judgment to figure out what’s important and what’s not?”… “Do you have the character to withstand trials and tribulations and to bounce back from setbacks?”

I pray for his success as he with God’s help leads in a way that answers in the affirmative these three big leadership questions. How he leads will affect us all and the expectations of the world and not just the USA are huge. One commentator said “it’s the first election of a National leader that was followed closely by the entire globe”. It’s truly historic and Obama must be feeling the weight of it all! He really does need our prayers.

If you want to read a couple of excellent articles on leadership check out “Time” March 10 and October 27th, 2008. They explore the issue of “How much does experience matter and why science says it’s over-rated”, and “How a President’s temperament and personality can determine success or failure in times of crisis”.

I personally have followed John McCain’s political career and he is a man of outstanding character and integrity. McCain’s speech was so gracious. Wouldn’t it be great if Obama appointed him in a key role!

All people of goodwill should be very grateful to have professing Christians like our own Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and now the new US President in high office at such a crucial time in world history. It’s comforting to know that men with such earthly power are humbly bowing their knees to the supreme authority in our world.

In 30 years we can all look back, and remember that we were witnesses to a historic event, the first black president of the USA! Let’s rejoice with the tens of millions of African Americans whose joy at this time is a beautiful thing to behold.

An exciting weekend with Allan and Helen Meyer

Dear Church family,

This weekend will be significant one in the life of our church. We have invited Pastors Allan and Helen Meyer from the Careforce Church in Victoria to be our guest speakers at four exciting events.

Firstly, on Friday night 31st October they will share with Young Adults aged 17 – 30 on “The Search for Intimacy”, one of the biggest challenges young people face growing up. The cost is $10 standard and $5 for students. The program will start at 7 pm and finish at 9.30 pm and will be held in The Shed.

Secondly, on Saturday 1st November, Allan and Helen will specifically address couples on the topics of marriage and relationships. The program starts at 3 pm and finishes at 8:30 pm (includes evening meal) at a cost of $20 single and $30 couple. There will be a child care program provided.

Then on Sunday 2nd November, Allan will share at both our 10 am Service and our 6 pm Acts 2 Service.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear and be inspired by two of Australia’s outstanding communicators in the areas of relationships/recovery and counselling fields. I suggest you rearrange your diaries now so you can be part of a fantastic weekend. You can register on line at www.familycentre.org.au or by ringing the church office between 9 – 5 pm weekdays.

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend.

Blessings

Pastor Bill Vasilakis

Weekend at Redcliff's CRC Church (Diggerland)

Hello Everyone,

Last weekend, Cathy and I were invited to officiate at the CRC church in Redcliffs (near Mildura). They celebrated 20 years of ministry and dedicated their new building to the Lord. It was an amazing weekend, which saw people saved and empowered to live for Jesus.

I have attached some photos which I shared in our church service on sunday.

Thanks,
Bill

Coming Up at CFC

Dear Church Family,

I am really enjoying being able to explore Romans 8 together on Sunday mornings in our current series Pneuma – the Holy Spirit and You. Spiritual growth as a follower of Jesus is not reliant upon church, circumstances or natural abilities. Your growth as a disciple is guaranteed as you discover the richness and power of the Holy Spirit living in you, enabling you to live life to the full.

Last weekend, Cathy and I were invited to officiate at the CRC church in Redcliffs (near Mildura). They celebrated 20 years of ministry and dedicated their new building to the Lord. It was an amazing weekend, which saw people saved and empowered to live for Jesus. I will have some photos to show you this Sunday morning when I share on our visit and look at Romans 8:19-30 – “The glory and the groan”. I hear that Pastor Tim Lochens preached a “cracker” of a sermon last Sunday morning and Pastor David Bland preached up a “storm” Sunday night. It’s good to know that the church is in good hands when I am away.

Over the next couple of weeks we will have a couple of very important events in the life of our church.

From Monday 29th September – Friday 3rd October we will be running Galaxy Quest 2008 – a Kids Holiday Program in The Shed. I know that many of you have volunteered to serve during this time and it will be a great opportunity to bless our community and impact the lives of children and their families. Please pray for the children, their families, the workers and leaders during this special event. It is not too late to register your children for this week of “creation exploration”. You can register by phoning the church office on 83566999 or via our webpage www.familycentre.org.au You may even have grandchildren, neighbours and friends with children who could be part of this exciting program. Why not invite them to be part of it!

On Friday 10th and Saturday 11th October we are hosting the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit again at the CFC. We already have around 600 delegates taking part in this premier leadership conference and our venue has the largest number attending in Australia. Our Staff Directors have been very busy planning for this event and if you haven’t volunteered to be part of the team to bless leaders from different churches and denominations around Adelaide there is still time to do so. Contact David Bland at the church or by email on davidb@crcchurches.com

During the month of October we have a number of guest preachers coming to share at our Sunday Services. On October 19th we will hear from Dr. Stuart Robinson, who has spent 14 years pioneering contextual church planting among Muslims in South Asia. For the last 25 years he has been Senior Pastor of what is today known as Crossway (Baptist) —one church in four locations using five languages. Stuart is also an award winning author and his books will be on sale after the Services.

On Sunday 26th at our 6 pm Service we will hear from Jim Wallace, a man who has balanced his devotion to God with his devotion to country. He is a former brigadier in the Australian Army and now the Executive Chairman of the Australian Christian Lobby. Jim is a graduate of Duntroon, the British Army Staff College, and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies. He spent 31 years in the Army, including command of the SAS Regiment and the Army's 1st Brigade, before retiring as a brigadier. He has lived in the Middle East and visited Palestinian refugee camps as an unarmed United Nations observer. Jim was also made a member of the Order Of Australia for his services to counter-terrorism. Don’t miss this outstanding speaker and bring someone along with you to this Service.

Pastors Allan and Helen Meyer are joining us again this year to share over the weekend 31st October – 2nd November. They will meet with Youth and Young Adults on Friday night and married couples on Saturday for seminars on relationships. On Sunday, Allan will share in both our Sunday morning Service and also at the Acts 2 Service in the evening at 6 pm. These Services will concentrate on healing and recovery and will be great opportunities for you to invite friends and relatives along to.

These are great days to be part of the Christian Family Centre. I count it a privilege to serve Jesus with you all.

See ya Sunday!

Blessings

Pastor Bill

Michael Guglielmucci

I’m writing to give you my best advice if you have been deeply affected by the Michael Guglielmucci matter.

A couple of days ago, the Hillsong church informed their congregation and by implication the wider Christian community about Michael’s moral and ethical failure. They emailed members that it had been brought to their attention that Michael Guglielmucci’s illness was not what they had been led to believe. I.e. Michael had confirmed that he was not suffering a terminal illness and was seeking professional help in Adelaide with the support of his family. This news has come as a great shock to everyone including, it seems, his own wife and family.

There is no doubt that some people in our church will be very upset about this news, as Mike Guglielmucci has been the recipient of lots of prayer and heaps of concern. I know how strong my four adult children are and they have been rocked; and Cathy and I have had to talk things through with them at a pretty deep level as they all have been influenced by Mike in recent years. I have personally wept with his father Dan over Mike’s supposed terminal illness and at the moment the entire Guglielmucci family is undergoing unbelievable trauma because of Mike’s sin.

The media have already picked this up (particularly in South Australia) as it seems Michael has made a considerable amount of money through using this false testimony as the integral part of his preaching and song writing in recent times. This is obviously not a good news story and will affect hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people around the world due to his recent involvement in Hillsong’s latest top-selling album.

For those of us who have been in Christian leadership for a long time, we understand that these unseemly break-downs occur from time to time; and if you’re an old war horse like me, being in Senior leadership for 30 years at the Christian Family Centre and a couple of decades in State and National leadership roles, nothing surprises me anymore. However newer pastors, leaders and our precious young people can be negatively affected in their walk with Jesus and in their desire to serve God’s purposes.

Let me now share how I think we can handle this very unfortunate story.

1. Let’s err on the side of mercy rather than judgement without being perceived as being soft on issues of sin. Even though it is hard to outwork, my maxim in these matters when I have had to discipline and restore fallen pastors and leaders, is to place myself in their position and honestly answer the question “How would I want to be treated if I was in their position?” As I think deeply on this question it forces the issue that I must be restorative in my orientation with people who fall into sin and who are now repenting of that sin and are prepared to make restitution to all offended parties. As Christ followers we have no choice but to forgive when people genuinely repent and show evidence of that repentance. The following scriptures guide me in outworking this.
   
   Luke 17:3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
   
   Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
   
   Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
   
2. It is ok for hurting people to vent their deep disappointment and to be angry at what seems to be serious fraudulent behaviour that has the potential to shipwreck some people who have genuinely poured out their hearts to God for Michael to be healed. As a church leadership we are targeting people who we think need special attention – it’s okay to express your feelings if you feel you have been let down by a hero figure. I encourage you channel your anger appropriately so that you will not get entrapped by the enemy. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “"In your anger do not sin". Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
   
3. I would be very careful in trying to psycho-analyse this type of behaviour that is so obviously fraudulent and involves clear moral and ethical breakdown/failure. In our church, we have many people who have struggled with mental health issues but are honest and upright. We simply don’t have at this stage enough facts to assess whether Mike’s sinful behaviour may also have an emotional ill-health component.
   
4. Following on from my third point, we live in an era that dilutes the doctrine of sin and as someone said, “the depravity of man is the most provable of all Christian doctrines”. Please do not let bitterness replace your understandable and temporary anger. In fact when things like this occur it’s wise that we do an audit on our own hearts and realise that the potential for sin lurks within all of us and unless we walk humbly before Jesus, we can all become deceived by the evil one. James sobering words are appropriate here, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:6-10
   
   

Let’s believe that God will use this sobering public failure to increase our personal holiness and to genuinely walk the talk and to live humbly and transparently before Jesus and our fellow believers. Paul’s words to Timothy are apt here, “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.” 1Timothy 5:20.

Finally let’s pray for Pastor Brian Houston and the Hillsong church that God will protect them from the inevitable knockers who will gleefully point the finger suggesting they are somehow responsible. Also let’s pray for Pastor Dan Guglielmucci, his family and the Edge church; and that God will give Dan the gift of wisdom to shore up his church and to bring peace and healing into his people’s lives and for Michael’s full restoration.

Bill Vasilakis

Welcome!

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Bill