Max had to go to Canberra today, but we were joined by Ian (a local macular and dental surgeon). We dug into the DSM material for day 2, starting out with a right view of suffering, I recall a very revealing comment made by Dr. Mark Wyatt, our friend in Mobile Alabama after we preached on this subject last year. He said, "Surely we need a better theology of suffering!" Amen to that.

We looked at the 12 apostles of the lamb, then the others listed as having this ministry in the New Testament (Jude, Julia, Apollos, Timothy, Junias, Paul and the others). A very helpful distinction was made by the group -  that these people had a role, a job to do which defined them, not a title, authority or power.

My daughter Ariah also shared that she found it helpful to realise that in exactly the same was prophets can teach people to prophesy, apostles can teach the church how to be apostolic (leaders, kingly, servant hearted, good fathers, grounded, centred on Christ,  going for ultimate things, making sure our faith hits the ground in a practical way).

As a side note, I came up here having put my back out doing yard work. By the middle of yesterday I had almost completely lost my voice! No amount of prayer seems to have shifted it. I feel like Paul, who said, "When I was among you, I was weak, I could not speak with eloquence... see how fierce and strong he is when he writes!"

Last night we drive from Cootamundra to Cooranbong, arriving via Sydney at peak hour (5pm) on Easter Thursday at the start of the autumn holidays. We were expecting a car park. The news warned of wall to wall jams, the on road electronic signs kept saying "slow down, congestion" but it never came. We proceeded through to the F3 freeway onramp and all the way to dinner at 110km/hr! Unheard of.

We're grateful to Raymond and Inkeri Dabson for hosting us at their home. A large living room, and plenty of space to host us. This morning we started in on the first day of the Apostolic intensive for the Davidic School of Ministry. We had ten participants  (two pastors, two prophets and other amazing Christians in the midst).

The apostolic, as we covered it today, entailed defining the difference between covenant and contract; the difference between church and kingdom; the role of apostles in the New Testament. The thing I love about this way of teaching is the interaction. We teach, we chat, questions and answers; proping issues, read scripture, pray. Tommorrow we get into the work of an apostle, and how they are supposed to influence the church and world.

Dr. Sim Choo-Jek and Dr. Siu Hong pastor Resurrection Life Ministries in Calamvale - on the outskirts of Logan, a western suburb of Brisbane. It has been a delight to spend the weekend with them at the 152nd school of the Spirit. Ps Dynamique from Sydney (and Crosslink) joined us for the week also.

I began teaching on Enoch's Blessing - the subject of a book I am just about finished writing. We covered the seven natures of God (Isaiah 11:2); the seven relational disciples and seven personal disciplines we must master to walk with God. It's based on Enoch because of him it was said, "Enoch walked with God, and was no more" (Genesis 5:24)

A couple of quotable quotes in summary:

- God contains paradox within himself. He is both Master and Father; Judge and Saviour; Creator and Companion.

- The door to intimacy with God hangs on royal hinges - seeking the Soverign comes first.

- It has never been easier, and it has always been hard to pursue God.

- Live your life in the light of heaven - it's always watching; Live your life in the light of eternity - it will change your perspective; live your life in the atmosphere of heaven - it will change the way you are.

plucked from the archives,

our esteemed chairman Brian Medway

Crosslink is also facing a bit of a phenomena. Churches like Stairway Whitehorse (Peter McHugh), Citylife Waverley (Mark Conner) and Southern Lights (Peter Nichols) have joined us. And we're having discussions with various other large churches in Perth and Melbourne. The thing about these guys is that in and of themselves represent small movements of 20-40 churches. Each of them are speaking Kingdom language, moving toward organic relationship, believe in disciples becoming self governing and seek to engage apostolic and prophetic equipping.

But of course they carry their own flavour, culture, leadership style and language. So what is Crosslink becoming? A network of networks? Then what leadership style is demanded by that shift? The thing about Crosslink is that it has never been a hierarchy - no pyramid - no bishops - no regional overseers. What then does the Kingdom demand... watch this space.