A Note From Brian
Sent from our Hillsong contact:
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Dear Friends,
It has already been a few weeks since Bobbie and I left for our overseas trip, and as always, we are missing home!
We have had a busy, and yet refreshing time (as I described in my last email to you). This time as I write, we are on the Eurostar - the train from Paris to London. It is a sunny day as I look across the countryside of Northern France…now remember, envy is a sin!
On Thursday night we had the joy of taking part in the wedding of our Hillsong Paris pastor, Brendan White, to his beautiful French wife, Camille. Gary Clarke conducted the wedding in an old church beside the Seine River and I also had the chance to speak and pray. This was followed by a reception which was held on a boat on the river. It was so very romantic as we launched off from beneath the Eiffel Tower. Even though it rained a little, it was a fantastic experience and mix of cultures. The French definitely know how to celebrate!
On Friday night I preached at Hillsong Paris and then tonight (Saturday) at Hillsong London’s Surrey service and in the Dominion Theatre on Sunday. It is always a blessing to see what God is doing in this part of the world through our very own, Hillsong Church.
I am very aware that there has been some media activity in the past week aimed at Bobbie and I, and our church. It is never pleasant to be misrepresented, and I know you all share with us in the frustration of knowing that the thousands of true voices for Hillsong are often totally ignored by the media.
The reality is, the idea of a Christ exalting church flourishing in 21st century Sydney will always threaten the agendas of some. But Bobbie and I, and all the leadership team, simply refuse to be intimidated or distracted from what God has called us to do. That is, to build a healthy church that is bringing people hope through Jesus Christ and to be an encouragement to churches everywhere about just what God can do.
The best way you can support Bobbie and I is to do what we will be doing - getting on with fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.
As always, should any member of our church have questions on any matter, please feel free to contact our church leadership anytime for further clarification.
Be assured of our prayers for you. We will be back with you in just a couple of weeks after what will have been a combination of both hard work and a much-needed holiday. In the meantime, all reports I have received are that the Amazing Grace series has been wonderful and that the worship and teaching in church has been great. People are being saved and good things are happening. Don’t miss out on any of it.
God is so good.
Much love as always, your pastors and friends,
Brian (and Bobbie)
Philippians 1:6
August 10th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Um… Welcome back Emma!
Lunch on Sunday?
About the pic of BH, I’m not sure it’s in good taste on this website. I’m not offended by it, it just seems highly ironic. If he’s going to be on this website, can someone photoshop him so that he looks angry or shocked?
At the end of the day, I think I’ll stick on Facelifts side… Good intentions can often really offend others. I think the big issue we should really be looking at is the culture that is represented in that letter, as opposed to the man himself.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I guess my point is simply that it is a bit rich to boast about your travels abroad, warn against envy, and then complain when someone makes an objection. If Brian wants to shoot himself in the foot, then so be it, but he has no grounds upon which to complain about being misrepresented when he knowingly gives his critics perfect ammunition to work with.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
David, I am in no way a fan of BH, infact you might say I can’t stand the guy. However, I would make comments just like that to the people in my church in an email to them. I am sure he meant it as humour, and wasn’t thinking about what the critics would say. When there is so much about this guy that really is wrong, why pick on something so silly.
Oh, and I vote the picture goes too, I am trying to encourage my non violent nature, and that doesn’t help
rev
August 10th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Oh, why don’t you just draw a funny moustache and a pair of glasses on it for fun, or superimpose a dopey comment on his T-shirt, like ‘my brian hurts’ or something. Face you fears folks, face your fears!
August 10th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Like I would be scared of a metrosexual from kiwiland
rev
August 10th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Ok, I’ve photoshopped it… You can find the picture here: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=12516490&albumID=0&imageID=15722308
August 10th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Sorry, I’m a bit of an idiot.. ignore that link
August 10th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Bet emanresu…that’s what he actually looked like in the early 90s…but with boofier hair.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
wow, you did quite a bit of work with that, kids these days are just so talented.
rev
August 10th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z172/Jake_heath/?action=view¤t=bch_header_ezn.jpg
Try that on for size!
August 10th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Boofier hair you say?
I don’t know what he looked like back in the day, but I’m imagining there was a mullet involved
http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z172/Jake_heath/?action=view¤t=bch_header_ezn2.jpg
August 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
thanks emanresu…
facelift maybe he is a nostril hair and I am a toenail so that way we don’t have to have much to do with each other.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
FaceLift,
Re: “What happens if he ends up in heaven on the same street as you?”
If that happens, then it’s safe to assume once in heaven that we are no longer imperfect human beings, so there would be no issue.
and re: “Or, more currently, in Christ in the same Body as you?”
I’m not quite sure what you mean by this. If by the same Body, you mean the same congregation, then that would be highly unlikely these days, since I don’t move in the same circles as he does. If you mean the same Body of Christ, then it’s possible to be part thereof without having to have anything to do with him. After all, it’s not possible or necessary to fellowship with every believer in the world in order to be part of the Body of Christ.
For me, the difference these days is that I have chosen not to have anything to do with him. That way, he can’t have any further direct influence on my life. It’s one thing to choose to go watch him on one of the Hillsong TV shows, which I still do from time to time. It’s an entirely different matter when he is thrust in one’s face on a TV ad. But as I said before, that was years ago and I’m not as disturbed as I used to be by these things.
On another hypothetical point, if in the unlikely event I bumped into him somewhere, I’d have no problems engaging him in conversation. I still like the guy. I just don’t agree with his methods.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
dude, you suck at the internet
rev
August 10th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Unless you both get trimmed at the same time, Emma. The mind boggles. I’ll pray for you!
August 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
August 10th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
YOU suck at the internetz lololzz!!!11!!one!!1
August 10th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
The call was for a photoshopped Brian?
http://bp1.blogger.com/_ZLSC5Ezlx0A/Rrvyf7417pI/AAAAAAAAADA/A6lL4eZpAQE/s1600-h/bch_header.jpg
August 10th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
emanresu
Not sure about the mullet, that was probably more Mike Smith’s style.
Brian’s mo was more handlebar-like back then.
And yes, I agree, it’s more about the culture and the system than the man.
August 10th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1080/1067441893_62657d385e_o.jpg Here’s my attempt
August 10th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
username, please take not of how a good interneter does a foto shop
adhd, you rock
rev
August 10th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I love signposts.
The comment was made slightly tongue in cheek. I am an escapee of the AOG not HS specifically. Although I was subjected to BH as a young person when he would speak as a guest to our youth group or at youth camps.
Man, can that guy spit when he talks.
I could happily share a street in heaven with BH or anyone else, all the tears I have cried due to involvement with well intention but ultimately damaging church culture will be dried at that point.
I will even hold hands and sing if it comes to that!!
August 10th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Blast! I’ve been one-upped again! I take solice in knowing that I’m a video editor and not a graphic designer, and I did it in 30 seconds when no one was looking.
Can you really judge Rev? I mean, I don’t see YOUR entry!
*Someone get Rev some ice, he just got burned!*
August 10th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Daisy, wonderful wonderful thing to look forward to.
August 10th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
ADHD is the winner I think. Always good when your mock up ties in so nicely with the message of th email
August 10th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Before you declare him the winner, check out this entry. This is me and Brian at Long Reef last year. It was a beautiful sunset.
http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z172/Jake_heath/?action=view¤t=JakeandBrian.jpg
August 10th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Thats a lovely photo, how did the rest of your night go
August 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
It went pretty well.. he surprised me with a candle lit dinner on the cliff. Fortunately, there were plenty of volunteers to set up the table, do the cooking, and then clean up. Then we just sat under the stars and talked about our feelings for a while.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
ohhh,
we’re getting competitive now are we?
well give me five minutes then!
August 10th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Lol.
I have to agree ADHD gets the gong for photo shop