Before the commencement of session one, there was a brief welcome to all attendees and the conference was opened in prayer by Lethy  from Black Sheep HDFC, Brisbane:
Mark 1:35 reads: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Having a relationship with Jesus, or with anyone else, takes a commitment of Time and Work. Make a commitment to start off with just 15 minutes per day sitting apart in a chair. Jesus told us to love one another. One who loves listens. We must seek to listen to God during that set-apart time. You ought to have a life verse, or a few life verses, to which you always return to remind you of your ministry.

Copyright notice: As I memorised scriptures from the NIV for more than thirty years, the majority of scriptures quoted will be from that version, therefore I include here the copyright notice for the NIV:  “Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.” Some that I wasn’t certain about have been copied in NIV form from www.biblegateway.com and others will be either KJV or my head-modified version of KJV, which was the version from which I memorised all scriptures until about 1978.

I must add that the above report is very far from verbatim report of what was said by the speaker. I took very abbreviated notes during the sessions.  I have filled out those very brief notes with what I think I heard the speakers say, not necessarily what they actually said.  It is more of a report on how what they said made an impact on me.

Session 1 focussed on the question: “What are the important elements in keeping our relationship with God through Jesus Christ while active in the Australian biker culture?”

Mac Hayes – Long Riders, Murray Bridge:

Keeping faith active: three main points:

1. 1. develop, strengthen, look after your prayer life.
2. 2. read the word (if you can’t read, use audio tapes or listen as others preach it.)
3. 3. maintain regular fellowship.

The church culture uses religious jargon – language which makes no sense at all to any unchurched people – but especially to those in the biker culture. Romans 12:1-3 says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your good and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” The Christian bikers have elements of both church culture and biker culture within them. Romans 7 is very relevant. We must be accountable to each other.

Steve Chance – Christian Sports Bike Association, Sydney:

He introduced his ministry which works with those who ride and race sports bikes. His racing number is 316 which often opens up conversations with the guys with whom he competes in races.

Be active in the bike culture: seven points:

1. Embrace your identity: you are redeemed, set free, of royal blood, sent, ambassador, etc. understand where you are called, that is, specifically to which group of bikers. [at this moment, the Lord spoke by his Holy Spirit very clearly to me about my specific calling, answering a prayer of mine that has gone on for very many years – more about that in a different post – but it caused me to find it hard to concentrate on my note taking!]
2. Have Kingdom thinking: your ministry is really all about Him – only when you succeed in making it all about Him, an He make it about you and use you.
3. Pray and listen: pray for protection as Solomon did. Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
   Be in God’s power, not your own power.
   Pray for each other. Uphold your mates when you know they are heading out to minister; pray for wisdom and discernment.
   Pray for your ministry, Listen to God by reading his word and praying for him to speak to you through it.
4. Know your weaknesses: understand that you are vulnerable. Be supported by those around you.
5. Stay connected: with God and with each other – abide in the vine – fellowship.
6. “Let the joy of the Lord be your strength.” God likes to develop your character: think of the potter and clay image.
7. Remember that you have a Helper: Luke 3:16 says: “John [the Baptist] answered them all, “I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.””

To use racing terminology: reference points are like your prayer life, braking points are like the wisdom received from God, countersteering illustrates the forces that are against each other. You have to run your own race, to walk your own walk.

Lisa Clarke – CMA NSW and Righteous CMC, Sydney: [apologies for my extremely sketchy notes which leave out most of what was a great talk – I was still reeling from the revelation received during the previous speech]

It’s a battle. The battle is on three fronts; our fight is against the World, the Flesh and the Devil.
We must be in the world but not of it.
Subdue the flesh – this often means fasting and praying. Fasting is not popular with most of us, but if Jesus said we ought to do it, then we ought to do it. Remember Ephesians 6:10-13: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” This is followed by Ephesians 6:14-18: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the belt of righteousness in place, and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Re the shield of faith: talk to him each and every day.

This first session was already a life-changing experience.

I shall attempt to post the Second Session notes tomorrow.