E-BLAST - 2 NOVEMBER 2014

Jared Diprose a columnist (young writer) Auckland NZ who is a professional artist and artisan creator (photo - ring box he created for Delma) and spoke at the Sept. Young Writers Conf on the Gold Coast - became engaged last week. On Thurs, a plumbing accident saw his left eye struck. Jared was rushed to emergency and operated on - the prognosis on his sight is uncertain. Gemma Taylor another of our NZ columnists has been undating Mark with specific detail and in turn he's circulated the updates to the PSI network. Our prayer is for a touch of the Lord for a miracle. 

JOSH HINDS - C.A.R.D.

Josh Hinds and his SpidersTouch team launches C.A.R.D.  - Christian Article Registry Depository - on Wednesday with Mark's article on C.A.R.D. - which happens to be Mark's 63rd birthday. Josh is a PSI sport columnist and a school chaplain and has developed an IT space developing web sites. C.A.R.D. allows editors, those preparing bible studies, messages and researches, anywhere in the world, to find information or a Christian writer. A very valuable practical contribution for Christians.   

NATHANAEL YATES

Nathanael Yates was one of two columnists (young writers) along with two Panellists, Mark sought wisdom from this week so as to list the subject areas our columnists write about. Mark is often asked what Christian areas the young people write on - there will shortly be a list. Nathanael is from Perth and finalising his PhD. The other columnist was Sophia Sinclair from Christchurch, the two Panellists were Christina Tyson Wellington and Aira Chilcott, Canberra.   

CHRISTIAN TODAY

Christian Today promotes Mark's daily articles - "Everyday situations in a Christian context". This photo was taken at the Sept. young writers conference and it is now the third photo that has been utilised in this space in three years.

BEACH LEAVES ILLUSTRATE

Beach leaves 'photographs' which Mark takes while at Laguna Quays Respite 'Midge Point Beach' morning walks - he utilises to illustrates philosophically many of his articles.

HIGH SPEED TRAINS

High Speed Trains are again on the national transport agenda and Mark has an article on this on Thursday 6 November in Christian Today. This photograph was taken at Wahgunyah Victoria on our 2011 Country Town Tour at the rail museum run by Dave Moyle.

E-BLAST - 26 OCTOBER 2014

Some of the hand crafted cards Delma created while at the Laguna Quays Respite cottage on our recent visit 7-23 October. This is a special time in Delma's calender where she can set aside from her busy ministry activities in Tweed Heads.  

WELCOME BOOK - LAGUNA QUAYS RESPITE

Terry and Cathy McMullen one of the support network couples, donated this new "welcome book" for missionaries who visit the Laguna Quays Respite cottage. Delma did the calligraphy "Welcome" on its cover. 

THREE CHRISTIAN MEN

Will Pearce, Mark and Jerome Dray - enjoyed a cuppa at the Laguna Quays Respite cottage veranda during Mark and Delma's recent respite visit. Will helps with a nearby congregation at Calen and Jerome is Salvation Army.

VERANDA OFFICE LAGUNA QUAYS RESPITE

Veranda office at Laguna Quays Respite - Mark's wheeler desk with lap top and portable coffee table, the veranda 'band-aid' lounge chair and the four piece veranda setting - we get a brilliant onshore breeze day and night which keeps both the veranda and cottage remarkably cool.   

MARK AT HIS LQ OFFICE

Mark on his lap top at the Laguna Quays Respite veranda office in his respite attire - it was 30 degrees. Mark uses his wifi plug for the Internet and keeps in touch with his ministry areas including the young writers around from the Middle East ... to Canada ... to England  .. to the West Indies ... to New Zealand ....

PUSH BIKES SAFE

Midge Point is a quiet community where the school children can leave their push bikes at Stan Camm Park and catch the school bus to and from school. Midge Point / Laguna Quays is where the respite cottage is located. 

BULLDOZER IN MIDGE POINT

This bulldozer was utilised to clear the land for the Carlisle Waters Estate (Midge Point) being developed by John Lyons. I sent this photo to my grand-son explaining that the blade is so tall it is even taller than his daddy. The estate was officially opened on Saturday 25 October.    

E-BLAST - 19 OCTOBER 2014

Laguna Quays Respite - the band-aid chair was nick-named by Basil Sellers as it had trips of special blue tape over the leather cracks. Terry and Cathy McMullen donated a three seat lounge and a large reading chair so the band-aid chair was moved to the front veranda. Delma had this thick covering available, we fitted it, now we have a presentable chair - between my veranda office - and the outdoors veranda table and chair setting. It is a very comfortable chair.  

GARDEN SEAT REPLACES TORN CHAIRS

Basil Sellers on his 12 August visit to the Laguna Quays Respite cottage took one look at the two old ugly torn chairs on the back patio (albeit comfy) and arranged for us to replace them. We required an all-weather 'whatever' and had a choice between two separate chairs $40 each or this beautiful garden bench for $79. Michael Kent two doors adjacent put it together for us as we got stuck on "Step 2" of the instructions.    

PAW PAW FROM OUR GARDEN

Delma with the paw paw grown from one of the four paw paw trees we planted two years ago. Delma planted three mulberry trees as well and all three are flourishing and all have borne good fruit. Delma has enjoyed the mulberries immensely albeit returning from her exploits with deep red juiced fingers. 

THREE CHRISTIAN MEN

Mark took the photo - Will Pearce and Sean Spencer - two local men with a dream of a home church in Midge Point. Sean and Sue Spencer are our co-ordinators for the respite cottage and they worship in Proserpine. Will and Margaret Pearce live in Calen for part of the week and part in their home adjacent to us. They help run a church in Calen - a small community 40 min south on the way to Mackay. We three Christian men had lunch together. Delma was at craft in Proserpine.   

PASSIONATE ON CARD CREATIONS

Margaret Pearce (right) visited Delma to see her many card creations 'created' during this visit to the Laguna Quays Respite. Margaret and Will live adjacent 4 days a week and 3 days in Calen, about 40 min away where they help run a church. Margaret was also one of the art prize finalists and met Basil Sellers at the luncheon on 12 August. 

KOOKABURRA VISTS

The Kookaburra is a visitor - seen here on the respite cottage's clothes line - sorry no juicy snakes or lizards today! The back yard has an extensive underground layout (septic) which tends to be greener than the rest. We visited Hans and Jill Leipertz and they have numbers of Kookaburras so perhaps this chap (or chapess) followed us home.

THE STEED IS NOT MINE

Donald Kerher owns 'the steed' - half ute, half truck. Donald in effect is the project manager for John Lyons Carlisle Waters Estate in Midge Point. John collected Basil Sellers and me from the airport back in August and co-sponsors the art prize here. I sent this photo to some associates who would all like to drive it. Meanwhile Donald is fixing the front step hand railings at the respite cottage as a courtesy.    

E-BLAST - 12 OCTOBER 2014

Laguna Quays Respite cottage, Midge Point Beach, Whitsundays, a terrific view of the moon eclipse on Wed night 7.45pm. By 8.00pm it was fully covered. Prior to the eclipse Delma noted how bright the moon reflected upon Repulse Bay. We arrived Tuesday and leave 23 October.

MEDICAL PILLOW

Two missionary visits back - the missionaries that visited Laguna Quays Respite cottage in early Sept - Rohan and Rachel - Rachel was far from well and we assumed this medical pillow belonged to them. We contacted Rohan - not so, it was already here, so someone else left it here. Any takers from the previous missionary visitors? There have been so many.     

REPULSE BAY VIEW

The view of Repulse Bay from the missionary Laguna Quays Respite cottage. In October 2010 when we first saw the cottage it was raining and misty so we had no idea we had a view. Delma spied this beautiful view when possession was taken in February 2011.    

JOHN LYONS - SPEC HOME

Mr John Lyons the developer of his Carlisle Waters Estate at Midge Point. John collected Basil Sellers, John Grocott (photographer) and me at Proserpine airport on 12 August and was our guide for the day. This photo was taken this week at the estate's "model home" for the estate opening on 25 October.

MIDGE POINT TAVERN

Midge Point Tavern is the meeting place for the community - Neil and Kay Brooks host the May business luncheon and the July Art Prize along with many community functions throughout the year. We're having dinner there Sunday night with Sean and Sue Spencer our respite coordinators.  

MIDGE POINT BEACH

Midge Point Beach hosts numerous tractors taking boats to Repulse Bay's ocean edge. This photo was taken on Wednesday's 7.00am morning beach walk while we are on respite at Laguna Quays.

E-BLAST - 5 OCTOBER 2014

Ctrl Alt Delete - coffee mug presented to Mark by the young writers at their conference by Laura Veloso (Leadership Team member) - Mark sends lots and lots of Emails to the young writer team - who as from tomorrow (Monday 6 Oct) are referred to in Christian Today as 'Columnists'.

The following photos are from the young writer conference "awards"  -  presenting them is Well-Being Australia's Russell Modlin who represents the young writers on the Board.

   

LAURA VELOSO - BEST ARTICLE

Laura Veloso

Aust Panellist 'Best Articles' nominations were:  "Have you told a story lately" and "Rock on".

Laura and John have three boys and immediately after the young writer's conference took their church youth group to Fiji on a mission for two weeks.

Laura also assists sister Belinda with the conference video production. The girls' mum and dad are Peter and Jenny Scotland.   

CLARISSA YATES - BEST ARTICLE

Clarissa Yates

Aust Panellists 'Best Article' nominations were:  "The Last Sermon" and "God's will isn't a corn maze".

Clarissa is a scientist turned celebrity 'cake pops' creator and baker and celebrity - did I say that before. Channel 7 has contacted Clarissa to do a celebrity 'cake pops' cooking program.

ZACH RADLOFF - BEST ARTICLE

Zach Radloff

Aust Panellists 'Best Article' nomination was: "Christians and Video Games"

Zach is doing IT at Griffith Uni on the Gold Coast and was interviewed on Christian Radio as a result of this article. A terrific effort!

We knew of one occasion, at the conference Zach told us that it has now been three additional times - he has corrected the lecturer at uni .... not that's something!

TIM ROBERTSON - BEST ARTICLE

Tim Robertson

Aust Panellists 'Best Article' nomination was: "A second chance - a thing of the past".

Tim is from Sydney, 2nd year UNSW engineering (First Class Hons). It was my privilege to lead his dad David to the Lord in 1979 when pastoring the Croydon Park Baptist Church. Grand-dad Henry is still the church secretary - Henry and Faye remarkable stalwarts for the Lord.

LISA GOETZE - BEST ARTICLE

Lisa Goetze

Aust Panellists "Best Articles" nomination were: "Don't answer the voice of anxiety" and "As for me and my house".

Lisa is from Canada and serving with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) currently in Brisbane. Before mission Lisa was a journo with the Canadian national broadcaster (like out ABC). Lisa was our singer for the CoolyRocksOn service in June. 

BRIDGET BRENTON - BEST ARTICLE

Bridget Brenton 

Aust Panellists 'Best Article' nomination for Bridget was "Cult truth vs. Orthodoxy."

Bridget is from Brisbane with tiny tot daughter Gabriel and husband Steve (Bible College). They spent 7 years in China. Bridget also writes her own blog.

Not to forget Russell Modlin himself - 'Best Article' nomination - "Uncle Raymond"