September 2011

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Q&A With Bobbie Houston #1

Thu, 08th Sep 2011.
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Bobbie Houston Hillsong ChurchWe have a fabulous (Hillsong) Network of friends and peers around the world who gather at our annual leadership conferences - i.e. at Colour and the Hillsong Conference in either Sydney or Europe, etc. A year or so ago, I asked some of the Network women attending Colour that year, if there were any questions they'd like answered from me (or perhaps others). What ensued was a lovely LONG list ... so as time permits, I'm going to attempt to answer them simply in this blog format.

Some questions are "bigger" than others ... some are deeper and more complex than can be answered in this format ... and some (because of time and space) may only be answered in part. We simply want to respond to a question in the same way we would if this was a relaxed and friendly panel setting. Hopefully we can add some wisdom and perspective from our journey to yours and prompt ourselves together, to press on and attain all that we have been called to".
Love always, Bobbie xox

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10 Years Ago Today, I Was In NYC...

Fri, 09th Sep 2011.
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NYC American Flag SkylineAmerica! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
- AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL. 1910.

America is a great country. Not a perfect country, but a GREAT country. On this day 10 years ago, I was in New York City with my oldest son. We had just completed a marvellous night of worship in a New Jersey church; where the auditorium, the overflows and even the outdoor spaces on campus were teeming with people and cars.

Our Hillsong team then had a few days off, so my son and I were off to spend some good father/son time in New York City celebrating his 21st birthday and taking in a day or two's play at the US Tennis Open. We sat so high in the stands for a semi-final that we could see the world’s most impressive city skyline from the back of the stands. On that day, we chatted specifically about the World Trade Towers.

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Q&A With Bobbie Houston #2 [PART 1]

Sun, 18th Sep 2011.
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"How do you balance family life and ministry life?"

This has to be possibly THE most frequently asked question in forums like this, and especially by young women in that fabulous season of early motherhood. However having said that, the question applies to pretty much every season of life, because there isn't a season in any of our lives, where we don't (or shouldn't) feel something of the stretch and pressure of that new season.

Have you noticed that one word dominated this first paragraph ... Seasons!!

FAMILY LIFE is full of seasons and MINISTRY LIFE is full of seasons ... and the "art of balance" is to recognize, discern, adapt, navigate, appreciate, be thankful and of course, apply WISDOM to whatever season or "collision of seasons" you are experiencing.

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Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh...

Tue, 20th Sep 2011.
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Sheet musicSo we all know there is nothing funny about being in gaol ('jail' for all my North American friends), or the crimes that people commit to land themselves
there. But the following story is pretty funny...

Each week, I receive hundreds of letters from people all over the world.  My team and I are diligent in ensuring we respond to every 'reasonable' request.  As a response to a letter I had recently received, our team was preparing a list of song and chord charts to send to a young man who was IN GAOL, but had made a decision for Christ and was preparing to direct a choir...making the most out of his current situation.

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Q&A With Bobbie Houston #2 [PART 2]

Wed, 21st Sep 2011.
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Bobbie HoustonHey again,

Well the response to the Q&A on "balancing family and ministry life" was quite overwhelming. It just shows how important the balance is. So, here is Part Two ... a list of more "practical" tips. Again, they are in no particular order ... Plus, I've asked some of the great girls in my world for ONE TIP also. These women are all involved in ministry and range in age from youngish to more maturish! Might post them in Part Three…
 

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It's The Little Things...

Fri, 30th Sep 2011.
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Coffee and croissantIt's the little things in life that say a lot ... like when you are in a hotel setting and jet-lag gets the better of you ...so you sneak down to breakfast real early ...and then bring back a cappuccino for your slumbering wife, especially when you are NOT the kind of person to be voted "least clumsy" in a cup & saucer carrying competition.

I love my husband for a lot of reasons. He stole my heart more than 37 years ago on a sand dune back in Kiwi-land-NZ. He has an inquisitive side that makes him "have" to follow a siren or crane to see what a commotion is about. It also makes him a profound leader who observes life and people like no one I know.