Well, here we are returned from Easter Campference 2001. What can you say about it that would accurately convey just what it was like? It was fantastic. It was wonderful. It was life-changing. It was, dare I say it, Awesome!
But I think I will describe it by borrowing some language from the young people of today: "good. it was really good". It's amazing how people just can't get excited about anything, and sad really too. It goes to show how badly our city and state and nation don't just need to experience easter campference they need to experience and know God! They need to know what life is all about. Living life for God our creator as a dead man/woman. That's what it's all about!!
The campference had plenty of fine moments (from my limited sex-segregated viewpoint): the call of "dawson" used in response to the cliched use of another word that sounds like dawson without the "d" (the word is "Awesome", btw.), the re-introduction of the pentecostal two-step dance move, the sleeping patterns of the generation-j males that varied from not even being in bed at 3am ("nah, I was just chatting with some lovely chaps from Fremantle") to the improvisations made because of the lack of beds (photos coming), to the chainsaw imitation championships (KAAAAAAAAAARRRKK!!!.......... KAAAAAAAAAARRRKK!!......... ).
Then there was also the usual mix of madcap antics from 90% of the male population at camp in a desparate attempt to impress "the girl from "group X" who is destined to become my wife". As Mike Googs put it "you've come to check out what this state has to offer". This basically manifested itself it an obscene amount of water bombing and the occassional mooning (Word to the guy who mooned the whole front counter of McDonald's Melville on Sunday night only to realise you can't run with your pants around your ankles. Nice work. And the gen-j'er who mooned half of the leadership team from Perth CLC. This is not what was meant by taking a step of faith.)
But there was a message to be heard too. As John Morgan, one of the camp’s fantastic preachers’ emphasised, Easter is the time that Jesus won!! It’s the time Jesus gave us the winner’s bragging rights. We’re not any longer losers, we’re winners. It is the time that we remember that Jesus took death my the scruff the neck and said in a deep, manly, Australian voice (and I quote) “does your mother sew? Then stitch this!!” POW!!!!
The Jesus we pray to, the Jesus we claim as our best friend (there’s a song in that), the Jesus we read about in the bible – that Jesus – is the champion not only of the world but the entire universe because He defeated the common enemy to us all: death.
To me, that is something worth getting excited about! That to me is something so life changing, so inspiring, so liberating, I gotta share with others. Let’s do it generation-j. Let’s get to work.
09:43 by Bruce
tuesday, april 10
The countdown to Revolution Easter Conference is well and truly underway -- bring on Friday!!
If you're coming - fantastic! Meet at the church @ 2:30pm on Friday to depart for Noalimba. It'll be huge!!
If you aren't coming - don't despair there's plenty of great things on the horizon to look forward to! Great speakers and events are lined up to ensure the rest of the year continues "like never before!!"
Keep in mind this: obedience is everything! Have you noticed how many times in the bible God tells his people "just obey me with all your heart"? He says it a lot! Maybe He's trying to tell us something; like there isn't really that much to this christ-following stuff -- just obey The Man!! Try putting that into action and I believe God will honour it and you'll see change where you've been desiring it.
18:50 by Bruce
wednesday, april 4
A quick one from base: Easter Conference -- you gotta register (fill in form and bring deposit $30) before Friday. Best way is to get it to your home group leader tonight. Dramas? Email me bruce@generation-j.com.
This Friday -- don't miss the Chocolate Wars!! Bring a friend and get a block of Choc for you and your mate. What a deal?!! It'll get huge. See ya there.
09:22 by Bruce
saturday, march 31
Howdy 'net-sters. This is a live blog from Alcatraz! And yes indeed it is a cranking night (so far). It's been great chatting with all the new, cool guys and gals I've met tonight. I hope you will all come back next week for the Chocolate Wars.
So a recap so far -- the "injury" has been very competitive (apologies to Shane Heggs who was helped off after taking a severely painful strike), I haven't lost an Air Hockey game yet (come on guys, that's poor!!) and the midnight pizza went down particularly nicely.As I type now the DVD theatre is filling with weary bodies to catch a movie before sunrise... or bed... whichever comes first.
That's all from the GFWC Alcatraz evening - catch ya again soon. Over and out.
01:28 by Bruce
saturday, march 24
Well, yet another year has rolled on by ... and here I stand, on the verge of grown-up-ness, and the question that first springs to mind is ... what happens if you get scared half to death -- twice?
And speaking of next Friday -- get your mates together for the biggest All-Night Event of 2001 -- ALCATRAZ!
When? Friday, March 30, 2001 Time? 8pm - 10am Sat morning How Much? $10.00 Where? @ the church What? Heaps of games including -- air hockey, pool, arcade games AND MORE
PLUS FREE MCDONALDS BREAKFAST and FREE CAFE!!
See yous all there!!
16:55 by Shauna
tuesday, march 20
Dave Leach's new church-mate in Melbourne is rather famous. You may have heard of him, so now read about him.
21:34 by Bruce
saturday, march 17
Last night generation-j was rocked 1st century church style!
Straight out of Acts 2 we not only heard about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we experienced it!! With guest teacher, the ever-popular church elder/teacher/worship leader/new dad Romano Formaggio doing the verse-dispensing the mystery surrounding this topic was removed. We saw the need to be baptised in the Holy Spirit as it is the power, the engine, in our relatioship with God.
We then got stuck into the ministry time and 20-30 people were baptised in the Holy Spirit then and there, speaking in other tongues! It was truly awesome! We finished with a hopping set from the Constable Rogers Five before going home with joy in our hearts and praise on our lips. Our God rules!!! (see I told you fasting has an impact...).
Happy St Patrick's day too to everyone. St Patrick's day is all about get drinking and getting drunk right? Maybe, but that's nothing like who St Pat was. Did you know St Patrick was a radical missionary of enormous courage way back in the 5th century? Read about it here.
16:37 by Bruce
monday, march 12
If you weren't there on Friday -- what were you doing?? Make sure you're there this week.
Remember too, if you committed to fasting this week to give it a go, pray, and see God work!
08:33 by Bruce
thursday, march 8
Hey, are we going too fast?!?
Tomorrow night (9.3.01) we are going to get into the world of fasting. And no, it isn't about losing weight. What it is about is adding power to your prayers and getting you closer to God -- something I'm sure we all want, right? I know I definately do! So come along tomorrow night and get it in ya!!
21:33 by Bruce
thursday, march 1
Hi there kids! Hope you're all getting psyched for tomorrow night as we get equipped in Prayer & Fasting part 1. Sounds heavy? I'd say more meaty and that's a good thing! We believe prayer and fasting is the key to see God unlock amazing possibilites in our lives and particularly in the lives of those around us.
We'll also have the usual great music, good humour and beautiful people (no seriously!) so come down tomorrow night @ 7:30pm. Directions here for the uninitiated.
Why don't you go here and fill us in on how you are? There's nothing better than getting to hear from someone (known or unknown) "out there"!
16:12 by Bruce
sunday, february 18
Cables has come and gone - now set your sights on Friday night because it is WARFARE.
Here's the deal - Warfare team events, big prizes including a Micro stereo system, plus the presentation of the message that has changed and will continue to change the world. Encourage your friends to back up again this week, especially those guys that don't know Jesus as Lord yet, 'cause this week could be their night!!
Don't forget also that Home groups crank up again this week so make sure you're hooked into one near you. Don't know where they are? Email me and I'll reply in a matter of hours - promise!!! Actually, just email me anyway - it's great to hear from you!
Keep praying hard for your friends and generation-j and lets see a huge crowd there on Friday for Warfare!!
12:30 by Bruce
friday, february 16
Seeing as today is so hot and sticky, why don't you join generation-j as we head to Cables Waterski Park tonight!
Meet at the church (77 Girrawheen Ave, Girrawheen) at 6:30pm with $10 cash (for entry and skiing) and you bathers and towel and get ready for an awesome night. We'll get back to the church at around 10:30pm. Come with your friends and make tonight huge. Bring it on!!
08:06 by Bruce
friday, february 9
Tonight we're looking at Strategy with Shauna. Be there 7:30pm.
Also check out what's coming up in the next few weeks. Guys, let's get a hold of that vision, support it and please pray God continues to moves us forward!
Piece, umm I mean peace.
17:24 by Bruce
tuesday, february 6
Update from friday - VisionGeneration. generation-j kicked off with a bang. Big Blake started things off well and did a great job with the Music team (as he has stepped into the sadly departed shoes of Dave). There was a totally different and fresh sound as we cranked the Praise and Worship.
We presented the vision, pumped the troops full of possibilities and got the passion flowing. Over the night the expectancy built and I hope that the same can be true over the whole year - our expectancy of what can happen, what will happen will grow and grow. It was an awesome start and great foundation to launch from.
Our theme is "like never before" (ie pray like never before, be bold like never before etc). The word came from 1 Samuel chapter 3 where in a time of no vision and no word from God, Samuel said "Here I am, God" and God used him mightly (v11, 19). The spiritual atmosphere is the same today as it was then - static and lifeless, but we want to believe that God will change that and use us to do it.
I believe we need to commit ourselves to Prayer and Fasting, to living the great command, to raising the standards we live our lives by and to hooking into home groups where we can be discipled and released into bigger things. I'm fully expecting for a huge year this year - I pray you are too!
08:15 by Bruce
tuesday, january 30
Leave some words of appreciation and good wishes -- here.
10:24 by Bruce
monday, january 22
Hiya people! I hope your summer is going really well and you are looking forward to a new year of new possibilities and opportunities. God is on the move in our city and I want us to be right behind Him!! If you were at PlanetShakers -- keep that fire!! If you weren't -- then seek it! God rewards those who diiligently seek Him.
Anyway we kick off generation-j this year on Friday February 2 with VisionGeneration. We want to pump you chock full of Vision so that you can aim to pursue the God's purpose for your life in the year 2001!
14:13 by Bruce
wednesday, january 10
Well apparently our friends on the bus made it here without too many hassles - although I believe there was a lot of chanting practice -- W.A. ALL THE WAY!! W.A. ALL THE WAY!! -- any other traumas would surely have been worth it once we all poured into Paradise Church last night for the first of many mindblowing sessions here at Planet Shakers.
So far we've had the privilege of hearing the Word of God from Russell Evans, John Morgan, and the funniest man on earth - Jurgen Matthesius. At the girls only session, Sam Evans spoke about the reality that it's not what's on the outside that counts - it's the Kingdom of God inside you that's important.
The praise and worship has been going off -- but then what else can you expect with over 5500 youth pouring out their hearts to God. The preaching has been life-changing (and often side-splitting -- Jurgen Matthesius -- funny name, hilarious guy). But the most amazing thing has been the hunger of the guys and girls of Australia to meet with God this week.
This morning at the first session, Russell Evans announced that they could no longer take full-time registrations because they can't fit any more people in the auditorium. At the girls only session this afternoon, there was about three or four times as many girls alone than there were last year. And the lines -- last night, we arrived an hour early and still had to sit five rows from the back - under the balcony!! So this morning, we got here at 7:30am for a 9am start (worth the lack of sleep - five rows from the front!!)
But even better than all of this was a word that Russell Evans had for Perth during the second session today. He said:
"THE EYES OF AUSTRALIA, AND THE WORLD, ARE ABOUT TO LOOK TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO SEE GOD MOVING."
That's us - you and me. So get ready guys. Prepare yourselves Gen-J. God is about to change our lives, and empower us to lead our generation into the things of God!!
14:11 by Shauna
monday, january 8
Hey hey hey all you Gen-J-ers out there!! Greetings from stinking hot Adelaide!
We're over here for the biggest youth event this side of the equator -- PLANET SHAKERS!! But before I go any further, I'd like to send out a warm hello to all my fellow Perth Planet Shakers making their way over here by bus -- one word for you guys -- aeroplane! There's just something so satisfying about leaving after you guys and getting here a whole day ahead of you! How'd you guys survive 36 hours without a toilet on your bus?
But back to the business at hand - Planet Shakers. This is my first year, so believe me - I'm jumping out of my skin! Just knowing that tomorrow night I'm going to be praising God with 3000 other hyperactive Christian youth is enough to send me into a frenzy! There is such an amazing sense of expectancy in my heart, it's hard to explain. I don't know exactly what to expect tomorrow night, or over the next four days - but I know like I've never known anything before that we will come back different people. That this week, paths will be set before us, vision will be poured into our hearts and the call of God will become the light that leads us into 2001.
"Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions"
So what are you doing this week? Where will you be? There is nothing magical about being here in Adelaide - if you want the power and authority God is offering you right -- stand up and take it!
09:59 by Shauna
wednesday, december 13
For those of you who do not know, Ruth and I get married on Saturday. Yippee!! It's the end of one long road and the beginning of another, hopefully even longer, road!! If you want to know more about us or wish us well you can visit our webpage here.
On to other matters. Now that generation-j is officially finished for 2000 most of you are probably turning your eyes towards Christmas, right? Well here's my vote for present of the year. Go and check it out. I won't give it away but their pitch goes like this:
Make sure you don't miss looking at the catalogue!
On a different note, guys I want to encourage you to keep praying for 2001. We want to move in God's will, be humbly obedient to his word and see Him radically transform many people's lives. But these things must be grounded in prayer and interecession. Prayer is what changes things and so it's important that as of you as are able, pray - HARD!! Love ya, see you when I'm married!
10:04 by Bruce
tuesday, december 12
Well, here I am, I made it. I've ventured where few have been before, and I survived. Yes, I've entered the amazing new frontier called "Cyber Space." I don't know what it is, and I don't know what to do, but I'm here. And I'm alive. I figure I'll just hang around the refreshment table until I pick up a few pointers ...
I think I suffer from sleep-onset insomnia. (ie it takes me forever to fall asleep.) That's why I'm awake right now, at about one in the morning, trying to think up funny things to say. Interesting thing about my "condition", I get a whole lot of time to think. (Which would be useful if I didn't already spend about 12 hours a day "thinking." Aaaah, semi-unemployment, what would I do without you?) Anyway, tonight I got to thinking about Generation-J, and how far we've come.
I remember our humble yet inspirational beginnings. Weeks spent in mind-blowing prayer-times, where the foundations were set in the lives of the people now leading Gen-J. Then the years we've spent experimenting, and succeeding, and failing (two words people - "The Panel"). And all the stuff we've learnt along the way - how to hear God's voice, how to share our God with our friends, how to waste four hours trying to think up names for stuff (Renal What?!?!?!) ... But the most exciting part is, every year, God has grown us faster and taught us more than the year before.
My heart just starts pumping when I think about next year. 2001. Generation-J is officially over for the year, but I believe that during the next couple of months we will be laying the foundation for God to do SUPERNATURAL things in our lives, and in Gen-J in 2001.
So take the opportunity, use the time you've got stretching out ahead of you -- prepare yourself for the REVOLUTION that's about to hit.
00:59 by Shauna
friday, december 8
Quick reminder - tonight, Karaoke Christmas Par-tay! Meet @ church, 6:30pm. See you there!
09:39 by Bruce
tuesday, december 5
Hi people. What a lovely lovelyTuesday it is in Perth today! Last Friday went off with a bang, if you weren't there. We stood together and prayed that this summer would not be wasted time but it would in fact be a time of forward progress, in our own lives and as a group. We had the praise pumpin' and we also had an awesome time of building each other up as we prayed in our POC groups. So are you ready for summer?
Well, not quite because this Friday generation-j winds up for 2000 with the monster KARAOKE CHRISTMAS PAR-TAY! Meet at the church @ 6:30pm, bring some dosh and those velvet vocal chords for belting out those favourite tunes with your mates. It'll be great, go here for more info. See ya there!!
10:28 by Bruce
friday, december 1
This is a coool picture - the earth at night. How did they do it? well it's a composite of lots of little pictures (cos the earth aint dark all at once). Can you pick the different countries and cities? Do you see Perth?
10:20 by Bruce
In the wind... a new contributor to this page. How exciting!
10:08 by Bruce
monday, november 27
Hi Hi Hi people! Congratulations go out to Gary "Gaz" Formaggio for taking off the Challenge of Challenges.
In what proved to be a hotly contested field, Gaz outlasted Yestin Rees and the rest of the fired up challegers to claim the prize of 50 bucks. But the prize did not come without a cost. After gleefully clinching first place Gaz revealed the price he paid to achieve it as he revealed a nasty graze to the forehead and shoulder, injuries he sustained as he hurdled over and into one of Mullaloo beach park's benches. If only we saw his meaty stack - what a classic spectacle that must've been! Not only are you are champion in the challenge of challenges stakes Gaz, but you're a comedian too! Well done mate!!
13:13 by Bruce
wednesday, november 22
I was going thru my inbox last night and I came accross this little gem sent to me in July by Charlie and Clalalyn. Check out the "getting down with G.O.D." cool quiz!! By the way I became a hall of fame inductee when I took it, but there's no pressure...
08:44 by Bruce
tuesday, november 21
Digitracts -- "share the gospel without fear!". If you're really searching for a new way to tell your mates about Jesus, give this a shot. These digitracts set the whole schbang out before you, nice and simple.
My favourite is: "Jesus: Get Tough Sins Out - a squeaky-clean presentation". Kinda reminds me of those Napisan ad's, didn't they use real people's testimonies to prove how good their product was?
"You can try it on my son's grubby t-shirt, it has horrible stains".
A few moments later, "Good golly - it's so white I need to put my sunglasses on!". You know the ones.
Of course, unlike Napisan, we aren't peddling some consumer product. Our boast is in Jesus Christ the man, the son of God, a new life to be lived, and a cause to fight for. I'd rather that than a throw away, add-on product any day, wouldn't you?
14:51 by Bruce
saturday, november 18
generation-j friday postmortem:Revelation 12:11"And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die."
Ben did an awesome preaching job last night and got everyone thinking about exactly how much we're prepared to give up for the cause of Jesus Christ. We like to quote Rev 12:11 but we tend forget the last bit "and they were not afraid to die". If you're not afraid to die what possibly are you afraid of?? It's like in the movie "The Replacements" starring that neo guy, where Gene Hackman as the football coach gets the team revved up for their last half together against the Dallas Cowboys. The team is about to be disbanded and they only have one half to play and he says to them "that team doesn't fear you. they should! because you guys have nothing to lose. and people that have nothing to lose are dangerous. you are dangerous people!!". Tthey all roared and, just like the mighty ducks, they went and won. yippee!
Shouldn't we, God's people, be like that too? If we don't have to fear death (and we don't) what do we have to lose?!? Like the word says, when we are not afraid of dying (to our fears, our reputation, our own selfish desires) then we will overcome!!
13:15 by Bruce
wednesday, november 15
When will we crack the 3000? It should be pretty soon. Let everyone know if it's you by posting on the message board!
09:15 by Bruce
monday, november 13
Did you know?
God likes BBQ's ~ Leviticus 1:6-7
Betchya didn't...
15:40 by Bruce
