steve penny » Churches

PITA CHIPS WITH SEA SALT

Steve Penny — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:19:21 +0000

On my travels recently I stayed in a Hotel as guest of the local church in which I was ministering. Usually the churches leave a basket of goodies for us to snack on over the stay. This particular basket was a health freaks delight. All kinds of unusual food I had never seen before including, “unsweetened and unsulfured pineapple rings,” the same “unsweetened and unsulphured mango slices” – to say nothing of the “antioxidant nut and berry mix.” The only thing I was game to try was the Pita Chips with Sea Salt. I may as well have eaten the mattress off the bed. I got to thinking that maybe my office had sent word ahead to the church so that they could work together to try and keep me healthy. Whoever was working on my behalf was definitely going above and beyond the call of duty.

It didn’t make any difference as room service opens a whole world of gourmet delights. All deep fried and delicious. NOW my point is this to all you do-gooders on the behalf of others. You cannot help a person until they are willing to help themselves. I have watched so many people lose sleep over wayward friends and associates, when the people in question are going full steam ahead in their own direction. Yes – we can be concerned and offer good advice, but to try to sabotage another person’s life under the guise of helping them, borders on control at best – and lunacy at worst. I want to be known as a supporter of people not a judge. A coach is a person who comes alongside someone when they are ready to begin training in ernest. To try to coach someone who will not even attend to the basics is a complete waste of time. My own golf coach in Australia gave me some warm up routines to do before I even attempt to swing a club on the practise range. I felt they were a waste of good time and energy, and unfortunately he saw me totally ignoring his professional advice. Feeling guilty I said to him that I must get another lesson – to which he replied – not until you listen and apply the last lesson. Stop trying to vicariously win in life for others. Be the best you can possibly be, and when they are ready they will ask for your assistance. That is the right time to get involved. Then they are ready to change. Until then – stop putting Pita Chips with Sea Salt in my basket and go back to real food that inspires a man to live life to the full.

TESTING THE WORDS YOU LISTEN TO!

COMPASSION

Steve Penny — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:44:35 +0000

The Dalai Lama has made a statement recently during his stay in Australia. He was quoted as saying that COMPASSION is the only way to solve the worlds great problems.

What amazing insight – yet adeptly ignored once again by the world and its leaders. As we go into another talkfest in Copenhagen – this time on climate change – the world continues to ignore the plight of ravaged humanity, and shuts its ears to the cry of the innocents as they are brutally oppressed.

The church must demonstrate compassion on a global scale.

Thank God for the massive work of the church already taking place in so many nations – as relief is given in so many wonderful ways. And yet the task is massive on so many fronts. Thank God also for a generation of young people who have turned aside to consider the plight of the poor and defenceless. The iheart film currently showing is a huge prophetic call to engage in an even greater and more effective way.

Climate change is a very real consideration when it comes to helping the poor as the dwindling water resources in many nations – or the opposite with floods and disasters in others – is exacerbating the problems we currently face.

Who would have thought that climate change would usher in a one world government.

Don’t be distracted from the cry of the innocents. Change your lifestyle to find a way to help change the life of one suffering person at a time.

How can we show compassion to the lost and broken – hurting and dying across the globe.

1. Get an awakened conscience for the hurting.

2. Give yourself to find a noble cause to support.

2. Start a compassion account and take an amount out of your weekly income.

3. Give to organisations and churches who can make a difference.

4. Pray and believe for God to hear and answer the cry of the innocents.

5. Go on a credible mission trip to a suffering community and see for yourself.

6. Say no to something – so others can say yes to the most basic requirements – like water.

God blesses those who stand at the right hand of the poor to protect and help them in their time of need.

ANSWERING THE CALL

Steve Penny — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:01:28 +0000

On Sunday 06 Dec 2009 we handed over the Kings Christian Church on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, to one of our “sons in the faith” to become Senior Pastor.

James and Sam Macpherson will take on the oversight of both Townsville and Buderim churches – under a bold initiative to allow an Apostolic network opportunity to develop.

James and Sam are just one of the amazing couples that have been raised up in and through Kings over the past decade and we know that they will usher in a new season of growth and blessing.

As for our future. I have resigned because I hear the call of God to the nations for the next season. I believe the church universal is rising up with evident strength and the opportunity for global influence has never been more real.

I want to join my hand and heart to those churches who are genuinely called to make a difference globally.

Marion and I are taking some time off until April next year – 2010 – and then I will be marching forward to help build the church across the nations.

I also want to give more time to producing resource for the Body of Christ and more details will be available after we have our sabbatical.

We are extremely grateful to all our church family and friends who have been amazingly supportive in releasing us into this new season with such love and honour.

Looking forward to the next decade of awesome blessing and influence. SJP

World Cup Soccer 2010

Steve Penny — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:52:04 +0000

I was in Rustenburg Sth Africa last week and saw the huge new stadium they have built for the upcoming world Cup of Soccer. It stands huge on the landscape of what is a fairly small regional city. Great fears are held for it’s sustainability after the great event.
The same is true for the church. We have become very good at big events and some churches even place their future on the next big event. Remember – the church is not an event. It is a family of faith doing the journey of life together. Sure enjoy the big event when it happens and make it awesome- but don’t forget in all the doing and bustle of the event that it is the relationships you forge and strengthen in the event that count for the future. Make Sundays about people. Make conferences about connections. Make church about the issues that affect peoples live. Just make up your mind that the people you now have in your family of faith are your best friends and so look forward to seeing them again and again.
I’m off to another huge event today – but in all my doing and preaching etc I will be looking to connect meaningfully with at least one new person who will enter my world for the rest if my life.
Build your world one day at a time an one new friend at a time.
Before you know it you will have a huge world and then big events won’t seem so disproportianate in your bigger world. SJP

THE NOON DAY GUN

Steve Penny — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:23:30 +0000

I am in Cape Town, South Africa at present, where they have an old tradition that still continues to this day. At midday an old cannon is fired, which is now fondly called the noon day gun. In the past it was fired to indicate to the local townspeople that a ship was entering the harbour with goods from Europe and the East. The entire town would scurry to the harbour jetties and congregate in anticipation of all the exotic and luxurious items that these ships would bring to the Cape shores.

Today it continues to be fired every midday, but now nobody takes any notice – except the occasional tourist who is frightened silly, if standing near when it is fired.

It got me thinking about the church. I wonder how many churches are firing their best cannons every Sunday – but no-one is listening. People no longer run to the local church because it is Sunday morning. Times have changed. People have changed. The ships no longer come and dock at the local church with all the finest things that people need.

To be honest some churches are now like quaint old cannons – being fired every Sunday. Maybe it is time to find out what this generation needs and instead of waiting for some spiritual ship to come in – that never arrives – or if it does it still comes with the finest from decades past that no longer appeals – maybe change how you do church to meet the needs of the people now crowding the old jetties having a latte and some fine food, or shopping at some trendy market.

We must find out what their needs are today, and present our faith in a way that causes them to gather, anticipating something that appeals and meets their needs.

Church should still be the most exciting event of a person’s week. If you are going to fire your cannon this weekend – make sure the ship has docked, and it is laden with stuff that people need and want in their lives today. The last thing I would ever want to be – is a blast from the past. SJP

REAPING OR RECYCLING

Steve Penny — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:18:53 +0000

I have noticed a strange pattern in many peoples lives.

Instead of committing to being reapers of new things in life, they often continually recycle the same old things.

Sometimes they will paint it a new colour and make it appear to be new, or they will change the menu a little and kid themselves that all is new.

Sometimes they change church, or work, so they don’t have to face the challenge of growing in a larger world.

The great thrill of life and growth and increase, is the thrill of harvesting new crops.

Life is full of seasons, and they do change, but that is all part of God’s plan, to get us to the next harvest season.

It is through harvests that we increase and expand.

It is through harvests that we have enough to be a blessing to others.

The other seasons are very important in our lives, but they should always bring us to the harvesting of new crops of blessing and increase.

I have noticed that people who refuse to reach out to others and to new challenges, often do so to simply maintain their status quo.

The worst way to live life is from the lounge chair of comfort and convenience. Your body was never meant to sit is a lounge position for long periods of time.

Neither is your spiritual man.

We are created for action, advancement and growth, and our strength always increases best under the tension of stress and stretching.

A life of comfort and convenience always leads to disillusionment, and then begins the cycle of looking for people and places and churches where our status quo will not be challenged.

I am amazed at how many people get off the bus because it has a destination to take you somewhere, and the road is a bit bumpy.

My advice is to stay on the bus as long as it is going somewhere, and make up your mind to enjoy the ride.

Help others to get on the bus and sacrifice together to see new harvests of increase and blessing, from which many others can be blessed.

Stop recycling old worn out things and get on the frontline again. You know that is where you enjoyed life the most.

Tired, weary from the battle, challenged and stretched, yet supercharged and focused from the intensity of reaping new things.

Come on, get back to what you do best – living by faith – and believing God for greater things yet to come. SJP

Conference Keys

Steve Penny — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:50:23 +0000

This week is the ACC Qld state conference. Talking to one of our regional Pastors about attending conference and he declared he was all conferenced out. Funny I responded as I don’t see you at too many conferences.
To which he the replied, conferences are not really my thing.
To which I replied – you are an idiot.
Let me tell you why conferences are important.
A. God instituted them as part of Israels religious calender.
B. Jesus used them often in His earthly ministry.
C. Holy Spirit fell upon the early church during a conference.
D. They are an opportunity to intensify your pursuit of God.
E. They are a great opportunity to network with our extended family of faith.
F. They are a great time for team building away from the daily grind.
G. Time to receive now word of God from key leaders.
H. Great time to be personally lifted to next level of faith.
I. Always good to see how larger churches and leaders do things.
F. It is also an important time to show team strength together.
G. Most of all it is a great time to find one leader who may be struggling and spend time lifting them up.
H. Time to also receive direction and understanding of what God is doing in a state or nation.
Make sure you attend your next conference opportunity full of expectation and faith.

DOING THINGS THAT MATTER

Steve Penny — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:00:11 +0000

Two important things that we do every year in the Kings House are; the S4 Summit for leaders, and the Church Planting and Leadership School for newer church leaders.

The Church Planting and Leadership School is coming up in September from Tuesday 01 Sep to Thursday pm 03 Sept.

We have been amazed at how effective our school has been in preparing leaders of newer or smaller churches to go forward taking the right steps of faith.

We are told every year that our Church Planting School is the best leadership training course most have ever done.

This is important to me as I want to do things that matter and that benefit the Body of Christ.

There are three ingredients of growth in any persons leadership life.

Inspiration – causes you to aspire to greatness

Instruction – causes you to understand principles of greatness

Mobilisation – causes you to plan a path toward greatness

We need all three ingredients in our lives to continue the journey toward greatness.

We also conduct an S4 summit every year in Australia and key leaders from churches across our nation come together.

The S4 Summit is unique. In it we look at the ingredients necessary for your organisation to go forward.

Often we interpret the developments in the Kings House and explain the process of growth and transition as we are experiencing it.

Next years S4 Summit will be the best yet.

I feel as though The Kings House has stepped up into a new season and the transitional changes we have made are now starting to take effect.

Why not set aside the dates next year for S4 Summit and book in early and get the best deals. The dates for S4 2010 are Monday pm to Thursday lunch- 22 to 25 February 2010.

Go to www.kings.org.au for more details.

Remember – a successful life is about doing the things that matter.

SJP

WHY CHANGE IS SO CHALLENGING

Steve Penny — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:21:46 +0000

I FIND CHANGE A CHALLENGE

Having led churches now for over thirty five years one would think that the process of change would become easier with the passing of time.

If anything the change process becomes harder as our years increase. Whether years in life or in a location or job, the challenge of change can often be much harder as time rolls on. Let me tell you why!

FIRSTLY – Change challenges relationships.

Probably the hardest thing to do in life is to move forward when so many around you do not want to arise to go forward.

The choice of a greater tomorrow or more of the same is sometimes as simple as the choice to say farewell to friendships that have become counter productive to you growing up and pressing on in life.

I find that a leader must reinvent themselves at least every seven years and do the same with their team to continue going forward and expanding.

Having applied this principle for years it has helped me see people who have hit a lid in their roles and don’t know why or how to fix it.

Many people can be very effective for a season and then when the organization grows beyond them, they go into a protectionist mode and try to cover the fact that they are now not coping as well as they used to, or being as effective or fruitful.

SECONDLY – The security of familiar surroundings can often be a huge barrier to arising and journeying into unfamiliar territory.

I sometimes think that a good crisis or two can be the catalyst that propels us forward out of our familiar surroundings toward the unfamiliar horizon of our future..

Never despise the tough times in your life as they often force us to become very creative in how we go forward in life.

THIRDLY – The power of positions can become a huge stranglehold on us if we are prone to see achievement as the filling of some position or achieving of some title.

Positions can be very fleeting and should never be seen as a safe place in life. A position should only ever reflect the productivity of a role, and never the attainment of an office or title.

Never allow positional authority to operate in your organization as it will destroy initiative and drive out the young entrepreneurs who are the secret to your future success.

FOURTHLY – The loss of a dream will cause your life and/or organization to grind to a halt.

Focussing on debt reduction and not on future vision will sap people of faith and enthusiasm.

Dreams drag us through the dust of the mundane.

Great achievements are always the result of great dreams.

Dreams demand change as they challenge the status quo of our everyday lives.

However only change the things you need to change on the journey – dont change the journey itself.

Stay true to what you really believe on the inside.

SET YOUR VISION IN CONCRETE – AND YOUR GOALS IN SAND.

Steve Penny

70 DAYS TO EXCEL

Steve Penny — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:38:09 +0000

I was having dinner with Brian Houston last week and talking about preparing for a new season, when he challenged me to set aside 70 days to excel in areas of my life. We both felt it was a God moment and jumped at it, deciding to hold each other accountable for the next 70 days – which ends on the Friday night of Hillsong Conference.

Last Sunday we shared it in our churches and the take-up response was amazing. So many people have been sensing God leading them to prepare for a new season in their lives. I personally believe that the world is ready for a new wave of radical Christianity. The world is tottering on the brink of chaos and the church is poised to take up new positions of influence and authority world wide. Anyway back to the 70 days to excel.

We have identified four areas of our lives in which we can work to improve and grow by God