Ok, So i comnpletely forgot yesterday to post this article about the Pastor in the US paying people to come to church... Let me know your thoughts on this :0)

Blessings

Matt

US CHURCH TO GIVE AWAY $1000 AT EASTER

HAMILTON, Ohio AP - A church in the United States that gave away $US1000 ($A998) to fill more pews last Easter Sunday says it will do it again this year.

Lindenwald Baptist Church in Hamilton draws names to award $US500 ($A499) each to a member of the congregation and a guest.

Pastor Randy Moore has told The Journal-News of Hamilton that the southwest Ohio church had hoped for 1000 worshippers in 2010, when it made the offer for the first time. It packed in 1140 - more than double the usual Sunday attendance of around 500. Moore said a crew had to direct traffic in the parking lot.

Easter falls on April 24 this year. The pastor said given the economy, the church would continue the cash giveaway to provide a financial, as well as a spiritual, blessing on the holiday.

AP/

Yeah I know, I've been slack again, not keeping you up to date with important information!

This week we've had a number of discussions based around Easter and different Church traditions associated with it. So to help you discover more about them and some of the people we've spoken to, I've listed below some helpful and handy websites you can browse.

* For Pancake Day and the work of "UnitingCare" please go to www.pancakeday.com.au

*If you want to know more about my expert guest Rev Professor James Haire then please have a look here www.acc-c.org.au

* To understand more about what Christians believe and what the church celebrates at easter, look no further than UCB Direct. Chuck Missler has produced a great study looking into the origins of Easter and its available on DVD for just $24.95 http://www.ucbdirect.com.au/items/koinonia-house~chuck-missler-/kh-special-collection/10139DVD-detail.htm plus you can also purchase a great message from Pastor Greg Laurie about Easter http://www.ucbdirect.com.au/items/harvest-ministries~greg-laurie-/hm-audio-cd-sets/10639CDA-detail.htm

Don't forget to engage in our social media sites through the front page of this website and if you are a facebooker please look me up on Facebook (www.facebook.com) Matt Ucb Australia

AS I mentioned this afternoon on Air, there are many stakeholders responding to the White paper on the school chaplaincy funding issue for the federal govt. In WA the body responsible for managing school chaplains is "YoungCare" here is the CEO's response to 4 key issues raised in the discussion paper. For more info see previous blog entry.

YOUTHCARE’S VIEW ON THE FOUR HIGHLIGHTED KEY ISSUES

1. Minimum Qualifications for Chaplains

Non faith-based workers are already provided in schools through other funding streams.

4. Flexible Models of Delivery of Chaplaincy in remote and rural settings

We've been hearing a lot about Christchurch and its earthquake. But I wanted to share with you some of the updates about how Australia are "returning the favour" of assisting in time of crisis...

*Australian Defence Force is providing support to New Zealand Earthquake. Australian civilian search and rescue personnel and equipment will be flown by Royal Australian Air Force C-130 aircraft to New Zealand to provide assistance following today’s Earthquake at 8.00pm AEDT. 

The Australian Defence Force will provide air transport to Christchurch, New Zealand for Australian civilian urban search and rescue personnel and their equipment to assist New Zealand authorities following today’s earthquake. Two Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft will transport approximately 70 personnel and 20 tonnes of cargo. The first aircraft with 40 personnel and 10 tonnes will depart tonight with the remainder moving early tomorrow morning.  Media are invited to view the loading of personnel and cargo and film the take off at RAAF base Richmond tonight. Media are requested to note the ADF will be unable to transport media to New Zealand on this flight.*

** A team of Queensland search and rescue experts will deployed to Christchurch this morning following a request for assistance from New Zealand authorities yesterday afternoon.

The team of 72 officers, comprising 64 Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) specialists, six Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Special Operations Response Team paramedics and two Emergency Management Australia (EMA) agents, will be transported by an Australian Defence Force (ADF) aircraft to Christchurch.

The highly-skilled, self-sustainable team will undertake a number of activities, including supporting medical teams and conducting search and rescue operations, in support of local authorities.

The team will travel with 22 tonnes of equipment and is expected to be on the ground for 10 days.**

• 52 personnel from Fire and Rescue NSW;
• Nine SCAT paramedics from the Ambulance Service of NSW;
• Two doctors from NSW Health;
• Two NSW Police Force officers including a victim identification specialist;
• Four Department of Services, Technology and Administration engineers; and
• Four ACT firefighters.

"The USAR taskforce, led by Fire and Rescue NSW, is a team of 73 specialists in fire and rescue, building engineering, trauma medicine and hazardous materials," Ms Keneally said. "The team of 73 specialists in fire and rescue, building engineering, trauma medicine and hazardous materials will deploy with heavy rescue equipment and food, tents and drinking water to allow them to be self-sustainable for up to 10 days." Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said the USAR taskforce had responded to several major international and Australian emergencies in recent years.
"Our expertise is recognised by the United Nations and most recently, our urban search and rescue crews joined the response to the Queensland flood emergency in January," he said.
"We are well prepared and equipped to assist our emergency services colleagues in New Zealand during this disaster." ***

Please continue to pray for those involved, ask for God to keep them physically and mentally safe. Anyone concerned about Australians in Christchurch should try to contact them directly in the first instance. If this is unsuccessful, please contact the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

If you would like to make a financial donation to New Zealand Earthquake victims...the NZ Red Cross will gratefully accept that... http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/ is an alternate secure donation site as the NZRC website is experiencing pretty high traffic. Alternatively http://www.redcross.org.au/NZEQ2011.htm the Australian Red Cross is accepting donations on NZ behalf.

If you would prefer to donate to a Christian organisation - New Zealand's Salvos are at work at the coal face doing what they do best - being the hands and feet of Christ...more details here http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/research-media/media-centre/local-news/salvation-army-canterbury-earthquake-update