what to ask a remarkable australian?

I'll be spending this Saturday night at dinner with a whole bunch of good friends. One good friend who will be joining us as our special guest, is veteran West Australian broadcaster Graham Mabury.

Graham is a remarkable Australian. He has extensive involvement with the community services sector, including serving on the Board of the Institute for the Service Professions at Edith Cowan University and also the Animal Ethics Committee of the South Perth Zoological Gardens. He has served on the medical ethics committee of St John of God Healthcare, the Advisory Committee on Juvenile Offenders and through his work on radio 6PR's Nightline program, Graham established the Lifeline charity which provides hundreds of West Australian families with much needed assistance each year. He has received numerous awards including the Medal of the Order of Australia and the 2002 WA Citizen of the Year Award for community service. Graham will be in Bunbury as part of the www.allaboutlife.com.au promotion. This television and multi-media campaign has seen 170 churches across Western Australia combine their efforts to make a positive contribution in their local communities.

I'll be interviewing Graham on the night and so I'm wondering, what would YOU ask him if you were in my shoes?

BTW you can join us for dinner if you're quick. Book your ticket [HERE]

a very special evening

Envision being surrounded by pristine beaches and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. Imagine the indulgence of amazing cuisine and fantastic service. This could be you at Ex-Tensions on the Beach on Saturday 24th October 2009.

To cap off the perfect evening you'll be joined by the host of radio 6PR's Nightline program, Graham Mabury and friends. Graham is a leading Australian and his charitable work, through Lifeline WA, has seen him receive the 2002 WA citizen of the year award and a Medal of the Order of Australia. He is also a Fellow of Edith Cowan University.

Bookings for this exclusive event are essential as places are limited. Be early, book a table today.

Visit our web site for more information and reservations [CLICK HERE].

a new start

a novel approach to re-integrating sex offenders

"I know a couple ... who saw signs on their street and announcements in the paper notifying the neighborhood that a registered sex offender had just been released from prison and had moved into the area. The couple started praying for the man pictured in the posters, and occasionally they would see him on the street. Neighbors made a wide berth around the home he was living in, sometimes wrote graffiti on it, and warned their children against the occupant. After praying, this couple visited him, and then opened their home to a weekly breakfast for ex-offenders like him. For twenty-one years they have been hosting that breakfast. The most despised men in the area have one place to go where they feel welcome, and are treated like human beings" (Philp Yancey).

Preview the All About Life TVC

the ugly bits

de Vine

Marketing was a key component of my previous career so this assortment of puntastic business names, mostly from in and around the Sydney CBD, really appealed. I love this kind of intelligent creativity. There's a whole collection at Tanks A Lot but here's one of my favorites ...



HT Leigh Sales via twitter

the good stuff

a focused life

AFL player Mark Seaby talks about that other religion

What are you thankful for?

The Jesus All About Life media promotion I've been involved with here in WA, was launched on Monday (in NSW and WA), with a viral Internet campaign using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This is just the first phase of the campaign and there is a prime-time TV commercial coming later. What has amazed (and amused) me is the traction the promotion has already gained after just three days. The aim of the promotion is simply to get people talking, and it's achieving that purpose. Some examples are the ABC, the 10 Network's 7pm Project, as well as in the West Australian, the Sydney Morning Herald and even in the Daily Mail in the UK! Keep an eye out for the commercials, they start on Sept 27.

In the meantime you can have some fun with this promo by telling us online what you are thankful for in life. Visit the All About Life web site and upload your message telling the world about something simple that you are thankful for.

7 days to launch

Poetry in motion: making life sing

Like everyone I have my up and down days in life, but even on the darkest days of my life I have had a sense of hope. I may not be happy on those days, but because there is hope there is joy (There is a difference between happiness and joy, ask me about it sometime). Why hope? Because no matter what happens I have a conviction, born out of experience, that life is not random. Nothing happens by accident, there is a purpose for everything - good, bad or otherwise. And because this is the case, there is value in every day of our living, no matter what that day brings.

This week I'm kicking off a new teaching series called "Poetry in Motion: making life sing!" When we say that something is like "poetry in motion" we mean that it is beautiful to watch. In the poetic book of the Psalms we see described there a life that is beautiful to watch. In the poetry of the Psalms we see life at its euphoric heights and its horrific depths, yet it is a life that sings because it is a life filled with hope.

If you're in the area why not slip in the back row unnoticed [DIRECTIONS], or listen online [HERE].

ever felt out of your depth?

I often hear from people who feel out of their depth. And honestly, I feel that way too sometimes. This week I'm at a leadership intensive because I have felt out of my depth and thought that I ought to do something about it. It has been really empowering to be trained and equipped to be better at what I do.

If you've ever felt out of your depth, and you're involved in church based community work in the southwest, then why not join me this Saturday afternoon at the Master Your Ministry and Thrive leadership training day? We have some great speakers lined up and the electives are designed for people wanting to improve their skill base or just explore an area of service that they might be considering. Here's the program ...

Graham Mabury - The Church and Community Impact

Dr Mike and Monica O’Neil - Building Teams and Raising New Talent.

Electives include:
Children's work with Mim Hosking (Children's pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church)
Worship with Eliot Vlatko (Worship pastor at Inglewood Community Church)
Technology with Craig Tucker (Sound and Tech guru from Riverview Church)
Small Groups with Monica O'Neil and myself (Monica is the director of Vose Leadership)
Leadership with Dr Mike O'Neil (Senior Pastor at Lesmurdie Baptist Church)

You can register online [HERE]. Hope to see you there.