Portal (Issue 03) by BotanyLife Community Church

PORTAL

Issue 03 | February - May 2012

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD {Let’s Shine in our Community} SHINE BotanyLife’s New Five-Year Vision / Easter Reflection / Cliff & Cassy Hand / Baptism Service Looking After Our Leaders / Creating Community at Botany Town Centre

Contents {ON THE COVER} 4

Feature Article SHINE - BotanyLife’s new five-year vision Leadership Spotlight Meet Cliff and Cassy Hand - Eldership couple Easter Reflection Going through Luke’s story Baptism Service Watching people grow in Christ Looking After Our Leaders Meet our three brand new Community Group Shepherds Outreach Creating community at Botany Town Centre

{REGULARS} 3

Pastor’s Column A word from the Pastor Musings A Prayer Makeover by Rowland Forman Church Picnic The annual BotanyLife church picnic Kid’s Portal Pull out pages full of activities to amuse the kids for a while Children’s Ministry BotanyKids - Where our kids go to grow! Youth Ministry Al Ronberg - Alter’s new key leader dude & BYM Easter camp Who’s That Get to know some of our fellow members in the church... In this issue it’s Mandy Francis, the Thuell’s and the Collings Creative Space A place for you to be creative and show everyone Reviews - Music // Movies // Books Grab a comfy seat, turn the volume up and grab some popcorn, Marriage & Parenting Advice from Andy and Nikki Bray of Family Life What’s On at BotanyLife? Get your pens out and mark these dates on your calendar

THE PORTAL TEAM {EDITOR} Andrew Mackereth {WRITERS} Brad Carr / Charlotte Woodfield / Melissa Guyan / Mel Palmer / Andrew Mackereth / Mel Thorburn / Mark van Wijk / Al Ronberg Max Carr / Debbie du Toit / Owen Jennings / Megan Bryer {ART} Art Director/Designer - Amanda Crane / Photographer - Al Ronberg {CONTRIBUTORS} Rowland Forman, Andy and Nikki Bray, Mack Palmer, Georgia Thorburn

welcome to the...

Pastor’s Column

Brad Carr

Welcome to the third issue of Portal. It’s been a good few months since the last edition of our church magazine, when we wrapped up the 2011 ministry year and were looking forward to a sunny and warm summer. Sadly, the summer didn’t quite eventuate (although autumn hasn’t been too bad at all!!). However, it’s exciting to bring you this third issue of Portal, and the first for 2012. One of the key changes that has been made between the last issue and this one is that having launched Portal with a fabulous team of volunteers, I have now relinquished the role of editor. Andrew Mackereth has taken over that role and with it, the responsibility of organising and leading our fabulous Portal team. I’m thrilled that he has taken over this role, and I’m really excited about this latest edition. The main focus of this issue is our new five-year vision called Shine. The elders, staff and wider leadership had been working on this new vision for a number of months, before I shared it with the whole church during the service on Sunday 1st April. The response to the vision has been really exciting and encouraging, but as always a number of questions have come up. In the main article in this issue of Portal, I have attempted to answer some of the most common questions we have fielded. We have also taken the opportunity to publish again the details of Shine. We also have a number of other fantastic articles on offer. We have an interview with Cliff and Cassy Hand, who were one of the original leadership couples of BotanyLife and one of the foundation elders of our church, and we have a chat with Al Ronberg who has taken over the leadership of our ALTR high school ministry. We also introduce you to Mandy Francis, Nathan and Melody Collings, and the Thuell family in our “Who’s That?” section. Plus you can read the articles and check out the photos from Parachute, Easter Camp, and our own church picnic in March. We also have another instalment of Rowland Forman’s Musings on the Word of God, as well as another of our regular features from Andy and Nikki Bray, this time focusing on the challenges of parenting (“Top Three Words”). And, of course, we have our fantastic Kids Portal section in the middle, for the children to enjoy. So sit back and enjoy catching up again with what’s happening at BotanyLife. Enjoy the read!

Brad LEAD PASTOR

BOTANYLIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH {STAFF} Lead Pastor/Elder - Brad (and Rochelle) Carr / Community Pastor - Mark (and Steph) van Wijk / Children’s Pastor - Mel (and Drew) Palmer Church Administrator - Mel (and Julian) Thorburn / Sunday Service Coordinator - Mandy Francis {ELDERS} Todd (and Sheree) Hughes, Harataki (and Shona) Manihera, Steve (and Robyn) Young 3

shine BotanyLifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new five-year vision. Text by Brad Carr.

magine a small group of people gathered in a rustic hut in a small village somewhere in the Asia-Pacific region,

listening to a local pastor explaining the story of the Son of God who died for their sins - a pastor supported by a church in far-off New Zealand. Imagine the children of that same village gathering to be taught reading and maths and Bible, in a school building newly constructed by a team of builders from that same church. Imagine that same team of builders some months later, working with a multitude of others from their church over a weekend community project to renovate a tired school in Otara to the delight of staff, parents and children.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Imagine others from that church congregation celebrating the following week with the school children, as they assist in serving breakfast to the hundred or so kids who turned up to school having eaten nothing that morning. Imagine a few of the parents of those children attending a budgeting seminar the following week with parents from other suburbs like Pakuranga and Botany, and getting one-on-one assistance to set and manage a family budget for their first time in their lives. Imagine other people in that same seminar from other ethnic backgrounds, who had heard about the budgeting seminar at the regular ESOL group they were part of, where they learnt English through reading and talking about stories from the Bible. The specifics might unfold quite differently, but the examples above capture some of the dreams that the elders, staff and wider leadership team have for our church. For the past six months or so, the leadership of BotanyLife have been praying, dreaming and brainstorming about where we are going as a church over the next few years. We have called this new five-year vision “Shine”, which comes from the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13-16. In this passage that comes just after the Beatitudes, Jesus painted a picture of the kind of influence and impact that his followers would have as salt and light in this world. This was the passage that the elders’ felt drawn to as we met and prayed during an initial overnight retreat in late 2011. And while the ideas and dreams and plans have been shaped and changed and moulded by the staff and wider leadership group, this initial concept has remained - of being a church that shines with God’s glory and grace. And that’s what this new vision is all about - that at the end of this next five-year season of ministry, BotanyLife would be shining God’s light more strongly and consistently through both words and actions, internally and externally, locally, nationally and globally.

Since we launched this new vision, we have had lots of feedback; much of it encouraging and some of it challenging. And amidst the enthusiasm and excitement, some additional questions have been raised. Here’s a sampling of some of those questions, and how we would answer them: What’s the point of a “vision” - isn’t that too corporate for a church? We believe that the church is both an organism and an organisation. In other words, the church is described in the Bible with organic metaphors like a body or family; things that grow naturally and organically. At the same time, the church also operates as an institution or organisation, and as such, needs to be structured and planned. The elders at BotanyLife believe that as an organisation, the church can use principles that govern other organisations like businesses, as long as they are subservient and secondary to biblical teaching. That means we’re very comfortable using concepts like strategic planning and vision casting as a church, as long as those things are in line with what God calls the church to be and do in Scripture. How does the “vision” differ from the “mission” of the church? Different organisations and businesses use terms like mission, vision, strategy and goals in different ways. There is no one correct way of defining and using these terms; however, what is important is that everyone is clear on what those terms mean in our context. At BotanyLife, we use the word mission to describe our overall, big-picture, unchanging purpose for why we exist as a church. This overall mission never changes. At BotanyLife, we have taken our mission from the Great Commandments of Jesus in Matt 22 and Mark 12:

OUR MISSION IS TO PASSIONATELY LOVE GOD AND TO PURPOSEFULLY LOVE OTHERS. However, when we describe our vision, we are talking about what we are hoping and praying our church will look like at the end of a specific time period in the future (previously we have worked on three-year visions but this time around we are going for five years). Therefore, the vision helps us be strategic about the key areas of ministry we want to focus on as a church in the next season of ministry. Thus our mission is timeless and unchanging, whereas our vision is for a specific time period and will then change when that season is completed. Why a five-year vision now, when previous visions were only for three years? Isn’t five years a little long?” When we worked as an eldership on our initial “Imagine” vision, BotanyLife was a little over one year old, and at that point we honestly couldn’t see much further than the next two or three years. Now that we’ve completed two vision cycles (“Imagine” and “Flourishing”), our feeling is that a three-year season of ministry actually goes by quite fast. Therefore we have made a decision to work on a five-year vision to allow us more time to accomplish what we feel the Lord is calling us to as a church. 6

FEATURE ARTICLE

All the stuff in Shine sounds great, but is it realistic? Is this vision really do-able?

You mentioned in the vision message that we’ll be moving to two identical Sunday morning services. I feel sad that we won’t all be in the same service anymore - do we really need to go

This is probably the comment we received most frequently in your feedback! There is certainly a lot packed into Shine, but that is quite deliberate for a number of reasons. First of all, our preference as a leadership is to have a compelling and inspiring vision with lots of things to accomplish, even if that means we don’t quite manage to do everything in the next five years. We would rather have a big vision to accomplish, with a lot to inspire us and with lots of room for faith and dependency on God.

to two services? Making the switch from one Sunday church service to two is certainly a big change, which is why we wanted to let everyone know well ahead of time that it is happening. The idea that our church won’t all worship together in the same service, and that you may well attend a different service to some friends, is sad in many ways and we need to acknowledge that. At the same time, over the years the Lord has been consistently increasing the number of

Secondly, it needs to be remembered that this vision will now be spread over the next five years, rather than the next three as we have done in the past. Obviously that allows us more time to do everything that is on our hearts.

people who call BotanyLife their church home, and with no other rentable spaces available for us in this area, we need to make this move. The alternative is to start turning away visitors, but that is obviously something we cannot do.

Thirdly, we are growing as a church in terms of congregation size, the number of leaders within our church, and the number of paid staff. This means that we are in a stronger position to accomplish more things as a church than ever before.

As we announced in the Shine vision service, we will be moving our current service from 10am to 9am, and planting an identical service with the same preacher and worship team at 11am. We haven’t yet made a final decision on when exactly we will launch

Are we still committed to getting a building, and what’s happening with that process?

our second service, but are continuing to finalise plans and will give everyone a couple of months notice of this change. In the

Yes, we are still definitely committed to finding and establishing a community centre! The dream of buying and renovating a warehouse in the East Tamaki area, that is owned and run by our community trust, was a key part of the “Flourishing” vision. Sadly it hasn’t happened as yet, but we are still extremely committed to seeing it happen, in God’s will and timing, in these next five years. We have been working hard behind the scenes in the last couple of years; monitoring financial forecasts and building a relationship with a bank that seems keen to finance the centre. We are looking to ramp up the search again in the coming months, and would ask you to pray that the Lord would bring along the right building for us.

meantime, we would ask you to be praying for this change. While on some levels it is sad, in other ways this is an exciting new development in terms of what God is doing among us as a church. This new vision sounds exciting! How can I get involved? During the service and also in the Shine booklet, we suggested four key ways of getting involved – pray, connect, serve, and give. Please take some time to look over those responses again in the Shine booklet or online at our website, and then pray and think about how you can support this new vision. 7

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.â&#x20AC;? (Matt 5:14-16)

EXTRA FEATURE ARTICLE

IN THE WORD

Musings

...with Rowland Forman

A Prayer Makeover

How would you rate your prayer life? On your spiritual dashboard, would the needle hover over “Prayer Champion,” or linger over “Prayer Resuscitation Needed”? If you, like most Christians I know, need more than a quick tidy up - more like a radical makeover, then consider what Paul says to Timothy and to us in 1 Timothy 2:1-7. To experience a life-changing prayer makeover, learn to: PRAY FIRSTLY “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made...” Paul is on his knees, pleading with Timothy and the church in Ephesus to make prayer a number one priority. His call is for us to pray first before we do anything at all. That’s not how most of us live. When I was preparing this I knew that I had a book called Prayer Power Unlimited by J. Oswald Sanders that had profound comments about this passage. I hunted everywhere, high, low, in, out then as a last resort prayed about it. I found it immediately - in a satchel under my desk! More than a coincidence I’m sure.

car ignition, pause to pray about the drive and any appointment ahead of you. When you arrive at the office, or if you are a student, at your classroom, stop to commune with God. He is vitally interested in every part of your day. PRAY UNSELFISHLY “...requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority...” In these first two verses of First Timothy 2, Paul piles up words about prayer. He is urging us through this letter to pray any way we know how. Some would say prayer is only valid when you get rid of a shopping list mentality and focus on God in worship. While we need to focus on God not ourselves, these verses remind us that the important thing is to invite God into every part of our lives. The emphasis here is mainly on praying for everyone. Good things happen when we pray for others, not just ourselves. Abraham was a great example of this. In Genesis 18:16-33 he was pleading with God for Sodom. I’m sure he had his nephew Lot and family in mind, but his cry to God was: “spare the city.” When did you last pray for your town or city or neighbourhood?

King Hezekiah was a great example of praying firstly. When he received a threatening letter from King Sennacherib of Assyria, his first instinct was to spread the letter out before God and talk to him about it (see 2 Kings 19).

In this passage, the call is to pray for kings and those in authority. These words were written during the reign of Nero, who would have made Gaddafi look like Nelson Mandela. Paul says, pray for Nero. Pray for magistrates, and judges, even the ones that make life difficult for you.

How about you? Do you just box on in your own strength, or depend on God daily? This week, as you wake, pray and praise God first, before you get out of bed. Pray at the start of each activity. When you put the key into your

One way of experiencing a radical prayer makeover is to pray more unselfishly. Pray for people that God brings across your pathway. Nothing is by chance. Pray for our Prime Minister and for leaders of the Opposition

Parties! Pray for Pat Lam if you are a Blues Supporter. Please! Pray outside of your own concerns. PRAY EVANGELISTICALLY “this is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” Paul isn’t just asking us to pray for authority figures. His call is for us to pray for their salvation. And the reason we pray for all people is that there is one God (not many), one Mediator, (not many), one Saviour, (not many). To experience a prayer makeover, start praying evangelistically. Plead with God for your next door neighbours. Consider going on a prayer walk round your district and crying to God for their salvation. Pray for countries and people groups in desperate need of the gospel. So, if your prayer life needs resuscitation, or a major makeover, pray before everything you do, pray for others, not just yourself, and pray expansively for the salvation of people all around you. Allow the words of Samuel Chadwick, an English author from the 19th Century to motivate you: “There is no power like that of prevailing prayer, of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, Jesus in sweat of blood... Such prayer prevails. It turns ordinary mortals into people of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God.”

Rowland Forman serves as the National Director of Living Stones Leadership Ministries, which helps local churches in New Zealand to develop servant-hearted leaders. He has been in full-time Christian ministry almost 40 years, serving as a Bible College Principal, Teaching Pastor, Church-Planter, Curriculum Writer, Author and Mentor. Rowland and Elaine are foundation members of BotanyLife, being part of the initial core group that started the church, and they both lead separate men’s and women’s community groups. They have three adult children, seven wonderful grandchildren, and a fantastic son-in-law. 10

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

meet...

Cliff & Cassy

Hand

Eldership Couple

Text by Max Carr.

ould you let us have a ‘potted version’ of your backgrounds?

*Cassy* - I am the youngest and only girl in a family of five children, born into a church-going family. I was born in Portugal but my family moved to South Africa when I was a little girl and I lived there for 20 years. I have a BA degree in English and Biblical Studies. I’m also a trained secondary school teacher but gave that up to become a full time mother. I am now a Pilates instructor and I’m also a Group Leader at BSF International. *Cliff* - I lived in Mozambique until the age of 13. I have an older sister. As a child Portuguese was my preferred language even though both my parents are English. We fled to South Africa after the revolution. I have a BSc degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Cape Town. I spent two years as an officer in the South African Navy and also worked at the Atomic Energy Corporation. In NZ I’ve been working in senior management roles so haven’t worked as an engineer for a long time. Without revealing too much, please tell us just a little about your romance? *Cliff* - Well we met at a Christian camp run by the University we were both attending. It was “WOW” at first sight for me and I couldn’t stop looking at her. I became interested in everything she did so I could see her again. I even invited myself along to her ballroom dancing classes! *Cassy* - I couldn’t get over this tall guy

who kept looking at me. There was another guy trying to edge Cliff out and another girl after Cliff too but within six months we were engaged. We’ve now been happily married for 23 years. What prompted your decision to emigrate to New Zealand? In South Africa there was an increasing deterioration in violence and crime right across the country. We didn’t feel safe taking the baby for a walk. We lived behind burglar bars and high fences. We have European passports but only seriously considered such countries as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We also wanted a country where we could grow spiritually and that was safe to raise our children. In the end New Zealand won us over. We arrived in New Plymouth in 1994 and in 2002 moved to Auckland. What do you miss most about South Africa? *Cliff* - I miss the geographic variety and the wildlife. My Mum is still alive and I miss both her and my sister. What is your most profound tip about raising teenage children? They don’t arrive as teenagers and so it is important to start young. We have always had “To Do” lists to teach them responsibility. Also, don’t be easily offended and love them unconditionally. We worried about their spiritual growth, their quiet times, etc but we’ve learned to pray for them and trust 11

God to complete the good work He has started in them. What are your hobbies? *Cassy* - I love reading and walking. I also keep fit by doing Pilates. *Cliff* - I love walking, my guitar and music generally. I am also partial to both tennis and squash. What books have you read recently that you’d highly recommend? *Cliff* - I am not a great book reader but I have recently read and enjoyed “Sons of Encouragement” novels about five different Bible characters. *Cassy* - I’m an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction. I have recently enjoyed “Alaskan Quest”. It is a set of three novels based in the Alaskan wilderness, full of adventure, danger and romance. In the non-fiction genre, I have recently enjoyed “Max on Life” by Max Lucado. Finally, if you could become a Bible character for just one day, who would it be and why? *Cassy* - I admire Esther for her courage and her willingness to risk her life and use her position of influence to save her people. *Cliff* - I would choose David. He made mistakes but he also recovered from them. I liked his relationship with God and his love for Jonathon.

Text by Mel Thorburn. Photography by Mark van Wijk and Mel Palmer.

he annual BotanyLife church picnic was held on a wonderfully sunny Sunday afternoon on 4th March, after the morning’s service. Based on the weather we’d had the previous day, it was not looking to be a likely start, but a clear night meant the fields out the back of Riverina Primary were just right our for picnic rugs and soccer balls to come out en masse. A slow trickle of families with home-made sandwiches, salads and baked items were first on the scene, securing the premium half sunny, half shady spots. You know the types; organised, have extra food, the sunscreen and every conceivable other thing you need. Then the second wave arrived, having popped home to grab forgotten items or to the Plaza to pick up a Bakers Delight lunch. It was great to see those already set up sharing their blankets with those arriving, and then the reciprocated handing around of special post-lunch treats (thanks for those M&M’s Tina!). It was not an accident that this Sunday was also International Children’s Day with the year’s theme being treasuring children. This is obviously a big deal for a church with as many children as we have, and we set about making them feel treasured with an array of field games that often included dad’s shoulders! 12

So with bellies full of lollies and lemonade ice-blocks, having been run around by a committed children’s pastor and her trusty side-kick Peter Guyan, it would be fair to say that the children of BotanyLife Community Church had a pretty great Children’s Day. Adults chatting, sun beaming, kids climbing / running / swinging / screaming. What a blissful afternoon of family fun. It was hard for some to pack up and leave. The day was not without some drama though, with a dislocated toe emergency for the community pastor’s wife and a pair of lost jandals setting off the alarm during the pacific island church service. So if you weren’t able to make it along, that’s what you missed!

CHURCH PICNIC

And the ‘older kids’ among us were not left out of the fun - a seemingly casual game of soccer unfolded on the back field. However, when the ice-blocks came to be handed out it was evident this was a lot more competitive than first imagined, no stoppage in play, many having their refreshments thrown to them as they continued to play.

Text by Owen Jennings.

Fast forward to Luke 2:25 as Mary handed the baby Jesus over to Simeon and marvelled as this devout ancient of Israel praised God for the opportunity to hold in his own arms the salvation of Israelites and Gentiles alike. But right then Simeon makes the most left field comment. He turns to Mary and says “and a sword will pierce your own soul too”. Mary might have reacted badly. She may have had a panic attack. The man of God blesses her boy, reminds her he is destined for majestic greatness then out of the blue he states she, “Mary” will be pierced by a sword as well as her son, the Messiah, the baby she is entrusted with by the Almighty Yahweh. If there had been a panic attack Dr Luke does not record it. Given Mary’s incredible faith I doubt she did let it unnerve her. One more thing to note here. Luke inserts Anna, the prophetess’s story in here. The timing is exquisite. See verse 38 - “at that very moment”. At the point when Mary might have been overcome with anxiety, the woman of God calmly gives thanks for her baby and reminds all around that this baby is destined for great things - the redemption of Israel. If there was confusion and fear it was not evident. The prediction that she would be “pierced by a sword”; that her child would be too; the news that she had birthed the Redeemer of Israel; it would have been too much for most, let alone a young teenager! Fast forward again to Calvary. John tells us that Mary was there, standing watching. Despite His intense agony Jesus made arrangements for John to care for His mother. But this was His mother, the one who brought Him into the world, nursed Him, protected Him and loved Him. Why was she apparently so calm? How could she watch something so soul-piercing without crying out? The fear of the soldiers and the baying of the crowd might not hold back a mother, especially a mother who had been told she bore the Saviour of the world. Were Simeon’s words, the “piercing by a sword” now ringing in her ears? As she watched the soldier’s weapon rip open her own son’s side did Simeon’s words come back to her mind? Was this the “piercing of her own heart”? Having to watch her son die under such horrifying circumstances surely pierced her heart too. But what extraordinary faith, courage and serenity in the face of almost insurmountable and appalling tragedy. How was Mary able to cope with this pressure? How did she retain composure in the face of unspeakable provocation? Rewind back to Nazareth and the very young Mary. She has just been visited by Gabriel and been given the astonishing news about the unusual conception and the baby she would carry. She is quickly on her way to meet her cousin Elizabeth - probably three days walking in tough, bandit-infested hills. That alone tells you something of this young girl’s faith and determination. 15

EASTER REFLECTION

found it heart-warming going through Luke’s story of the young girl, Mary. Her simple unshakeable trust; her calmness in the face of possible ridicule and public shame even maybe death; the way she turned a possible panic situation into a song of praise and gratitude - all compelling encouragements to look at and change my life of anxiety and occasional black holes of faith.

EASTER REFLECTION In Verse 56 of Chapter 1 of Luke we are told that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. I guess there was a heap of baby talk but I don’t believe it’s idle to speculate that they talked at length about just exactly who it was that they were carrying.

soldiers take him and crucify him her heart may have been pierced in anguish too but she also knew this was God’s plan from God’s word. Mary now also knew from her discussions with Elizabeth from Psalm 16, Psalm 24, Hosea 6 etc. that despite her pain for her much loved son that His Father God was in control. The death of Jesus was not just foretold, it was an essential part of God’s rescue plan for His people. She could rely on His Father to raise Him from the dead in fulfilment of that plan.

What we do know is that Elizabeth, herself a direct descendent of Aaron, along with her husband the priest Zechariah, were said to be “upright in the sight of God observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly”. Can you imagine how the conversation may have gone with the godly older woman so knowledgeable and gracious, aglow with an unexpected pregnancy herself gently teaching the young Mary?

Mary had drawn strength from seeing the absolute trust and oneness that Jesus had with His Father. From that day when Mary and Joseph rushed back to Jerusalem to get their 12 year old till the dark hours of Calvary her son was “about His Father’s business”. She simply trusted.

I daresay that three months was full of searching the Old Testament piecing together the scriptures that foretold the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus. Imagine them pouring over the writings of Isaiah foretelling of the “child to be born, a son given, called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. Such excitement and wonderment that they should be favoured among women. Imagine the mix of awe and bewilderment as Mary contemplated her role, her responsibilities, the changes she would make to her life.

Such faith and confidence is inspirational. There is much to draw from this story. Mary’s faith and serenity undoubtedly came from God’s word to her. Not just the message through Gabriel but the Old Testament scriptures. Our faith is not something mystical or ephemeral. There is nothing “blind” about faith in God. Our trust is in the proven, inspired, unshakeable word of God. The more enveloped we are in His Word, the more we are accepting of and obedient to His Word the stronger our faith. The stronger our faith the more confidence we can have that His will is being done.

It may well have been that Elizabeth unlike some Jewish leaders of her day was aware that the scriptures did not teach that the promised Messiah would come as an all conquering, political leader, sweeping aside the Roman occupation to set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem. Being a godly woman who knew intimately the stories and the writings of her people, Elizabeth would have quietly taken Mary through Isaiah 53, Ps 22, Zech 12 pointing out the true plan for the Promised One of Israel.

We need to allow the Word of God to bring about an alignment of our purposes and plans with those that God has for us. Mary listened to her growing son talk of the oneness He had with the Father. Her calmness and confidence benefited from that. Can ours?

So when Mary was told by Simeon of the piercing sword, as she saw her son grow up and enter his ministry phase with all its occasions of opposition and rejection, as she watched the

Surely, Mary found “favour with God”. 16

a social. We Last night Year 2 had guins. It was Pen ’s per Pop watched Mr ned the door to funny because he ope came smashing the bathroom and water onto him. His name is Max. I took along a buddy. thought it was He . ool He is from my sch very funny too. played Lego. We also had pizza and t 2)

By Mack Palmer (Fores

KID’S PORTAL

th , the Year Fours On Friday 9 of March nds Beach kla Buc at ial soc had their 5pm kids started (Little Bucks end). After ted playing star s arriving and the boy ed down roll I and la soccer. Milla, Kay to bump ng tryi fun had I . hill the grass Lara were and l into Milla. While Michae things, nic pic and setting up the BBQ’s the h wit in ed join tt Cameron and Ma down to led cal re we We e. soccer gam petition. My start our sand castle com competition tle cas group won the sand put into it. we ail det the because of all puff but Lara was Our prize was a mallow everyone as well. kind and gave them to own sausages our Next we got to cook three could or Two ’s. on mini foil BBQ king my own coo d oye enj I . share a BBQ also had We y! sausages. They were tast ewsbury Shr and ps chips, pineapple lum and ed stay s boy the of biscuits. Most e of the som and me ile wh ket played cric beach ball that others went to find the a cool advens wa had blown away. It wet and it felt and e nic got ture. My feet place for a social cooling. It was a great and it was awesome! (Forest 4) By Georgia Thorburn

HERE’S A BIT OF FUN... KID’S PORTAL 18

TEST YOUR MEMORY... E

Use these words to fill in the blanks from the Main Points below and then try to find them in the word search.

help work

use share

gift

opportunities

people

preparing

1. God gives us gifts to ..... us! 2. I will ..... my gifts the way God wants! 3. Our belongings are a ..... from God! 4. ..... are a gift from God 5. God gives everyone different gifts so we can ..... together 6. I will use my gifts to ..... Jesus with others! 7. Other ..... are a gift from God 8. God is ..... me for more gifts!

HAVE YOU READ THIS ISSUE OF PORTAL? See if you can find the answers to these questions. The first person to answer these questions correctly and show Mel will score themselves a lollipop. Who is the family profiled on page 29 ? How many children are in this family? Which Bible characters do Cliff and Casey Hand admire, and why? Does Al Ronberg prefer Vegemite or Marmite? Where did the Forest 4 group have their social this term? What movie did the Forest 2 group watch at their social?

KID’S PORTAL

In ‘Under the Big Top’, Forest kids learnt a lot about the gifts that God gives us.

KID’S PORTAL INGREDIENTS 125g butter 125g sugar 225g flour 1 egg 1 tablespoon grated lem on rind 1 teaspoon baking po wder raspberry jam

Cream butter and sugar, add egg and rind and beat well. Add sifted flour and baking powder. Knead, roll out and cut into rounds. Bake 15-20 minutes at 180'C (350'F). Ice when cold. Or for traditional Shrewsberry Biscuits cut a small hole in the centre of every other biscuit before baking, when cold put together with raspberry jam and dust with icing sugar.

Divide up your icing and add colouring of your choice; remember liquid colouring will make your icing runnier so be careful as you add it, you might need more icing sugar. Icing Cookies Once cookies are cooled you can ice them. Now I use disposable piping bags that I got from TradeMe a few years ago, but you can just use snap-lock bags, just don’t overfill them or they can burst, believe me I know!

Royal Icing 1 egg white 500g (approximately) icing sugar (sifted) 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

I use the 10 second rule as a guide to make my icing the right consistency for piping. Cut a small hole in the corner of your bag; remember you can always make it bigger if you need to so start small. If you want to use proper piping tips I use #0, #1 and #2.

Add egg white and lemon juice to mixing bowl, add 1/3 of the sugar and mix well, keep adding sugar until consistency you require.

I draw around the edge of my cookie then fill it in. Move slowly there is no rush and you can use a tooth pick to help tidy up your lines. You 20

can add different colours and use a tooth pick to drag the colours around making shapes. If you don’t want your colours to 'blend' together you need to let each colour dry before adding the next one.

tency // THE To find the right consis SECOND RULE

y, all you need to To check the consistenc ter knife through but do is drag the tip of a ing the knife lett g, icin r the surface of you h deep, and slowly go approximately an inc e of the icing count to 10. If the surfac tely 10 seconds ima smooths over in approx use. If it takes to dy rea is then your icing thick. Slowly add longer, the icing is too g surface smooths more water. If your icin onds, it is too sec over in less than 5-10 or slowly add ger lon g icin runny. Mix your to thicken it. more sifted icing sugar

BAPTISM SERVICE

“We may never be martyrs but we can die to self, to sin, to the world, to our plans and ambitions. That is the significance of baptism; we died with Christ and rose to new life.” VANCE HAVER

“Baptism separates the tire kickers from the car buyers.” Max Lucado

“Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanour, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving 21 counsel, teaching.” 1 TIMOTHY 4:11-12 (THE MESSAGE)

Where our kids go to grow! Text by Mel Palmer.

his February saw the launch of a new look kids’ ministry at BotanyLife. Here is the low-down on what’s new in BotanyKids and why we made the changes.

Promiseland, and BK). Moving from these three areas to five news ones was a big call - one that has actually been under discussion for several years! We’ve finally done it!

Our Kids Ministry is now divided into five different areas.

Last year we pulled together a fabulous team of people who have been actively involved with kids (at BotanyLife and/or in their jobs) to help me review what we were doing and plan for the future. We quickly identified issues within each of our existing programmes that meant the various needs and interest levels of the children were increasingly difficult to meet as our church family grows.

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The Greenhouse - for 0 and 1 year olds

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The Garden - for 2 and 3 year olds

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The Orchard - for 4 and 5 year olds

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The Forest - for school years 1 to 4

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The Jungle - for school years 5 and 6

BotanyLife started eight years ago with three different areas for kids (Crèche,

Under the old structure, each area catered 22

to a group of children who varied greatly in age, ability and interest level. This meant that at the top end of each programme we had children losing interest and wanting to move through to the next group, which in turn caused issues for the next group by widening their age and ability range. At BotanyLife we want to ensure that our children’s ministries are places that excite and enthuse our kids, places that they enjoy being in and want to come to. We discussed options, looked at what other bigger churches do and decided that moving to five different areas would better meet the needs of the different ages and stages of the children we have at BotanyLife moving into the future.

Our big goals for BotanyKids was to match the mission of our church. We want our kids to choose to love God and love others! In each area we have also introduced learning goals. These goals are the big picture ideas that we hope the kids will be introduced to and learn during their time in these areas.

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People in church love them too

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God loves them and made them special

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People in church love them too

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They can talk to God and he will listen to them

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They can show others love by treating them the way they’d like to be treated

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It is important to make wise choices

The Garden - for 2 and 3 year olds

The Orchard - for 4 and 5 year olds •

God loves them and wants to be their friend

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They can show love to others by being kind and helpful

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They can talk to God and he will listen to them

The Forest - for school years 1 to 4 •

God loves them and that God created them to be in a relationship with him (through prayer, worship and reading the Bible)

The Greenhouse - for 0 and 1 year olds

•

They can show others love by treating them the way they’d like to be treated

•

It is important to make wise choices

God loves them and made them special

gree house

And The Jungle - for school years 5 and 6 God loves them and that God created them to be in a relationship with him (through prayer, worship and reading the Bible)

We also give all of the Jungle kids the opportunity to serve in the Forest. They are able to choose one or more of the following roles: set up/pack down, worship assistants, small group assistants, or operating the powerpoint. All of the kids in the Jungle have so far been really enthusiastic and it has been great to see them all step up to responsibility and do a great job! The changes have been really exciting to introduce and it is great to see so many of the kids sharing that excitement about their new groups. If you have any questions about anything to do with our kids programmes please ask!

the

In most case s it is obviou s when a child move up into is able to the next grou p. This is not it comes to th so clear when e move to Th e Forest. Ther between The e is an overla Orchard and p The Forest. Th We will have is is intentiona two opportun l. ities to move Forest - at th through to th e beginning e of a ne w school year, beginning of and at the term 3. If your child begins the sc hool year in then they are Year One welcome to st art the year However, if yo in the Forest ur child real . ly enjoys The starting scho Orchard and ol is enough of an adjustm life they are ent for their most welcom little e to stay in th e Orchard! If your child starts school after the star year and go t of the scho es into Year ol O ne we would pr to stay in the efer them Orchard until th e beginning which time an of Term 3 at y Year One ch ildren still in can move th the Orchard rough togeth er. If you need more inform ation to wor is better for k out which your child pl option ease feel fre with me or on e to chat it ov e of The Orcha er rd leaders.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

After deciding on the five different areas we called on some of the creative’s in our church family to brainstorm some names for the new groups. I was keen for these names to be botanical in some way to tie in with our church name, and also to reflect growth. I love the names that we decided on as not only do they reflect growth but they also conjure up the imagery of the level of care and nurture that plants receive at each level. From the Greenhouse where plants are nurtured, closely monitored and protected, right through to the Jungle where plants are much more free to explore and grow in the direction they choose.

hat is your role at ALTR and what exactly does it involve? My role at ALTR is the key leader dude and it involves developing and growing a leadership team as well as planning and implementing the content and culture of ALTR. What do you mean by culture? What kind of a place is it? It should be accepting and inviting, not a place to be put down or preached at, but an inclusive and welcoming place, really. A place where young people actually want to be. If we have great content but a stink culture, young people won’t want to come. How did you get into youth ministry? I first volunteered as a youth leader when I was 16 and the youth pastor I had at the time kind of shoulder tapped me to get involved. When I was 22 and had moved to Auckland I was offered an internship, and went on from there. So what past experience do you bring to ALTR? I’ve been a youth pastor at two different churches as well as a youth consultant and chaplain in England. I’ve worked in para-church youth ministries since coming back to NZ in 2007. What do you do for a living? I was hoping you wouldn’t ask this question. I like to call myself a creative consultant because that allows me to do lots of different things. At the moment I have my own business in which I do photography, web design, public speaking, music, and communications and promotions for a charity. How do you spend your time when you’re not hanging out with a bunch of teenagers? Text by Megan Bryer

Hanging with my family is a priority, I also love to play sports, go tramping and enjoy being in an amazing country. I love New Zealand. Tell me a bit about your family. I am married to Christine and we have two lovely daughters who are four and one years old. We have two goldfish and another fish that’s supposed to eat the algae on the tank, meaning I have to clean it less. Given the current crisis... Marmite or Vegemite? Vegemite. It has more of a tang to it. Ford or Holden? Holden PC or Mac? Mac Coke or Pepsi? Coke And Otago rugby at all costs. Otago and whoever is playing Auckland. So what can we expect to see happening at ALTR this year? Haha, young people surviving me! Nah, I’d like to see a leadership team growing, excited and passionate about doing what God has called us to do and I want to see young people excited about following God and living it out in their schools and families.

YOUTH MINISTRY

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Text by Mark van Wijk.

’m convinced that community groups are vital in the life of a healthy church, and that they become even more important as that church grows. At BotanyLife we are very careful about whom we invite to lead our community groups, and are blessed with an amazing set of leaders leaders who regularly open their homes and their lives, so that a small group of people can connect, grow and ‘do life’ together. The role of a community group leader is demanding and varied. They are expected to be leaders, facilitators, shepherds and mentors - which means they spend a lot of time ‘giving out’ to other people. One of the responsibilities I have in my role as Community Pastor is to care for these leaders, and as the number of groups (and therefore leaders) has grown at BotanyLife, I’ve found myself less and less able to do this in meaningful ways, and have looked for a better way to do this. With this in mind, we have now created and launched a new role with the specific task of caring for these valuable leaders.

Our three brand new Community Group Shepherds are highly capable people who have taken on the role of caring for, equipping, and overseeing a few groups each - so that our leaders, and therefore our community groups, remain effective and healthy.

The equipping (providing advice and ideas) and overseeing (ensuring the health of the group) components of the role are important, but their key priority is ‘encouraging and caring for group leaders, both in their personal lives and growth as well as their roles as leaders’.

I’m very excited that Brendan Downey-Parish, Rochelle Carr and Rowland Forman have all made the move into these crucial new roles. To have such gifted and motivated individuals, who are committed to ‘loving others’ is a tremendous blessing to me, and to our Community Group Leaders. Each Community Group Shepherd will connect with their assigned leaders on a regular basis, with their key purpose in mind: To care for, encourage and support a small number of community group leaders at BotanyLife, to help ensure that our community groups are effective and healthy, and contributing to the mission of BotanyLife. 26

We really want to do an excellent job of ensuring the well-being of our Community Group Leaders, and our hope is that with the help of our Community Group Shepherds, that we can do just that.

up New Community Gro ildren) Ch th Wi MWC (Married t Grant and Sarah We’re really excited tha their brand new off ked Archibald have kic g who it’s ssin gue for nts group - no poi nds like you, and targeted at! If this sou a community group, you’re not yet a part of check them out. go to you we’d encourage munity groups are Meeting dates for all com ek, and a complete in the bulletin each we at the Info Desk, le list of groups is availab .nz. org ife. or at www.botanyl

OUTREACH

Text by Andrew Mackereth. BotanyLife was one of a number of churches (including Botany Salvation Army and The River) who had a presence at the Community Day, with a station staffed by Melanie Palmer, Steph van Wijk, KK Leong and Melanie Thorburn. Our own Mark van Wijk was part of the team that organised and ran the entire event. Lollipops and information about our children’s, youth and adult ministries were distributed, and numerous citizens of Botany became acquainted with who we are and what we’re here for. Events like this present our church with the exciting opportunity to make ourselves a known and trusted party within our community. They are an opportunity for us to become acquainted and involved with our neighbours.

n the 10th of March more than 50 local organisations and service providers from the East Auckland area filled the main street of Botany Town Centre. The Chinese New Settlers Services Trust, Auckland East Parents Centre, Civil Defence, The Problem Gambling Foundation, Inland Revenue and The Mental Health Foundation were but a few of the many organisations that made their presence known. This was the annual BOTANY COMMUNITY DAY. On the ground, there was a lot to take in: children bouncing on castles, the pleasing melodies of local singers and/or songwriters (live music courtesy of the Uxbridge Creative Arts Centre!), dozens of gazebos, free stuff, thousands of people. Highlights included being given a free bottle of water, having my finger pricked with a needle, (courtesy of East Health Trust who were offering free health checks!), and witnessing the coming together of a community. In the midst of all the chaos the Botany Community Day fulfilled its central objective; facilitating the creation of new relationships and the enriching of existing ones; creating and connecting our community.

Many thanks are due to the event team of Garry Boles (NZ Police), Sjimmy Fransen (Auckland Council), Tony Morgan (Uxbridge Creative Arts Centre) and Mark, and to the dozens of local organisations who made this year’s Community Day such a huge success. Botany Community Day 2013 is sure to present us with another exciting opportunity; it would be a shame to squander it; it would be great to see more of us get amongst it. 27

getting to know part of...

Text by Mel Thorburn.

WHO’S THAT?

the BotanyLife Family

Mandy Francis director’s commentaries. Mandy would love to spend a day on the set of a movie out of curiosity, so we’ll have to watch this space to see if she makes it happen.

andy Francis is the eldest of two girls, and a true blue Aucklander. Having lived in the local Pakuranga area since she was 10 years old, she left Pakuranga College to study engineering at the University of Auckland (following in her father’s footsteps). Mandy is passionate about working in the service industry and is adamant she doesn’t want to work for a private company. After 16 years of working for Manukau City Council/Manukau Water, she has recently taken a change of tack by working as a loss adjuster for an insurance company. This current role sees her helping those affected by the earthquakes in Christchurch, which helps keep her connected with what is really going on down there.

Other than Auckland, where else would you live? Nowhere! If I had to move out of Auckland, it would have to be Australia, only because it is warmer - I don’t like the cold. Tell us about the coolest ice-skating move you know. A Waltz jump – not sure where the name comes from, but it involves jumping from one leg onto the other leg whilst changing direction. And yes, I have mastered this. What’s your favourite dessert? The Kiwi classic, hokey pokey.

Having left Greenlane Christian Centre two years ago, Mandy has ensconced herself in life at BotanyLife Community Church. And we have the wedding of AJ and Karen Kelly and a chance meeting with Merilyn Griffiths at their wedding (all fellow BotanyLifers) to thank for her coming to check us out. After a great newcomer’s evening where she found out about our creative and drama teams (we scored 4/5 on her wish list don’t you know), she was in!

Is there anywhere you’d like to travel to? I’m not into travelling anywhere that takes more than five hours travel. I would however like to do a cruise around Australia as I grew up watching The Love Boat, and the fun activities provided on board appeal to me.

Mandy has a love of the theatrics and has previously pursued this interest by taking a year off work to study at the Excel School of Performing Arts, majoring in drama. Should an appropriate role come her way, she has on hand an amazing collection of costumes that includes a sleeping beauty dress, a Charleston dress, a couple of full-on wedding dresses, a barn-dance dress, monarch butterfly wings, and a vinyl jacket and pant set. And don’t think these items are restricted purely to dress-up events; Mandy is confident enough to transition some of these items into her regular wardrobe!

How has “marmageddon” affected you? Not at all - I don’t eat either. I did wonder whether the insurance claim might come to me at work though.

As far as hobbies go, Mandy’s latest one has seen her acquire many a bruised knee. Each Friday morning you will find her amongst a group of ladies gathering on the rink at Paradise Ice for lessons in how to look pretty on the ice (no, she assures me, this is not a skill level thing). Taken up as a form of exercise (cause she doesn’t “do” exercise), the movie Ice Princess provided the inspiration. The first thing she learned was how to fall and how to go forward whilst falling, all to avoid the main danger of the sport hitting your head on the hard ice.

Anything you would like to see in a church service in the future? A show - like a musical. Any excuse to wear a costume basically. And one more thing you should know about this fun-loving kiwi girl, if you’re sitting beside her at church, give her some space during worship she likes to move around!

And in a world where everyone says they don’t have enough time, Mandy is a self-confessed TV addict, clearly admitting she has plenty of time for this activity. Her latest fix is watching the 90’s series JAG, of which she has just bought all 10 seasons. She gets very involved in the characters and loves the behind-the-scenes 28

As we went to print with Portal, the elders confirmed that Man dy has started in a new contract role with the church as our new Sund ay Service Coordinator, to go with her new contract role for this year with our community trust. Both roles involve around 12 hours per week. Her role with the church will involve organising all the elem ents of our Sunday Services and help ing ensure that Sundays happen smoothly, taking some pressure off our other church staff. Her role with the trust involves administratio n and funding applications for futu re outreach projects. We’re delighted that Mandy has joined the team to assist with these important role s.”

The Thuell’s f you’re looking for members of the Thuell family, the best places to start are either the children’s program or up on stage. This lively family has drama and music in their blood and it was an absolute pleasure to spend some time in their home, getting to know them a little better. You would have seen Steve up on stage plenty of times. Anyone remember the Christmas tree incident? If you weren’t there, it’s worth finding out about that story. Seeing the tall fireman carrying a Christmas tree off stage was priceless. Jacqui can also be spotted up front as a singer in the worship team. Keep an eye out for those blond curls and a woman who is obviously passionate about worshipping God. The Thuell family arrived at BotanyLife about three years ago. Steve is originally a Shore boy, but crossed the bridge when he met Jacqui. They have been married nearly fifteen years and have a real heart for fostering healthy marriages. Not only do they run the newly weds community group, but they also do pre-marriage counselling. As many of you know, Steve is a Station Officer at the Otara Fire Station. This job

is pretty full on, but according to Steve, that’s what makes the job so fantastic. He likes looking after his men and the daily challenges of running the station. Jacqui is also met with daily challenges that she thrives on. She homeschools her children and says it is the best decision she could have made. Having so much quality time with them is so precious, She feels very privileged to have this opportunity. The Thuell’s bustling home permeates with warmth and part of the reason why is their six gorgeous children. Let me introduce you... Leading the pack is Jade. She is 12 years old, loves writing and anything to do with arts and crafts. She is also doing really well at Spanish, which the family is learning together. Her pronunciation is top notch with no hint of a Kiwi accent. Next in line is 10-year-old, Isaiah, the eldest boy and a complete soccer enthusiast. He plays for the Bucklands Beach Soccer Club and is lucky enough to have his dad as the coach. Yet another talent, Isaiah has a flare for building and technology, but his ultimate dream is to play football for Barcelona.

Nathan and Melody Collings F

olks, meet Nathan and Melody, who join the worship team this morning. The introduction puts the spotlight on the two who just arrived on stage at the Sunday morning rehearsal. Even as they confidently tune their instruments, you become aware that you are in the company of professionals. Nathan and Melody each have a music degree and both teach music - Nathan (jazz) in Albany and Melody (a band) in Remuera. They explain the different dynamic of enjoying music as an art and leisure and teaching it as a vocation: two sides of the same coin. Melody hails from Durban, South Africa. Her family immigrated to New Zealand

Jasmine is 9 and is a wonderful performer - singing, dancing, acting - she loves it all and keeps the family thoroughly entertained. She’s also a netball player. The family has another soccer player among them - seven year old, Abigail. Like her older sisters, she loves to sing and dance and according to her mother, is the practical joker of the family. The youngest daughter is Madeleine. She is three years old and defines the word cute. She has a flare for singing and dancing and is a real people person. And last, but not least, is Aslan. He is one year old and the laid back member of the family. As long as he’s fed and had enough sleep, he is a happy camper. As you can imagine, the Thuells lead a very busy life, but they love it. Make sure you take the time to meet them and keep an eye out for future performances from these talented children.

Text by Debbie du Toit.

when she was eight years old. Nathan grew up in Whangarei, but most of the family has subsequently settled in Tauranga. Married for only two years, Nathan and Melody readily admit that they still have much to learn. They would like to do well in their careers and have the opportunity to teach overseas. Travelling is of great interest to both. Italy, Paris and London are some places already visited. The South African/Italian and Kiwi combination is colourful - to say the least. Family norms and traditions include serving good food and making music. It is ‘normal‘ to pitch up at your family’s home after a busy day just to relax on their couch. 29

Mum loves to feed the kids... even the married ones. Running is one of Melody’s hobbies and she plans to complete a half marathon this year. Nathan keeps fit by playing soccer and touch rugby. Included in their vocation, interests and hobbies, norms and traditions, and dreams and aspirations, Nathan and Melody are Christians who love and serve the Lord.

WHO’S THAT?

Text by Melissa Guyan.

CREATIVE SPACE

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genius, a “Wow! Melissa Pearl is a mad arkable rem this and t, craf her master at with my author has successfully left me s and jaw on the ground. Oh the twist she that ey journ ful turns and suspense a loss for has led her readers on. I’m at Time how to express how much The and how Spirit Books have meant to me .” Carole end y trilog this see to am I sad McKenzie, YA Book Reviewer se If you’d like to find out more plea ssa contact Meli melissapearlguyan@gmail.com : or you can check out her blog her melissapearl.blogspot.com or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ melissapearlauthor.

MOVIE REVIEWS

grab a comfy seat, turn the volume up, grab some popcorn, it’s...

Review Time

Family | MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS Reviewed by Megan Bryer

I was not expecting much from this movie. It looked pretty average and silly, so I was taken by surprise when I actually enjoyed watching it! Jim Carrey is Mr. Popper, a career-oriented father who learns some valuable lessons thanks to a bunch of Antarctic animals (penguins are pretty wise creatures, apparently). This movie manages to keep a balance between being light-hearted and dealing with real-life issues, which I really like. There were some moments where I found the acting and writing a bit cringe-worthy, but none of it was too unbearable. Overall, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is fun, heart-warming and enjoyable for the whole family (true story - my parents liked it too!). So if you’re stuck for something to watch, I’d suggest you give it a try. Ages 9 years plus - Occasional use of blasphemy.

Younger children may not understand the storyline, but I’m sure they’ll like the penguins. Length: 90 mins

Rating: G

My score: 6.5/10

As a sidenote, it is encouraging to see ‘mission’ portrayed in a Christlike fashion. Also for women who want to run in high heels this movie is an inspiration.

Sci-Fi | IN TIME

Length: 1hr 49mins

Reviewed by Janet Karlsen

Family | SOUL SURFER

Earn it, win it, steal it - time is the only currency. Genetically engineered to stop aging at 25 with one more year to live unless able to get time, the world’s population is divided. The Ghetto or New Greenwich. Immortality or seconds to live. An interesting premise. NZ-born Director Andrew Niccol (S1m0n3, Gattica) referencing Logan’s Run, Robin Hood, Bonnie and Clyde, adds another finely shot lightly political piece to his work. The value of time - a day, a life, attitudes to social justice, the pointlessness of greed, are ethical themes arising but not fully explored. I enjoyed the movie although it has been widely criticised as a bit shallow.

Reviewed by Charlotte Woodfield

Rating: M

My score: **/10

Just under 10 years ago, a 13-year-old was surfing in Hawaii when she was attacked by a shark. She lost the bottom half of her left arm. Soul Surfer tells how Bethany Hamilton survives both the shark attack and its aftermath. For a girl whose world was surfing, the loss of an arm leaves her questioning her future and even her faith. Made with an eye to the Christian market, the movie stays enjoyable and family-friendly. For the most part, it manages to avoid being overly trite or sentimental, perhaps because of the down-to-earth nature of its real-life heroine. Length: 1hr 46mins

Rating: PG

My score: 7/10

DISCLAIMER: These reviews contain personal opinions of the reviewers and do not necessarily reflect the views of BotanyLife Community Church. For more specific information on movies and music, check out www.pluggedin.com.

MUSIC REVIEW

Best of Parachute 2012

Reviewed by Andrew Mackereth.

aving attended Parachute every year since 2005 I would consider myself something of a veteran. For the uninitiated, Parachute is an annual Christian music festival that takes place at Mystery Creek Events Centre. Over four days one is presented with the opportunity to listen to dozens of bands (both local and international), participate in mass worship and communion, listen to international speakers, attend seminars on diverse issues and participate in a community numbering in the tens of thousands. It’s exhausting. Often it rains.

year they acted drastically, offering families the option to pay what they could afford. While they will not be offering the same scheme in 2013, the organisation is planning on introducing sponsorship initiatives for families. The organisation’s desire to make the festival as accessible as possible for families is noted and appreciated. 2. SHOWBREAD MADE PRAYING WITH THEIR FANS A PRIORITY. More than any other band, post-hardcore band Showbread gave me the impression they know exactly what their purpose is. In an explicitly Christian environment, aspects of Christian conviction can often go unsaid. Showbread went ahead and said them, and furthermore made themselves readily accessible to talk and pray with their fans; in fact, they encouraged their fans to approach them. I’m going to go ahead and say that most of you will not like their music, but I doubt you’ll be able to find any substantive faults in their theology. It was encouraging to see a band whose Christian conviction so shapes the way they treat their fans.

There are many valid critiques that might be levelled at Parachute Music’ theology of mission. No doubt it is flawed. It’s an event built on a lot of hype and (sometimes/according to some people) not a lot of substance. These are issues worth discussing. However, unless you have attended and experienced the event itself, I hereby challenge you to consider coming along next year. Parachute is an event run by Christians who have a passion for shaping culture through music. So, while occasionally wishy-washy in delivering Christian content, Parachute is persistently Kingdom focussed. God is there year in and year out.

3. RELIENT K PUT ON THE SHOW I’VE BEEN WAITING AN AGE FOR. I’ve been a fan or Relient K for a decade, have listened to all of their albums (and own most of them) and was ecstatic to learn that they would be headlining the festival this year. Their show didn’t disappoint. Nor were they the only band to put on a great show this year. Desperation Band and The Almost were great. I heard Casting Crowns were good too. The Chariot made a whole tonne of noise and threw their instruments in the air a lot. One of the great things about Parachute is that there’s usually a band for everyone.

Here are my highlights from 2012, a short list of the things I most enjoyed/the things which most encouraged and/or struck me: 1. PARACHUTE MADE FAMILIES A PRIORITY. In a season of economic hardship for many, Parachute Music came to recognise that families were struggling to find any disposable income, let alone the hundreds of dollars required to attend the festival. This 32

BOOK REVIEW

BEAR GRYLLS BOOK REVIEW:

Text by Al Ronberg.

hilst I totally realise that the Bear Grylls autobiography was the Christmas gift that most of you who are dads would have nabbed this year, my loving whanau gave me TWO Bear books in one and I was super stoked to attack them both over summer. I have always felt a huge connection with Mt Everest as a Kiwi, so to read an account of Bear climbing the mountain was always going to be a lot of fun.

injury when I know I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it when I was fully fit, is nothing short of incredible. What I like about this book is its lack of glamour. We see the final feat of standing on top of the world and NEVER the process that someone has to endure to get there. The very fact that noone stands on top of Everest on their own merit is important to understand - it takes a team of logistics experts, sherpas, medical staff, communications experts and caterers to get a person on the top of Everest, but we only see and appreciate the end result. Life is often like that for us, we focus on the things that are visible and seldom appreciate the hard work and determination that it takes to achieve anything significant and enduring.

Bear wrote this book before he was famous for eating raw insects and drinking body fluids that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly paint a glamourous picture of his life. What I never knew from all the hype and controversy of his TV series, was the back story of a horrific accident whilst parachuting with the SAS in South Africa. To my mind, the story of someone coming back from a serious spinal injury is compelling enough if they are able to walk and move around anything like they used to be able to... so to imagine that someone could stand on top of Mt Everest after a severe back

I would highly recommend this book - it has it all - triumph, failure, sadness, wees, the occasional honest reflection on struggles and it will inspire you towards just a touch more boldness as you chase the things that God has called you to do! 33

MARRIAGE / PARENTING

Top Words Text by Nikki Bray

Those words will go a long, long way in building a genuine relationship with your children. If you expect them to grow into maturity then there is no better model than you as their parent leading the way.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS THAT OUR CHILDREN LONG TO HEAR? If you said, “I love you,” then I guess you’re right. And while those three words ARE really important for our children to hear, and we need to say them often, they aren’t the three words that I was thinking of. A few years ago FamilyLife in the USA did a study to find out what were the three words that every child was longing to hear from his parents... Are you ready?... The three words were “I... am... sorry.” And I would say that this is still true today. In the role of being a parent, which is the most impossible job in the world to always get right, we WILL make mistakes. We will get things wrong, make bad judgments, or misunderstand. And the point is, your child knows it. In fact your child is probably more aware of your shortcomings than anybody.

Andy and Nikki Bray are foundation members of BotanyLife, being part of the original leadership team that started the church in 2004. Together the Bray’s lead Familylife, a ministry which is dedicated to showing couples God’s plan for marriage and family. Through one day seminars and inspiring weekend conferences, Familylife presents biblical, proven principles to help people stay happily committed and continually growing for a lifetime of oneness.

Let me give you a word of warning: If these three words “I am sorry” are words you have never uttered to your child, and you find the humility within yourself to do so, firstly, you must do so without expecting a response in return - your child’s response may be one of misbelief to start with. They may even struggle to take it in.

So, if you haven’t done it for a while, I’d suggest you get down on one knee at some point and humbly confess “I am sorry”. “I am sorry for using that tone of voice”. “I am sorry for misunderstanding you”. Or “I’m sorry for not believing you or trusting you”. Or “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me”.

Give them time to absorb it. But even without a response it will make a huge difference in your relationship AND to your role as a parent. And finally remember these words from scripture... “Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).

I had to say it to my son the other day. “I am sorry for not listening to you allllllll the way through”. 34

Sunday 17th June Newcomers’ Lunch

Sunday 22nd July Community Group Campaign

Friday 22nd June Worship Jam

Sunday 24 th June Family Serv ice

Wednesday 25th July s mainly music Begin Term 3

Friday 27th July Chickzone Event for Women

Media Prayer Day

Friday 31st August mainly music Fathers’ Day Event

Sunday 2nd September

Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd September

Fathers’ Day Service

Sunday 5th August

ct Community Proje e ag or at Anch Park School

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