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Deurty's blog asked the question all (hetero) post adolescent males love to reminisce over: their 80's fantasy chick. Funny how those sorts of questions take you back into a very much bygone era. Unfortunately because of my advanced age my fantasy woman was actually of the 1978 era - Leslie Knauer from the band Promises - with the all time classic hit: Baby Its You - awesome song. Funny how my taste in women has changed...

Had a bizarre experience last night - went to the Blues last home game. They'd oversold the game so it was every man for himself. The seats we got were terrible but at least we got seats. Couldn't see for half the game and the Blues played like idiots to snatch defeat from jaws of victory. Took Aaron Fussner with me - his Dad is Pacific Area Director so it was a new experience for a 17 year old from Indiana via Indonesia to sit in the midst of a drunken Kiwi rugby crowd. It was still a good night with some great comments out of the crowd...

Sunday night was our outreach cafe with some cool connections made as a result. Once again an awesome team effort. I'm amazed at the scale and professionalism of the operation. Great leaders building competent teams.

Had cause to reflect on the whole spiritual gifts industry this week. We've started the Three Colours of Ministry in some of our cell groups. The spiritual gifts inventory is probably the best around. But here's the thing: does it actually measure spiritual giftedness? What it does measure is past performance and inclination. But how much of that is talent (God-given aptitude) or skill (learned abilities)? What makes something a spiritual gift (a supernatural ability)? And what about those people who God wants to spiritually gift precisely because they have no existing competency in that area? The tests are not useless - but they do need to be weighed against a discerned, prayerful seeking of who/what God has made/is making us to be. Or maybe I'm wrong?

Not preaching this weekend - enjoying the chance to mull over the next series - Malachi - the Italian prophet.

Jonesboy