E-BLAST - 3 MAY 2015

Photo - Wellington NZ 2012 Australasian Religious Press Association.
2015 - where are they now? Belinda Croft (left) from Melbourne produces the young writer videos and is the 'new young writer' coordinator. Sophia Sinclair (centre) has moved from Christchurch (CMS NZ editor) to Sydney where husband Andrew is doing bible college. Sophia is now editor for the young writer program. Laura Veloso (right) from Melbourne is the Week 3 young writer co-ordinator and helps with the young writer videos.    
 

LIKE THE CORPORATE GREASY POLE

Jason LaLone is one of our international young writers from the USA and serving the Lord at the Brisbane YWAM base. He took two weeks off recently visiting New Zealand and sent this remarkable photo climbing to no-where. It reminded me of the classic corporate greasy pole that when reached, nothing is there. 

YOUNG WRITER NEWS - SOUTH AUST

Justin Monaghan (left) is a national surfing judge is at a Coffs Harbour surf event the weekend of the young writer conf and working with officials to get to Sydney for it. Tim Everton (centre) has a sport writer in mind to give Wesley T a break as the EPL season is nearly over. Michael Dahlenburg (right) is celebrating the birth of their third - both mum Michelle and baby Griffin Leigh doing well. 

NEW GALVANISED POSTS

New galvanised posts all done - front and back at Timeout in the Tweed. Monty Gilmour finished up on Monday after replacing step brackets on a lower rear step and a galvanised steel section holding up the rear bottom steps. I recommend Monty Gilmour 0408 551 053 for such steel and carpentry jobs. Monty does Bible College in Brisbane each Tuesday. We were invited to Anzac Day bbq lunch to meet his flat mates and friends from his church. Delma and I were clearly the designated "oldies".    

OFFERING HAT

The offering military hat last Sunday's ANZAC service. John Bashford led the service at the Banora Point Baptist Church who said it was his son's army hat prior to getting his new hat for his Australian military service in Afghanistan. The idea came from Tweed Coast Baptist Church - Australia Day Sunday - where an Acruba hat was utilised for the offering. 

REMEMBER THIS

Hockey in Australia was Mark's first (1982) of five books on hockey. This photo featured in Mark's article last Monday in Christian Today titled "Philosophy and sport go together ... as does everything else". Mark recounted the successful philosophy that saw New Zealand beat Australia 1-0 in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The Black Sticks two weeks ago beat Australia again. See Mark's article here

http://www.christiantoday.com.au/article/philosophy.and.sport.go.together.as.does.everything.else/19796.htm

E-BLAST - 26 APRIL 2015

John Skinner (photo) is an Australian Panellist for the young writer program and the President of the Warwick RSL sub-branch. In this role all last week he spoke on ANZAC several times every day at all schools (16 - the furthest out of town is 55 ks), shopping centres, nursing homes, shut ins, then the Reviewing Officer's Dinner on Friday night before the Dawn Service at 4.45am on Saturday 25 April. Then John is MC at the Memorial ANZAC Luncheon and afterwards is required to be at the start of the Two-up in the Memorial Hall. All this illustrates how each new generation has the ANZAC story re-told.

MAY 2 - BRISBANE YOUNG WRITERS

Sophia Sinclair (photo) the young writer editor next Saturday flies from Sydney to Brisbane meeting with the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast young writers. This is Sophia's third regional meeting with young writers from Melbourne, then Sydney and now Brisbane all leading up to the 1 August young writer conference. Sophia has husband Andrew and 1 year old Guy at home for the day. Now, I could, but I won't, tell a 101 dad jokes at this point ....  Mark and Delma will also be at the lunch waving the flag of young writer enthusiasm.  

SCREEN SAVER PHOTO

The photo on Mark's computer screen saver is the young writers leadership group that met with Mr Basil Sellers AM last month in Sydney. Basil Sellers, Laura Veloso (Melbourne), Sophia Sinclair (Christchurch), Sam Gillespie (Sydney), Wesley Tronson (Gold Coast), Russell Modlin (Sunshine Coast). Subsequently Sophia with some help from Sam sent a funding submission to Mr Sellers which was very pleasingly agreed. The ear-marked funding for 1 August annual conference, a NZ young writer ministry visit, along with other specific events.   

SAM GILLESPIE

Sam Gillespie 24 is a young writer who graduated last week from the Conservatorium of Music (Sydney Uni) in Music Composition (Classical) with First Class Honours. Sam is proceeding to a PhD. That is not all. He has organised over a dozen student concerts each premiering new works and commissioned by the Kammerklang ensemble to wrote their fifth birthday celebration concert 'Kammerklang Ablaze'. As well as composing music for various ensambles he toured as a member of the Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Choir including concerts in Germany, London and Paris. He's also been involved in scoring student films, Game projects and stretches, and is film sound production. Sam and Salley celebrated their 1st anniversary last month.

MONTY GILMOUR

Monty Gilmour with one of the eight new galvanised posts he replaced holding up the front and rear of Timeout in the Tweed. He spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday doing the posts and other tasks that required attention. This has been a huge maintenance effort over the past 6 weeks from a new rear veranda fence, a girder holding the rear steps ..... Monty is also doing one day a week bible college at the Baptist college in Brisbane towards a Diploma in Ministry.

REMEMBER THIS

Celebrating our 14 years in Moruya: Kim and Michelle Gillis put this plaque up on the Basil Sellers House building after we had relocated to Tweed Heads in December 2005. Alas they had a huge storm about 12 months later and the glue holding the timber plaque to the kopper logs did not hold and it came crashing down with the laminated (glass) smashing.

E-BLAST - 19 APRIL 2015

Mark and Delma lead InnerFaith Tours to the Holy Land and the seven early churches in Turkey. This is a photo of ANZAC cove from the coach - it is like all all the way along. Mark preaches at ANZAC Cove in the service for those on the coach tours before exploring Shrapnel Gully, Lone Pine and the museums. All 5 of Mark's articles this week in Christian Today are on Anzac themes.

ANZAC ART

'Fog of War' was Mark's art work for last Tuesday's Chamber of Commerce breakfast for the business card draw. Mark does a painting each month for the breakfast. Typically dark as are Mark's war art works, 'Fog of War' is an imagery of confusion, moving forward into no man's land, lines of darkness all around, not knowing whether there is one or several in the picture ....  

MARK PREACHING

Mark preaching at Banora Point Baptist Church last Sunday 5 April and this coming Sunday, ANZAC service 26 April. Our pastor Rev Ian and Cathy Aylward had their name pulled out of the hat to be at ANZAC Cove Service 100th anniversary as Ian's grand father was on Gallipoli.   

PETER AND KATHERINE YAXLEY - PANELLIST

Peter and Katherine Yaxley live in TAS, serving Heads of Churches by coordinating school chaplaincies, Christmas Carols of Candle-lights, combined churches rallies and outreaches and it seems, a thousand other things over the years. Friends of 30 years, when Peter Grace from Auckland dropped out as a NZ Panellist, Peter and Katherine came to the rescue and enjoying the role immensely.  

NATALIE CHU - STEPHEN HUANG

Natalie Chu Christian Today editor in New York for 12 months serving as Ass. Exec. for CMCi (Christian Media Corp. Int) while retaining the Christian Today duties. Looks like Natalie has a special friend (photo published with permission). Former Christian Today editor Szeleng Chan also did 12 months with CMCi in New York, now the PSI young writer Week 5 co-ordinator. Another former editor David Chang serving as PSI consultant and adviser. 

JARED DIPROSE AUCKLAND ARTIST

Jared Diprose young writer wrote - "back from camp earlier in the week, a really worthwhile time, the picture of the village at camp that we built." Jared spoke at last year's young writer conf and 6 weeks later lost his left eye in an industrial accident. He creates and runs the Mosaic workshop. Jared and Sierra married 4 weeks ago.

E-BLAST - 12 APRIL 2015

Rev Dr Gordon Keith Moyes AC, MLC, B.A., LL.D., Litt.D., D.D., F.R.G.S., F.A.I.M., F.A.I.C.D., M.A.C.E.. 17th November, 1938 – 5th April, 2015 - (76) died peacefully on Sunday 5 April 2015 with his family around him. Gordon Moyes AC was Australia’s most respected Christian Evangelist and Leader. Much has been said (link) of the remarkable impact and ministry Gordon Moyes had on two generations, not only in Australia but internationally. He was recognised for his remarkable ministry with many honours, along with the Nation with his A.C. He was described by former Australian Prime Minister John Howard as “the epitome of effective Christian leadership” when describing the way he had grown Wesley Mission into one of the most dynamic and socially responsive church-based charities in the world. The service of celebration and thanksgiving for Gordon Moyes astonishingly remarkable ministry and life on Friday 10 April at Wesley Church Sydney was standing room and in my mind's eye, the celestial choir in the heavenlies. Twice each year in my 17yr tenure as the Australian cricket team chaplain I sat with him to unload. Mark's article tomorrow celebrates Gordon Moyes.

DELMA'S BIRTHDAY CD PLAYER

Delma's old CD player k-put - to the local IT store to replace it for Delma's birthday (Sat, 62). While doing craft Delma plays CD hymns (good collection). Dad joke: Old Hymns 1 - Hillsong 0. 

HARRIET'S EASTER HAT CREATION

Harriet 6 created this Easter Hat when visiting us over Easter. As soon as Harriet came in the front door, Harriet grabbed grand-ma's arm and to the downstairs dining room table they went - out came the craft items - and the first item on the agenda was creating an Easter Hat. Her mum Anthea too, enjoys crafts, and with Harriet they do craft together at their home. Family rule - not permitted to show faces on the Internet.  

DELMA'S HEAVY MONTH

Mark and Delma last weekend after the Easter Sunday morning service. April a big month for Delma - first up was Easter with the family here, then Delma's birthday yesterday and a dinner on the Friday night, an Auslan ladies high tea on her birthday (yesterday) at Hastings Point, getting her new hearing aids on Tuesday, our annual flu injection this Friday, then Delma's sister Ruth visiting for a few days before heading down to visit their mum. Plus her nursing home visits, KYB, card classes ... Phew!   

SURF AND ROCKS FOR VIDEO

Video footage of the heavy surf and the rocks at Snappers Rocks, Coolangatta, 2 min from Tweed Heads is what Belinda Croft has requested for the 2015 young writer video background. Mark went down there one day and took some, and again yesterday for more video footage. 

JOHN & JANINE GROCOTT

John and Janine Grocott joined Delma and Mark for Delma's 62 birthday dinner at a local Tweed Heads Chinese restaurant. John is a great helper to Mark as the young writer awards statistician and as a photographer at the young writer conferences. Janine is a professional at card making and runs classes.

E-BLAST - 5 APRIL 2015

The E-Blast today - Resurrection Sunday - features some of Mark's art works all of which are interpretive by the viewer. This art work is titled "Hurrah" and reflects the joy and celebrations of any number of situations in any person's life. Each art work displayed in today's E-Blast is for your pleasure and reflection. Resurrection Sunday - Jesus raising to life - is such a special day!

GOLDEN SANDS

Golden Sands was painted to reflect the beautiful sand and beaches of the Gold Coast, however since it was created by Mark, others have seen many very remarkable insights through this art work. It's certainly magnetic. It's not that easy to draw your eye away, there is so much in those art strokes with the golden colours. 

RED OVER BLUE

Red Over Blue has many applications associated with reflection on what comes across to the viewer. Since Mark initially worked on this art piece, he's received quite a number of different interpretations, one was associated with the senseless shedding of blood, another spoke of it as a protest over the nature of killing of animals under Halal, another saw the blue as life with the red the various aspects of our lives. You may well see something else! 

UNDERCURRENTS

Undercurrents was painted by Mark a little time ago now and reflects the thoughts and sentiments of those many things that go on behind the scenes. This painting hangs in a major international Mission's office as the board member said that it applied to them as it does to every other mission or business.  

MARRIAGE

We celebrated our 38th anniversary in February and quite a number of our young writers have been marrying over the past couple of years and Mark painted this as a reflection of marriage. It depicts various images of the marriage relationship, even over a long period of time. 

ART FOR THE GRAND-CHILDREN

This art work is included as we have the grand-children here for Easter. Mark painted this large surf board and hung it outside the dining room window to hide the neighbour's paling fence. It's certainly a center piece.