http://shirelive.manoto.com.au/index.php/site/index/ en valery.murphy@shirelive.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-02T03:19:29+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/quiet-time/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/quiet-time/#When:03:19:29Z {summary}Have you ever felt that you would love to be more consistent in your Bible reading, feeling often the ‘guilt’ that comes when you haven’t connected with God in a while, and your heart feels more than a little ‘cold’ towards Jesus? And it doesn’t help either, does it, when someone tells you (even if you’re brave enough to share how you feel ) that prayer, Bible reading and ‘listening to His Voice’ is ESSENTIAL….as though you should already know that….because the truth is – YOU DO already know that! It’s almost TOO easy to slip into feeling sorry for yourself, or alternatively, blaming your current circumstances and the fact that “my life is soooo busy!”. BUT WAIT!  Hey, we all feel that way sometimes as Christians!  No! Really – you thought you were the ONLY one, right? At Shirelive this last week we have begun a great Bible Reading Program which is not only easily accessible and well set out for all us ‘busy’ people….but it’s a blast to read and to get through in just 100 sessions of you sitting down in a quiet place with your Bible…in whatever translation YOU like! …and promises to give you this: The Essential 100 Challenge (The E100) is a proven systematic approach that guides readers through the big picture of the Bible without getting bogged down and frustrated. The E100 is a carefully selected list of short Bible passages—50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament. The passages are usually one to two chapters in length and can easily be read in 10 minutes or less. WOW! That’s our kind of program!  Uncomplicated Disciplined but not stringent Truth proclaiming Big Picture emphasis You can start with us TODAY. At Shirelive we want YOU to progress and to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ….come with us on the journey.  Start here:  http://www.e100challenge.com Or buy a $4 pamphlet at one of our services this week…and you are off and away on a journey which will take you to new places of spiritual growth…and…well, simply expose you to stuff you have never come across before in the Bible…because, when God speaks and we listen…miracles happen! Let us know how YOU are progressing, (at http://www.info@shirelive.com) and we will be giving you encouragement both here and at church – let’s together move forward in 2012!! Valery   2012-02-02T03:19:29+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/synergy3/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/synergy3/#When:05:05:47Z {summary}In less than 24 hours, SHIRELIVE will be hosting many people from both far and near as we launch our second annual conference SYNERGY 2012! There is such a buzz here today as we all do the last minute tasks which remain before opening our doors and welcoming people to come… We’ve prepared, we’ve prayed, we’re READY!synergyconference.com.au This year, it is our pleasure to host from South Africa Pastor At Boschoff. Renown in South Africa as a prolific evangelist, church planter and passionate speaker, At is going to bring the fire of God to Synergy 2012. Pastor Paul DeJong, pastor of New Zealand’s largest church, is joining us to bring his unique blend of incisive and strong Biblical teaching spiced with his own brand of humour, which will delight and bless you! Also this year, we are bringing Lamont O’Neil all the way from NYC (Christian Cultural Centre, Brooklyn). For years Lamont has combined his incredible gift in music with dance and avant garde leadership strategies to capture the imaginations of hundreds of at risk youth in his city. He has turned a ragamuffin dance troupe into a world class ministry team called the Nubian Gents which tours the world annually. He is set to bless our Conference, challenging us to use our creativity to reach a world that needs Jesus. Add to this Mark and Darlene Zschech who are world renowned Australian creative leaders and we are blessed beyond measure this year at SYNERGY! And if you’re a member of the younger generation….Here at SynergyKids Head Quarters we are busily working away to get ready for the BIGGEST SynergyKids ever! Special guest LAMONT O’NEIL is speaking to the kids! He loves Jesus and dances and sings like a crazy man!! He is coming all the way from New York City just to help us bust some moves! Our opening night features the President of the Australian Christian Churches Ps Wayne Alcorn...preaching on ‘Eternity’...you won’t be disappointed! So…if you have not yet registered…it’s not too late!  Just go to www.synergyconference.com.au and book right now!  Or call us on 02 9521 2933 WE’RE WAITING TO GREET YOU AT OUR DOOR! The Synergy 2012 Team. 2012-01-18T05:05:47+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/from-japan/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/from-japan/#When:03:03:45Z {summary}Hi church! It’s been a wonderful week for us, but as we leave Japan, allow us to share with you what we’ve seen…. As you know, Pastors Rod and Viviana Plummer have worked to reach this nation with the Gospel for the past nine years.  During that time Shirelive has been one of their major supporters, and having just held our Global conference, it is important that we let you see ‘through our eyes’ the great effect your prayer and resource has had upon Japan, a nation of 127 million people.  Of these, less than 0.2% are Christians. - Osaka Jesus LifeHouse -  Average age of 21 Around 200 - 300 people every week!  Pastors Luke and Izumi discipling/building in this city of over 20 million. - Nagoya, (10 million people) To get there we traveled by Bullet Train (320 kms per hour!), Wednesday night meeting. Again a young and vibrant congregation. - Sapporo (a mere 2 million live there!) where we joined up with the fledgling, but strong & focused team of young Aussies, Americans, Canadians and other nationalities (around 14 of them) who have begun to build yet another Jesus LifeHouse there.  Sapporo church had 56 in their house meeting that weekend, with 6 salvations! - Tokyo Jesus LifeHouse - Pastors Rod and Vivana – A city of 40 million people!  • 3 packed services, buzzing with amazing young Japanese singles and families..exciting music & atmosphere… • Discipleship – 100’s of Life Groups and Leadership Teams. • Bi-lingual services. • Still a need for permanent property • Growing continually but presently around 1500 people. Church…you would love it!  Pastors Rod and Viv send their love and gratitude to you all for your heart for missions and for the love of Jesus to be spread in this great nation of Japan.  At every turn, we heard Rod quoting population numbers and statistics, telling us all about the history of this country and how we must reach this beautiful land and its people. His repeated phrase was this…. “..all these people and no-one to tell them about the love of Jesus..” May this sentiment echo in your hearts this week as you go about your daily lives and serve the Lord in your own context…remembering that we are called as a church family to support and to resource the Kingdom in any way that we able to do. Thank you for raising the resource in your Life Group this coming week to give to Global – it will go to the work here in Japan – and to the ongoing rescue and rebuilding of a nation devastated by the recent earthquake and tsunami. Thank you for the financial commitments you have made during our recent Global conference.  They will go to many needs around our world, in the areas that we work. And most of all, thank you for your prayers, and your heart for a people you may never know. We love you. Valery and Michael. 2011-11-15T03:03:45+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/choose-life/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/choose-life/#When:21:17:31Z {summary}I had around ten minutes before the boarding call was to be made and there loomed before me a choice to make of the utmost importance.  As I looked at the delectable selection of cakes at the airport coffee shop which would accompany the cappuccino in my hand, I chose a piece of carrot cake that beckoned and promised me that my choice would be rewarded in ways beyond my imagination! Ten minutes later, and heeding the final call to take my seat for the journey home to Sydney, I felt satisfied and happy that my choice had indeed been a good one! Every day I have the ability and privilege to CHOOSE.  And not always just because I feel hunger…. Our ability to choose as humans is our God given prerogative, but often not used to advantage, or for our good. Perhaps we allow choice to be nonchalant, or unconsidered.  Perhaps we allow it to be hurried and inappropriate due to mood or current circumstance. Life holds for us some light and unimportant choices, but also those of paramount importance…those that will influence our future. Perhaps we have found ourselves in a relationship or a situation that is not what we would have for-seen for ourselves.  We may suddenly ‘wake up’ to find that we feel overwhelmed, or out of control.  Perhaps a storm or a dark cloud surrounds us…because of the choices that we have made. When we have relationship with our Creator, the Living God of the Universe…who gave you and me the power to choose…we have the most basic choice to make every new day.  It’s the choice to continue relationship and friendship with Him; or maybe to start it. We can make the choice to communicate with Him, or to remain ‘silent’. I heard a woman speak many years ago, speaking about her relationship with Jesus, and I have never forgotten the phrase that she used…it was: ‘Every day…every day….every day!” May I encourage you to make an important, life-giving choice for your self …every day?  It’s the choice to pick up and read the Word of God for a little while, and then to communicate with Jesus in your own life….It’s a choice to breathe His life into your life choices. We have provided on our website a program which will help you to work through reading the Bible in a year…..a habit that we believe will not only give you peace and confidence in your day, but will help you to make choices in life that are based on Truth and are of eternal value. We can walk through life, trying to figure out the choices that will affect our future alone, or we can ask for help and base our choices on the assistance and the power that relationship with the loving Holy Spirit can give us. What’s your choice today? 2011-10-10T21:17:31+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/found-a-place/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/found-a-place/#When:02:04:08Z {summary}After Michael having spoken at three services this morning, in Charlotte, Nth Carolina, we have a tight connection to reach Wave Church in Virginia Beach by 6 pm for him to speak at their Sunday night service. So far our Sabbatical trip here to USA has been fast and fantastic! We’ve met some most amazing people and God has opened our eyes to some new vision and thoughts,  planting in our hearts a new love for the Body of Christ world wide. But most of all we think of our people at home and family and friends as you sleep, and we turn our hearts to pray for you and your families.  We are currently making good time as we fly above the clouds in this little Cherokee single engine aircraft towards the state of Virginia. Today marks the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City, not too far from here. As I look out the window I can imagine the terror of those who were passengers in all three commercial aircraft that were pirated and crashed. I find myself praying that perhaps the majority of those people knew and trusted the Saviour. God only knows. Our trusted pilots today, though, have taken us up to 11000 ft as the clouds are quite thick.  I can hear them discussing how perfectly smooth it is up here and how, when we fly above the ‘weather’ it’s such a great trip.  Now they are chatting and deciding to ’ bank ’ a bit left for a smooth pathway through the clouds. The pilot is saying to his co-pilot ‘find a place’, in order to find a smooth ride. Have you ‘found a place’  today through perhaps some bumpy weather in your life? Trust your pilot and friend Jesus to guide you through, just as expert air traffic controller now guides our pilots…. And, boy, am I glad that these guys are experts! Over to you, Holy Spirit. I’m going to trust in you, and just like Jesus long ago in a boat, I’ll take a little nap while you drive! See you soon church - we love you.  Valery and Michael 2011-09-12T02:04:08+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/retreating-to-calm/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/retreating-to-calm/#When:15:28:18Z {summary}Recently Michael and I stayed for a couple of nights in country Victoria, in order to ‘get some space’ and a calm perspective into our lives.  In the midst of life in a big city, we can often become jaded and perhaps a little ‘frayed at the edges” and it’s often not until we draw aside and spend some contemplative time thinking on those things in life that matter the most, that we can find the ‘center’ of our own souls and connect with the Divine presence of Jesus.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, Jesus can be and is present in every moment of our lives, though some may not be aware of Him.  But often we are so ‘full up’ with the busyness of the every-day that we actually battle with achieving the ‘slow down’ inside that’s necessary for real rest.  Our adrenaline, racing around inside us at modern-day-life pace, is meant to help us, but often becomes the enemy of the calmness of our souls! Perhaps you’re unable to steal away to the country any time soon! Maybe to find a quiet chair in a corner and retreat for a few moments from life’s frantic routine is all you can manage right now. It’s possible that your ‘quiet time’ means you just settle for a couple of minutes in the middle of the day and cease working and rushing and… you know what I mean, don’t you? Then you are no different from human beings who lived long ago and battled similar problems.  Listen to what David wrote in Psalm 8 in the Old Testament: “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewellery, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you take a second look our way?” Perhaps it takes us to get away and see the sparkling night skies that are often not to be seen in our busy lives.  To appreciate the sounds and the scenes of a beautiful creation that God has handcrafted for you and me…To appreciate the enormity of God’s creation…and realize with humility that it was all made for US….. And to just sense His beautiful presence. “God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.” ……Amen - let the peace of God echo in your heart!     2011-08-29T15:28:18+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/the-games-people-play/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/the-games-people-play/#When:06:03:46Z {summary}MIND GAMES # 1 In today’s world of Xbox, Wii games and even so called “mind improvement” and “brain exercise” programs for our computers, Ipads or smart phones…the title “Mind Games” should not surprise us.  Our minds are used to ‘games’ and the ‘fun’ that they can provide, not to mention the time that they can occupy while we wait for the kettle to boil, the microwave to cook our dinner, or the operator to put us through to the right extension… But are we the only ones who play games with our minds…I mean, am I the only one who can ‘mess with my head’ or ‘play around’ with the thought processes and decision making that we all daily go through, or are there ‘external’ things that can influence, persuade and impress us so that our emotions and mental health are affected one way or the other? Maybe you have experienced a particular ‘trigger’ in your own life that has set off a reaction or revived a particular vivid memory…and, try as you might, your reaction to a situation right now is governed by what went on somewhere in your past. Freaky? Maybe not…In fact, it’s pretty common. This is the world of ‘Emotional Quotient’ and its governing of our actions and reactions to life’s situations. It’s what our new series “MIND GAMES” will be addressing in the next few weeks at Shirelive. We will also be checking out what the Bible has to say about those common maladies that affect not only the individual, but their families…such as our significance, identity and the ‘battlefield’ that is our minds! We’ll also talk about the depression and dis-eases of the emotions that affect whole families…and how to have hope in a sad world… This Sunday…In launching the series Pastor Michael looks at “The State of Play” in “MINDSETS AND MINEFIELDS”… Join us, and let’s look together into what God has to say about the Mind Games people play…… 2011-07-22T06:03:46+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/i-think-im-in-love/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/i-think-im-in-love/#When:01:42:45Z {summary}This morning I had an emotional moment, when I looked around the room at a great gathering of people who had come out on a cold, wintry morning at around 6:30am, in order to join together and pray for others. Ignoring the alternative of a comfortable bed, they came in their warm clothes, feet often clad in Ugg boots, hands thrust into pockets to keep out the cold, and minds steeled to do this .....but they came! They came with resolve, they came with determination, they came with enthusiasm…which tended to be hidden at first, but grew and became vocal as the meeting started and the presence of God was sensed. There were the regulars, those who love a prayer gathering and will be there rain or shine! But there were the “new” ones who came for the first time too: perhaps because of a need, perhaps because they felt they needed to ‘up’ their involvement…who knows?  There were the young, newly married couples, praying for their neighbours and friends and their church family.  There were the pastors and leaders who care and lead whenever it’s convenient or otherwise. There were the singles who were determinedly pressing in for more of Jesus. Now this may seem absolutely unrelated to what I have just said, but….I have a pet budgie in my kitchen!  When I let her out of her cage to fly around the house (yes, I do struggle with the guilt!) she mostly loves to sit on the pedal of our garbage bin in the corner…why? Well, it’s a stainless steel container and she can sit on the floor pedal and talk to the “bird” in the mirrored image that stares out at her when she gets close! She tweets and chats (very social media savvy is our bird) and carries on until disturbed and distracted by the ‘latest shiny object’ that catches her attention, but almost always seems to return to the comfortable position of loving that ‘other bird’! You may smile, but often I catch myself doing a similar thing….fascinated by ‘me’, I can become involved in everything that is about me and us…. but it’s not really what we as the church are meant to be doing, is it? Jesus asked us to make disciples, and then to teach them and help them grow. Teach them to live a different life, teach them to care about others, teach them to pray. There is nothing more impacting in the Christian life than prayer. Prayer for others, not just me and my situation…. We will be praying on Tues, Wed and Thurs between 23rd May and 9th June.  And in our homes and out walking on Mon and Friday each of those weeks. If you can’t be there…join with us and pray anyway! Jesus is waiting to hear from you. As for me, I really think that today I have fallen in love with His church again! Much love Valery and Michael. 2011-05-24T01:42:45+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/earth-to-jesus/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/earth-to-jesus/#When:00:07:54Z {summary}I was sitting next to a very nervous friend the other day on a plane, and as we came in to land, I was chatting with her and trying to help her to deal with her fear of flying and to overcome it.  But it’s not so easy, is it? Did you know that over 3 million people fly in aeroplanes around the world every day?  And it’s quoted that a Boeing aircraft takes off somewhere in the world every two seconds!  That’s a lot of people, that’s a lot of flying! I would say that the fear of flying is not actually about the safety aspects or the statistical evidence ... bearing in mind that flying is so much less dangerous than driving on, or even crossing, our roads today! But that’s not what a person with this dreadful ‘fear of flying’ wants to hear, or even will consider…. Because the fear of flying is actually about the loss of control!  We are not safely on ‘terra firma’ with our feet on the ground, able to control what happens to us…and it’s just too weird and frightening for some! As I chatted to my friend, she put her back to the plane’s window, afraid to even look out and see the wonderful view, the incredible sight of a helicopter flying in adjacent to us…she was missing so much! She began to talk faster and faster, as if trying to get control of her thoughts and fill in the time between the plane’s landing gear being extended down in preparation for our landing, and this frightening interlude and this inexplicable fear that gripped her…. If my friend could have just seen the activity and expertise that was currently taking place in the cockpit of the plane, perhaps she would have had more confidence!  Pilot and co-pilot superbly guided our craft with experienced, knowledgeable and practiced hands.  They didn’t miss a beat on their ‘checklist’ as they, confidently and brilliantly, guided their precious passengers and cargo to yet another smooth alignment with the earth, setting our plane down both smoothly and precisely on time.  And I couldn’t help but think….perhaps this is a bit like a part of my life…prayer! How so?  Well, when I pray, it’s sometimes like ‘letting go’ of a part of my life…it’s a placing of my life and its circumstances and experiences into the hands of God!  Is He capable, is He able, is He wanting…to help me to live my life?  Or can I do it on my own and through my own efforts, in a much better way? Next time I pray, I will remember that my God is like a combination of expert pilot, brilliant navigator and loving guide…and that He knows the path and the guidance that is needed, and will indeed set my ‘flight plan’ according to His plan rather than my own fearful, earth-bound wanderings and desires, that seem often to get me where I never even meant to go!  And perhaps I will release the fear that I have of losing ‘control’ of my life, and exchange it for His greater knowledge and help. Ahh, sit back, relax, and look forward to another great landing. Earth to Jesus…thanks a million! 2011-05-10T00:07:54+00:00 http://www.shirelive.com/site/easter-and-the-modern-family/ http://www.shirelive.com/site/easter-and-the-modern-family/#When:15:09:54Z {summary}We are currently enjoying a series of messages entitled: MODERN FAMILY...and it’s again a real privilege to be able to share parts of the journey that Michael and I have taken over the last almost thirty years of marriage…to where we find ourselves today. Ever wondered, if you could ‘turn back time’ what your life would have looked like, had you made one or two very different choices and decisions to the ones that you actually did make?  I mean, perhaps you might have lived, worked or been somewhere so very different to the place you are at now.  We can all muse on what ‘might have been’ - and it’s not always a perfect daydream, is it? You may have come through some stuff in life that should have caused you to fail, but by the grace of God, you are flying.  That’s a similar story to ours, no matter what it looks like.  Most of us in modern families have a story to tell. And that’s the story of REDEMPTION. A word that people know, but often don’t understand fully. I have been redeemed - the price paid - and I don’t deserve that new place that I am living in now, perhaps…. You have been rescued, brought ‘home’, lovingly restored…to a life that is outside that for which you once were headed! And that’s the story of EASTER, isn’t it? That a loving God in Heaven has reached out His eternal hand to save us from ourselves.  Just like the guy who hung on the cross next to the dying Jesus…yet because of what he didn’t deserve, still ended up going to be with Jesus in Paradise. All because he asked. Don’t get too tied up in the ‘journey’ that you lose sight of where you are headed…Easter is a reminder that we all can live in a modern family, involved and immersed in the everyday….but this season comes around and wakes us up to the beauty and reality of how kind and gracious Jesus us….“today, you will be with me in Paradise”...though he didn’t deserve it…though we don’t either. He loves us. Valery and Michael 2011-04-05T15:09:54+00:00