RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Our youngest daughter Hannah has just turned 33 years old. Over that time she has bought love and blessings into our lives as a family. She has also brought significant challenges. In learning from those and understanding God’s presence within them, it has deepened our faith and given us a resilience we may not have built up had things been different. In our current family situation, there are significant challenges I’ll mention later, however, the vision God gave me the night after Hannah was born is something I need to remember and hold on to currently. Some of you may remember the vision I had of Jesus on the kitchen chair all smiles while I was ‘struggling’ with the ramifications of Hannah’s birth. As you may recall, Jesus in His usual parable giving way was showing me that if I kept my eyes on him and not on our circumstances we’d get through and find love and joy in the journey. How important that is now as it was then. In my devotion today, a quote from Alistair Begg caught my attention, “am I going to operate on the basis of how I feel, or am I going to operate on the basis of what is?” The truth is that the Lord is with each of us who are adopted sons and daughters of the King, and He promised He’d never leave us nor forsake us. So, if you are going through tough times currently take hold of that truth and keep your eyes focussed on Jesus. He will walk with you through this challenging time.
Nine weeks ago, our son Jeremy was preparing to commission a water system in Cromwell. During that task, Jeremy suffered an injury when an industrial spanner fell from way above him and struck him on the head. Consequently, he has suffered serious concussion. He is fortunate not to have broken his skull. I think he gets a thick head from his father. He is gradually getting better but is not fully back to work and can only handle 10-15 hours a week. Please pray that his recovery will accelerate now.
Aimee has badly injured her lower back. A previous injury from three years ago has flared up. She is receiving physio while trying to cope with the pain when at work.
Down south our son in law Jonny is having a torrid time with a new manager of the Ashburton Library. Since Jonny’s surgery last October, which left him off work for the best part of three months, the manager woman has got it in for him. She is trying to find any ‘misstep’ by Jonny, like moving a book from her office to the Children’s library to drag Jonny into a disciplinary meeting. The union are horrified at what’s happening and they are calling harassment. Through a miracle, a non-Christian employment lawyer has been supporting Jonny for free. Tomorrow, there is another disciplinary meeting which we think is her trying to find a way to get Jonny out. For the last 7 years Jonny’s previous manager had no issues with Jonny. In fact, the community are always praising his work. It is a stressful time for Jonny and Rachel and their two autistic children especially facing the possibility of Jonny losing his job and having to go to the employment court to fight this victimisation. The lady manager’s husband just happens to be the CEO of the Ashburton council which leaves the staff unable to challenge the behaviour of the manager. Please pray that the Lord will uphold Jonny and Rachel and either change the managers heart of remove her.
Other than that, the rest of us are ok. Hannah is recovering from the virus and Yvonne out of her serving heart seems to be catching it off Hannah. I mean families should share but this is a bit much. I hope to remain clear of the virus.
I continue to do around 16 supervisions, mostly monthly. Some of the supervisees have been suffering from poor treatment by their leadership teams. This has required more of my time and in one case I’ve attended a meeting as a support person.
Manukau City Baptist Church have commissioned me to take management, motivating teams and relationship training days with their ministry leaders. It will take place once a month on a Wednesday. I am looking forward to this especially as way back I was a youth pastor at this church.
I have also signed up a church and a motorcycle evangelistic ministry group for separate Bridge Builders courses. Both are in Auckland and will be run one evening a week for four weeks. I am still waiting to hear about a third Bridge Builders course which will be in New Plymouth.
The ITA Curriculum Committee I’m leading have completed one section of the Leadership Matters Course review/rewrite and are starting on the next section. It’s interesting work which will impact how the LMC is conducted in the future.
I preached last weekend and will be preaching every weekend in September. In light of what’s going on for the Ashburton family, I’ve started to do research for a message on loving you enemy not nuking them.
We are very grateful for your support, love and prayers. We pray too that you will experience the love and joy of the Lord as we track out of winter. What ever your situation, remember what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 91 ‘[the Lord is] my refuge and my fortress. My God in whom I trust.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.