This from Rowland Croucher....

"Where is the pressure coming from? The survey indicates that it is not the members or the church board. It is the ministers themselves. The pastors show a consistent inability to set reasonable limits on their workload. More than two out of three respondents say that they expect too much of themselves. A little over half say that they love what they do so much that they don't know when to stop.
The typical pastor spends about 14 hours planning and attending meetings or services. Another 13 hours is invested in sermon preparation and teaching. Pastoral care and counseling take some nine hours. Six hours are spent in personal devotions and prayer. All types of administrative and budget tasks, advanced planning and the like absorb 13 hours."

Source

Okay...the 2009 season is upon us...

After watching an experienced and determined Richmond defeat Freo by 3 points....and my third cup of coffee...I am ready for my 2009 predictions.
I got at least one right last year, Palmer did indeed pick up the Rising Star. Unfortunately most of the others were wrong after the Dockers suffered a pretty dissapointing season.
I was right about Hawthorn....they did well...and I was right about Woosha Wiperblades....he did say nothing, but was fawned over by 6peagle....
Unfortunately neither Freo nor the Saints gave the finals a shake....maybe this year...find our below.

1. Stephen Hill is a gun, better than Rich, and will win the Rising Star
2. Chris Mayne will develop into a more consistent player
3. Tarrant will repay the faith showed in him
4. Pavlich will start to dominate games with his mate Hasleby
5. Hawthorn wont maintain their form, and will dissapoint
6. Geelong will continue to fade
7. Port Adelaide will implode, and Mark Williams might face the sack
8. Richmond will dissapoint their fans, and yet Wallace will be re-signed
9. Port Adelaide will collect the spoon
10. North Melbourne will be the big riser
11. Freo will make the top four, but miss out on the big one
12.West Coast will still suck

I have not met a Senior Pastor yet who is worth his salt that does not get the whole 'seating' thing.
How...where...in what format a room is set up...is important!
We only have to look at God's complicated instructions for His house of worship to know this.

At Inglewood we have been having real issues with seating....too many people, not enough room.
Okay....there is enough room if we are all squished in.
Last week, just as the service finished, I got up and gently encouraged/asked the folk if they could possibly get to church early...and sit down the front, I even said I would put lollies on the front two pews!

This week we moved all the musicians onto the stage, with just the leader and singers down on the level part. I debated whether to put them up high on the stage, but the crowd is still not large enough to have to do this, and I don't like being up high looking over people, I like to look them straight in the eye, be on eye level with people. We may have to change this at some point.

Anyhoo.....I put some Fantails on the front two pews, and they did fill up. Because we had moved everyone foward, we had some space at the back.....at least until everyone came in. Then we were full again. Its amazing. We truly are experiencing sustained growth.

It felt full this morning, but not uncomfortably full.....whew! We needed to make space. I am believing that very soon we will need to make more space....there are new friends coming and staying every week.

ummmm...lets think about that for half a millisecond.....no.

Bad things happen to good people, bad things happen to bad people.
The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Indiscriminate, awful fire, killing innocents...is not how God operates.

Why did it happen? Don't know. Why did Soveriegn God not intervene? Don't know.

It is amazing to see how people are helping, it shows the image of God within us when we reach out in love and mercy to those who are struck down. That is God at work.

Judgement will come, at the right time, in the right way, but the posturing of some, the attempt to claim it as some moral high ground victory seems to me to have much more in common with the pharisees of Jesus day, rather than Jesus Himself. In fact its wicked.

This is why you are fat

fascinating, chilling, interesting.....provoke one to prayer...

"We were all human beings united by a tragedy, equal in the face of suffering and walking the path of recovery together...."
(more)

.....has put some good thoughts together on a way to think through the whole 'revisiting' church issue.

"In our rush to reject the consultant paradigm, there is a real danger that we embrace the house of sand approach that the bartender represents. The truth of the matter is that Jesus has a lot to say about how people, and the world is living......"

The consultant and the bartender walked into a church....

Here is an excellent little video from an atheist....you may have seen him on Penn and Teller.

He makes the following points....

How much do you have to hate someone...to not share your faith?
If I believed without a shadow of a doubt that you were about to be hit by a truck...and did not say something to you, what would you say about me?

Having now become a church that uses temporary locations.....spaces rented off others who own them....I am keenly aware of some of the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Using a community owned and used space has helped us to grow, interact and communicate with the community so much better than what we used to. People know where we are, they see us, the interact with our programs...we are part of the community.

Downside is that we dont own the place! We get told off for this that and the other....even if we have done nothing really wrong. There has been a distinct period of the other people using the place getting used to us....One person in particular......(say no more!)
The person who runs the centre is great! Nothing but helpful, know that we know her and have been there a while.

But not being able to do whatever we want there...is a downside.

Ultimatly moving has been the right move for us. There is certainly pain. We have a lot of stuff to set up each week (3 times a week actually)...and not a lot of space to put it in.....but the upside is....we are starting to feel like a mission organisation, not a club.

This is great.
Looking for a biblical justification for cursing that driver that just cut you off, the Barrista who made you a bitter coffee...or even the sales assistant who seems more intent on talking to their boyfriend on the phone rather that serving you?

The problem is that as Christians we are meant to be nice to each other....this curse generator is full of great comebacks for a multitude of situations....

This is one that took my fancy,
"May you go on a diet of crunchy, unsweetened locusts, thou whose name is but dung!"

Biblical Curse Generator

H/T David Wilson

Well well.....Maybe Barra has been listening to his wife (a keen dockers member)....

It just seems that everything is coming together at the moment....there is this synergy as God's hand of blessing is over us. We had 67 kids at Jam Central this morning...but about 40% of them were new to the group! How does that happen when you do ABSOLUTLEY NO ADVERTISING. Seriously...none. And 95% of them don't come to church.

We did not even do a massive mail out this year like we have before....and it was at a new location....

Looking over these parents, observing their parenting styles....and their great spiritual needs, we are so blessed.

But it comes with great responsibility and great work.
We need to make time to form relationships and friendships.
We need to share Gods love with them, and a purpose for living.

God is good and His mercies and blessings are abundant, but we cant sit down, there is no time for deciding what we should do....He has shown and told us what to do.

A prayer....God continue to give us the passion, power, discernement and wisdom we need to be about Your business. Protect us from the evil one...who must be hating what You are doing at Inglewood....
And thanks God...what a privilege!

Watching a bunch of overpaid wimps running around with oversize pillows on their shoulders to protect their fragile egos made me a little bit excited about the real footy season ahead.

The Fremantle Dockers have a pre season scratch match on tonight, and it will be interesting to see how it goes. Press have been reporting that the Dockers have had a very hard pre-season, with the impetus being the need to redress the last quarter fadeouts that plagued us last year. If we had been able to turn a few of those 10 points or less losses into wins...anything could have happened..... (sigh)


Unusually for the press at this time of year, we are not installed as pre-season favourites along with other much more qualified teams. Maybe thats a good sign.


Tarrant is not injured, Hasleby is back, Pavlich is a superstar, and likely to play a more 'James Hird midfield fix it" type role.


Grover is the leagues most underated defender, and hopefully has put the emotional and personal turmoil of last year behind him. Mr Pharlin is awesome.


With the best ruckman in the AFL (Cox is heavily overated)...and the best first year player of 2008 at his feet, Hasleby picking up the spoils, Hedland fit and firing.....who knows?


I have my new membership card...I am ready....

Biggest crowd we have had at 'regular' church yesterday.....approaching the size of the crowd we had at our launch.
A lot (lot) of new folk...coming back and staying.
We ran out of communion elements....we had to open up the back doors.....

It does make you feel overwhelmed. I have always been a pastor of a church hovering around the 80-100 mark, and I have known everyone.....well.

I still make it my business to introduce myself to new people, and to shake hands at the door.
But we are actually utilising the systems we have put in place now. Pastoral care leaders etc.
A loss of feeling like I know everyone and what is happening in people's lives.
But as we grow, and continue to grow, this is only going to become more so. Interesting times ahead.

Number one son.....has turned eight.
Late last night Melinda and I were reminiscing about his birth. It seriously seems like yesterday, now he is growing into a fine young fellow...and my mate.

I pondered long and hard about what to buy him. He is developing his own personality and interests. He is not going to be a sportstar....although I am hoping he will enjoy exercise and being outdoors...and he does, he loves the beach. I suspect if we lived closer, and he had more of an oppportunity, he would be a surfer...like his dad 'pretended' to be when he was young. I use to have a thruster on the back of my bike, and was regularly found down at Triggs and other beaches, near North Beach...often. Even.. and especially on Fridays...when I should have been at high school.

I settled on a digital camera. I know he is young...but they are cheap. 8 megapixels, 3 times optical zoom, face recognition and stability....all for under $100. If he breaks it...it is not a tradgedy. So far.....he has taken around 100 pictures. He loves nature, little creatures...and computers. I reckon this interest may be something he pursues. A love of computing, photography and design....something good.

Another thought to consider as I work through emotional intelligence.
No one fits the mould. No one is exactly what or who some test says they are.

The heart is deciteful above all things.
It lies to us...about ourselves.
Who we think we are, may be totally off.
How we operate under stress may be totally different....we may operate under a different set of personality/emotional traits.

"put your head up and face the world head on son...."
So I say to my son as he and I walk from his classroom.

I believe that knowing Jesus gives us the courage, curiousity and passion to approach life with a positive, frank and loving attitude.

This article from an avowed athiest is fascinating. I don't quite agree or understand why his atheistic views gives his observations more credibility, but they seem too.

"Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become more deferential towards strangers - in some ways less so - but more open. "

H/t

Article

Its an interesting and challenging concept for leaders, and studiers of people.

How much emotional intelligence someone has will invariably determine the length and severity of interpersonal conflicts they experience. We will all undergo conflict. But often, not always, the depth of it can be determined by our reaction, how we approach and deal with the personalities involved.

Understanding someone's motivating factors...even words that trigger alarms for them, are all part of your emotional intelligence, your discernment of the other person.

One issue is this though....someone who has low EI....can very often be someone who is not aware of it. This sort of person fills out personality tests and gets a totally wrong reading, because they put the answers down for who they think they are...they honestly think things about themself, which an objective outsider can clearly see are simply not true.

http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

Once again he displays wisdom in the public forum. He fails to embarass the Christian community, instead, without compromising his own values and beliefs, he reaches across the religious and racial divide, while still declaring, that Jesus is my Lord.

Three key points.
1. There are echoes of the most important aspect of his life work, the "purpose driven life" in his opening statement,
"Almighty God, our father, everything we see and everything we can't see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story."

2. He then, without compromising his own beliefs, reaches out to those of different faiths in his use of scripture. He quotes from the Christian bible, yet he uses scripture which Jewish people revere, often using this piece of scripture at special events, the second part of it can be found in the Koran, and is a common Muslim expression....(wise and CS Lewis like in my view)
"The scripture tells us , Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is one. And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made."

3. Finally, he does use the name of Jesus, which some might say is exclusive, and it is, and the Christian faith is exclusive when it comes to Jesus, He is the only way. But Warren does it in the sense of saying Jesus is my Saviour, this is what He has done for me. No one can deny that, it is his experience of Jesus. Also, he uses the English, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew names for Jesus.
He says,
"I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, Jesus (hay-SOOS), who taught us to pray,"

Discern for yourselves.....

How many surveys do we find in the New Testament?
Lets get all biblical for a moment.....If we are to learn from the New Testament as a model of church government, the closest we find is in Acts 15...where 'it seemed right to them and the Holy Spirit"

Yet even in that context, James had to stand up and say something...someone has to lead, and take responsibility for that decision. You cant spend a weekend away, and then not decide anything! That is a horrible waste of the time God has given us.

In a church context I have often see a consensus model hijaked by malcontents, those with hidden and unspoken power agendas....that does not work. Some might say, we need time to come to a consensus, what a joke...redeem the time, the days are evil.

Some might say, a pragmatic approach does not leave time for reflection, maybe. Maybe we spend too much time reflecting, and not enough doing.

I once took a survey of my church, a few years ago. I had a positive response, which told me little really. I have two scathing reports, which also told me nothing.
At the conclusion of the matter, church growth will rise, fall or stagnate on the basis of leadership. You need to trust your own leadership, and if you cant, let someone else lead.

Inspired in part by John Kinkelde's leadership series and Tony Morgans' post 'Consensus Sucks

Melinda has taken her mum away for a few days to Cervantes......

I don't know how to feel.....
I love that place....yet after two weeks away....there is no way I could go.
She needed to take her mum away for a break..some stuff going on there.
But waving her and the kids away...while Clem begged me to come so we could go diving together....pretty tuff!

Mind you...there is a silver lining...she made me two days worth of lasange...and she makes the best lasange in the world!

On holidays....away from computer for a while...also...and here is a tip from my wife for pastors...
recorded a temporary message for my mobile...which asks people if it is church business to contact my offiders...or if for me...leave a message. I will turn it on at the end of the day and check in case of urgent messages.

Hope everyone has a great couple of weeks!

Not quite right yet...but getting there.....

To all who signed the petition requesting a new logo for the Baptist Union.....it is on its way!

Rod Benson reports....

"The BUA has commissioned a well known graphic design company to recommend a new logo, and the BUA National Council has agreed to sign off on the final design in May 2009 (it meets twice a year). "

2008 has truly been the best year of our church life
We have merged with Inglewood Church of Christ and become Inglewood Community Church
We have started meeting at the Inglewood Civic Centre, which has seen us become a more visible presence in the community, and start to attract visitors on a consistent basis....People know where we are, and when we meet. We run programs such as the Artisan Markets, which are an incredible outlet for community presence.

I have learnt how to use Photoshop and Sony Vegas, two great high end programs which have helped me become more efficient and professional in my work.

Personal prayer, devotion and holiness.....these are aspects of my life I continue to work on.

When people from both sides of politics are villifying you, its probably a sign you are doing the right thing.
Rick Warren is clearly a biblical/conservative minister....yet Obama has picked him to pray a prayer of blessing on his presidency. I doubt Warren voted for Obama......
This quote from Warren from the LA Times speaks volumes for the wisdom of the man. I am so glad he is representing us in the media...

"I happen to love Democrats and Republicans," he told the gathering. "And for the media's purpose, I happen to love gays and straights. . . . Who ever came up with the idea that you have to agree with everybody on everything in order to love them?"Warren added: "And you know what my attitude is: You don't have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand, and you can disagree without being disagreeable" (Source)

A few years back a few good friends and I went to Sacremento to study the incredible ministry of churches under Paul Borden's leadership.
After the 14 day study tour, Wayne Field, Peter White and myself went on a driving tour, including such spots as Vegas, Yosemite National Park, Las Angelas, and a lot of the US in between.....
When I got to Vegas, and Wayne and I went on a tour, in our rented Chrysler Convertable....at 2am in the morning, I turned to Wayne and said,

"After seeing what God created for our enjoyment in Yosemite it's a disappointment to see what man created for our enjoyment in Vegas."

Wayne told me that U2 filmed their clip, "I still haven't found what I am looking for" there....which just about sums it up.

"The source of confident joy and joyful confidence originates in the fundamental acknowledgement that "the Lord, he is God. It is He who hath made us and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." Turning from divine praise to human dignity, the Psalmist celebrates the good news that we are neither alone nor autonomous. He confesses that God fashioned every single person, and that therefore every human being enjoys an inherent worth that can never be earned or even lost, and that therefore we enjoy His bountiful care. Many people, of course, do not view the world or people this way, and herein lies a great divide between two very different ways of experiencing life itself."

This is a really good post.
Pastor Mark Driscoll had a really bad attendance at Mars Hill Church, a mega church in Seattle. He is a edgy young pastor, with a influential ministry. He writes on his church blog about a recent service when it snowed heavily in Seattle (you may have seen it on the news) and it affected attendance negatively....

"I preached to 80 people at the first service in a room that seats 1300, and the best attended of the four services today was about 250 people....."

He has some pretty frank things to say... (Driscoll frank? Who would have thought!)

"Those who see it as a job are the first to call in and cancel their duties, not show up, dog it, or leave early. Those who see their service at Mars Hill as a calling go beyond the call of duty to cover for everyone else"

You can read the rest here

John Finkelde mentioned on his blog that he loves the 23rd of December....and wondered if he is the only one...he isn't...I do too!

Isn't the anticipation of something just as good as actually obtaining it?
Has not God designed us to be dreamers...to desire...to chase after?

I believe He has.

Last night I took the family to the 'Nativity' scene/drama in the city. It was awesome. Geoff Woodward (spelling?) from Metro Church and the evavenscent (spelling2?) Michael Battersby led the thousands of people gathered there in carol singing...I am friends with Colin, Michael's brother, and we often joke that despite their obvious similarities, Michael is the outgoing one...he is! Colin is an awesome worship leader, but their style is quite different.

Michael and his team did a great job.

Then Ted Bull (ABC) basically read the story from the bible, interspersed with drama, real camels, and carols.
Seriously....no mention of Santa....candy canes or anything else.
Just the beauty of the nativity story, presented in a contemporary manner to thousands of non church folk...

What a blessing.....

There is a lot of 'Grinchness' around this time of year, let us not be among the green headed monsters....Let us instead celebrate this awesome time of year, an opportunity to reflect, to share our faith, to share our lives, to celebrate with famiy.....

I believe in a God who is exuberant, creative, fun, positive, visionary, celebratory...a God who commands His people to party...COMMANDS THEM!!!

Let us throw off those things that bind us..and Celebrate the King's Birthday.

We assume that we rule our lives, but we can't even hold our breath.

I miss my dad.

He was a non communicative, dysfunctional father.....who I hardly knew.....

but I miss him like crazy.

I wish I could ring him up and ask him about how to change an oil filter, even though I know how.

I wish I could play squash with him, and go easy on him, because when I started thrashing him, he no longer wanted to play.....

I wish he was here to give presents to my kids...because he was GREAT at that.....

If your dad is still alive, no matter what he is like...don't take him for granted.

This is an interesting blog....
here he defends Rick Warren and makes some good points.....

"No stranger to getting flamed by church people indignant over his writings and methods, Warren is now getting flamed by some very vocal supporters of President-elect Obama because he (Warren) is pro-life and against gay marriage. Shocker, I know."

"Here's the thing: Warren is not saying anything outrageous for a Christian minister. He is simply, as most evangelical Christians do, saying that babies should get to live and that homosexual behavior is sin. That he is getting branded a radical hatemonger for these things should tell us a lot about the culture we live in, which -- PAY ATTENTION HERE -- doesn't care if you're a cool, goatee-sporting, social justice loving, Obama voting Christian. If you simply follow the Bible's counsel about life and sin, you're Hitler." (Source)

It was really interesting to me that Obama mentioned 'gays' specifically in his presidential speach.

This is not a gay bashing site....there are plenty of them around, and this is not one of them.

But a Christian minister should stand up for something, namely that the Bible is true...and God does not like sin........Rick Warren is probably one of the sharpest Christian minds of our generation, and when interviewed, I have not seen him slip up. I dont think he did in this context either....but what he said may very well be offensive.

Why do we make this statement, "I rarely watch TV but I saw this show on how Brooke split up with Taylor etc etc...'
What is it within us that makes us apologise for watching TV...or feign guilt about it?
You don't hear people say, "I rarely go to the movies, but I just happened to catch Hugh and Nicole and she was so wooden...."

All things in moderation I reckon.
At present, with the non ratings rubbish on, thats pretty easy! But there is still some good stuff on. For me, Prison Break and Heroes. Lately I have got addicted to both of them, sometimes recording them when I am too bombed to stay up that late. Also 'Top Gear' (the UK version) on Monday nights.
And....with the 'Spicks and Specks Christmas Special' being essential viewing...enjoy your zone out time...in moderation.

I have an excellent Church Leadership Team...I suppose if they were terrible I would probably not post about them, but they are great...so I can.

Last night we held our first ever Leadership Team Meeting for our new church, and it was a significant time. We decided on some key things, which reflect our inherant values as a church.
I was so encouraged.

I shared with the leadership team that I need three things from them.

1. That they keep pushing me to keep my eye on the big vision, and give me freedom to lead.
2. That they be my chief set of cheerleaders.
3. That they set good boundaries and keep me accountable for what I achieve

There have been years gone by when things have not been so good. Our church is already experiencing some fruit from good leadership, and this team is setting us up for more health.

Well Richmond Football Club have drafted Ben......(after saying there is no way they would)

I actually am glad. I hope that he is aided in his journey back, and does his parents proud.
All of us have made mistakes, its just that Ben got caught...and he continued on with it....

But ultimately I suspect it wont be his much vaunted issues with drugs that bring him down but his hamstrings....and the feral Tigers fans.....

We had a great day at church on Sunday.
Some things I can tell you about, some things best kept from huge public audience that read this blog (!)

A great time of worship, the band sounded great, and their was a real sense of freedom there, led ably by Eliot, who allowed space and freedom....great!

A good story of two told...and a good message on meditating on scripture, you can download it from our church website www.inglewoodchurch.org.au

About 10 visitors, including some real special people, which I can't go into here....but I am hoping they stick around, because together, we could make some awesome differences in our community....

The air conditioning kicked the 38 degree day out of the park...something we have not had the luxury of before....

Its not all bad you know.

Blogging has given me a great outlet, it has introduced me to a whole heap of people and also ideas that have helped a lot. It has been an avenue to internet resources, mult-media, the latest thinking and good books.

Facecrack....ooops...I mean Facebook...has given me access to relationships with a whole heap of people. The most valuable aspect of it is when I also have a 'real world' relationship with those I am interacting with online. In some notable cases it has actually really helped as I have tried to share and deepen relationships and conversations with people that although I see them 'face to face' we dont always get the chance to talk about spiritual matters. This has been really valuable even in the last 24 hours as I was able to articulate something concillitory which may have actually been a problem with someone who is on a faith journey.

I think the key with healthy online relationships is that they have some basis 'offline' as well. It may be too easy for there to be little accountability or reality undergirding the relationship if it only takes place in internet forums or blog comment lines. I am not saying this is always the case, but even those friendships I have developed with some overseas pastors, formed on the basis of mutual experiences, are relationships I have an innate desire to develop 'offline' as well.

While I don't like anonymous comments on this blog, because I think if you are going to say something, take accountability for it, I do allow them, because I hope the interaction can grow to the point where it allows for a certain vulnerability.

As our society and culture is already well and truly 'online', Pastors, those in the relationship and influence areas, need to have an online 'web 2' type presence. As people work more, and have less time free, Pastors need to be available (within their own boundaries of course) to interact with people, as people today are interacting.

(This post was formulated after a discussion with my good friend, Michael Bullard)

How would it be if you put on a beautiful birthday party for your son.
All the trimmings....you invite his friends, you wrap his presents, you prepare wonderful food.

Then after the day is finished, you turn to your son and you say, "I hate your birthday, its such a hassle".....



enjoy the day....enjoy Jesus' birthday...its fantastic!

Here is the multi-media I have done up so far for the Christmas Season, feel free to use it....let me know if you do.

Nativity Loop

Nativity Countdown

The Word Came (illustration on Jesus's coming)

Merry Christmas Countdown

The bottom two you can find on this blog, if you want to preview the top two, I suggest you go to http://markedwards.blip.tv/

to see the others.....

After his fellow journalist at the Sunday Times, Jay Clark, was compelled to apologise in this weeks Sunday Times for making a mistake last week about Mark Harveys contract length....

(Bad journalism) one might have thought that Kim Hagdorn would get it right.

Apparently even though he is paid full time, and apparently studies and knows both West Aussie footy sides, you would think he might get the players numbers right, especially when talking about those numbers specifically!

"Other attractive numbers on offer to Fremantle's eight new recruits include Matthew Carr's No.9 and departed ruckman Robbie Warnock's 21, made more famous by respected former big man Justin Longmuir." (source)

mmmm....good one Kim...you dork.

There is a lot of great things about being a pastor and involved in a church.
One of them is Sunday afternoon, relaxing after the glow of a great church service. The band did a great job this morning and we kicked off our new series, "how to enjoy Christmas"....I spoke on the 'Relly Bash"...how to enjoy Christmas with your relatives...My two main points were to create margins for yourself (boundaries) and also to invite Jesus to the party. Jesus first miracle was to turn 160 gallons of water into the best wine available....at a 7 day wedding party. He wants to be invited to the party....

Then...after that...back home with number one son as wife and daughter are off to a birthday party and we did what dads and their sons do...ate some smallgoods and a good loaf of bread....he is playing 'sponge bob' and I am reading the paper...aaah.

This is good....could use this for something.....

Lot on this week...hence not many postings.....
Getting ready for Christmas, January and AGM in February.
Budgets, multi media, Angus Buchan, Christmas services, holidays, fixing car...(oil, coolant, sparks, tyres)

and that is just the last two days.....

Has the 'missional movement' been given enough time to produce fruit?
Dan Kimball appears to be getting impatient as he writes,

"Small, indigenous churches are getting lots of attention, but where's the fruit?

I hope I am wrong. For the past few years, I have been observing, listening, and asking questions about the missional movement. I have a suspicion that the missional model has not yet proven itself beyond the level of theory. Again, I hope I am wrong"

The article he writes appears to me to ask some serious and compelling questions, comparing the growth of 'attractional' churches with the apparent lack of growth of those pursuing alternate methods of church.

"We all agree with the theory of being a community of God that defines and organizes itself around the purpose of being an agent of God's mission in the world. But the missional conversation often goes a step further by dismissing the "attractional" model of church as ineffective. Some say that creating better programs, preaching, and worship services so people "come to us" isn't going to cut it anymore. But here's my dilemma—I see no evidence to verify this claim."


I wholeheatedly agree that the measure of a method of 'church' needs to be, is it growing and seeing people move from non Christ follower to fully devoted disciple. Maybe I am a late adopter, or maybe its time for some serious re-evaluations of those who are the self appointed 'evaluators'

Article

Here is a shortish presentation I have made up based around John 1 and Philipians 2



You can download a quality copy by right clicking here
Please let me know if and how you use it.

In our family we are trying to create memories for our children that will sustain them with joy as they look back at their childhood.

One inititive we have taken up recently is family dessert night. When guests come over, you often make up a nice dessert....Family Dessert night is when we make up a beautiful one, just for our family to enjoy.

This week it was Rollover Pavlova time....

I am so blessed!!!

This is so hard! Trying to get 5 different people together for an important meeting, in a volunteer capacity....around Christmas time!

aaaargh!!!!!!!!!

This is a countdown I have made up for our Christmas service. In my own copy I have included our church logo, and also the song from Jars of Clay "when love comes down"


You can get a copy, without the logo and song by right clicking here.

Please let me know if you use it, and how....

Mmmmmmm...what do you eat for Christmas Lunch?
Today I went to some friends house and 'dedicated' their child in their backyard. Beautiful sunshine in their Freo backyard, lovely drink food etc.

Number one son is a real gourmet eater...at the age of 7. Straight past all the standard kids table and onto the cheese...dad...can I have some of this Gouda, and some Dutch smokehouse....a decent slice of cheese later, and he was checking out the olives and other condiments.

What does he want for Christmas lunch? None of that ham or pork dad, I want a seafood buffet, crab, crayfish, prawns and fish dad......


sigh..... :)

Watching Mark Driscoll's series on "The Peasant Princess" at the moment.
One thing he keeps saying, which really hit home for me, was this....'your wife should be the standard of beauty'...however she looks...that is beautiful...

Not hard when you have a pretty wife like I do....but in this image saturated society, a great reminder.

Here is an excellent example of some of the work of Muddy River Media.
I am going to use this in two weeks time, when I talk about dealing with the relatives at Christmas time. You can download this for free from http://www.muddyrivermedia.org/

I realise this post comes from a position of a fair amount of ignorance....so forgive me in advance but....

Since the crisis has kicked in our family...

1. has had its monthly mortgage greatly reduced, meaning we have maintained the level of repayment, but are seriously eating into the principle, with the promise of further cuts to come

2. Our petrol bill has been reduced by a third, I got petrol today for 1.08, when last month I was paying up to $1.55

3. We are receiving $2000 from our new best friend, Kevin Rudd, which will pay for our holiday next July

What concerns me
Every government in the world is instituting massive public works projects, including China. This is not good for our long term environmental goals
Seniors who are dependent upon their Super are suddenly discovering their net worth is halved or worse....
Young people who have been full of optimism and courage about their future, and thus were willing to dream, may now have to reassess their life goals.

that churches with 'Grace' in their title are normally anything but...

that people think a version of the scriptures which has been categorically proved to be one of the most innacurate....is the one they insist using...

that some folk insist that a song written in the 1800's is somehow more holy than those written in 2008.....

that some who insist the church be tolerant....then are very intolerant of the church....

that sometimes people's selfishness riles me...when I struggle with selfishness....

that I encourage people to show faith...but struggle with courage to follow through on my convictions....and be bold.....

These guys are awesome....and funny.
They are giving away a free piece of media in December, as they did last year.
Good stuff at the best possible price!!

Worship House Media

I love living where I do....and here is one reason why.

Wake up,
need to help beloved clean the house, she is in one of her cleaning moods...and the whole family gets caught up in the clean-a-thon....which is good...

Now.....the good part...
off to Lawleys for a loaf of divine Ciabata bread, and a lovely Danish for number one son....

Then down to the Barrista championships to see Jasper produce some stunningly good coffee...using his own blends ...(Postscript...my friend...2nd best in WA!! )

Back to my abode, pour myself the third flat white for the day...a long one this time, smear some butter on the bread....relax, read the West....aaaaahhh...watch some of the Test.

I am learning to be happy with who I am....and less concerned about what other people think of me....

I think this is important.

So many people have views on what a pastor should be, what they should do...
Obviously there is only one opinion that matters....Gods....
I have to continue to be grow in my joy with what I think God wants me to do, who He wants me to be.

There are so many who venture opinionon who a pastor should be, what they should do....they generally are not pastors....how much does there opinion matter? It does matter...but probaby a lot less that I sometimes demonstrate through my actons that it matters.

Yesterday I headed off about 5.30pm to hit the crap out of 70 golf balls at the Penninsula Golf Course.
I was looking for a parking spot and noticed that there was about 15....yes 15 great spots right near the course. Only problem was...they were marked STAFF....in fact they were even closer to the course than the disabled bays. Unbelievable.
How did this make me feel? Well it was obvious who was the most important person there, not the customers...the staff.

What do we do at church which makes the visitor feel they are the most important person? What do we do as a church which ensures that those who are not yet part of the church community know...that we care about them? That we are placing their needs in front of our own?

Just one small thing I do as the pastor.
I don't rush out of the building when my 'stage work' is done
I don't hide away in a 'prayer room' after the service.
I don't go straight to my friends first and laugh with them.

I go to the exit....quickly...before the visitors rush off.
I make sure that I shake their hands, and introduce myself.
I make sure that nearly everyone who came to church that morning sees me, hopefully says hello, and if they have a need, I get to hear about it.

Its not about the Pastor being more important than anyone else, but they do need to lead well....and lead through being available to serve.

The most important people to me on a Sunday morning are those I have never seen at church before, and those who I have not seen very much. I cant apologise for that. I am here to see the church grow.
Those who come to church every week, I also want to touch base with them, and care for them if needed, but my priority is those who are not yet part of our church community, and I want them to know it.

Here is an excellent little website.
Even better than zamzar.

Converts Youtube videos to whatever format you want, online....

http://www.vconversion.com/

Looking for your next contemporary Christian Christmas Carol?
Maybe you could get the guys to do this?

"With arms outstretched and nail-pierced hands, Jesus is saying, 'This is how much I love the world. This is how much I love the atheists, secularists, Democrats, and Republicans. And this is how much I love Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists. I love them so much it hurts. I love them so much, I’d rather die than live without them.'" - Rick Warren

The following post has nothing to do with my present church situation, thank God, but rather some stuff two friends are going through.

It follows typical and similar patterns.
Someone welcomes you with open arms...they are your best friend, your biggest supporter. Watch them....they will turn. When you stop dancing to their tune...you will become the devil incarnate.

Car park meetings, small group meetings. This is where the conflict is stirred up. Like a witch turning her pot..so the discontents turn their gossip.
The Pastor is very often the one under attack....why? Because their is so much money and power available (insert sarcastic smilie here)
No....often because he/she is a person dedicated to God, and His purposes. Often because they want something more for the church, for the church to grow, become missional, become relevant. For this...because he goes against the statue quo, against comfort, they are disrespected, gossiped about, openly slandered...and they are meant to take it, because they are the 'godly one'.

After fielding three conversations about this sort of crap this week, I reassured the people involved, they are not mad....it generally happens to us all.

Why do we put up with it? Many of us dont...we leave, we go do something easier. Our family suffers too much.
Others give in, and become the 'nice pastor' that people want us to be, but dont need us to be.

Others persevere and pray, and choose to lead with grace, strength and love, and true meekness. Not perfectly, plenty of humanity....but we choose to pray, persevere and lead none the less. And sometimes....heaven shines forth...and people are added to the family of God.

Spoke up at Toodyay Baptist Church today....stayed at a friends house and celebrated my wifes birthday.

Its a great church. Not big, but they are certainly punching against their weight.
They have a great facility on the main strip, with good audio visual equipment. They bought a former works factory building, and have renovated it
This is not only for them, but the building is used all week by various community groups, dancing, drum groups, parenting groups etc.

They also run saturday night family movies....which in a pretty quite Saturday night, attract a good crowd.
I was really impressed with their community minded outlook.

Enjoyed preaching there....but there is nothing quite like Inglewood... :)

Getting ready for a fantastic Christmas Season...
This year we are doing this series at church....
Carols at the Inglewood Civic Centre...and Christmas Day service as well.
Getting a banner made up (Western Landscapes $100 for a 2m x 1m Cheap!) and hanging it overlooking Beaufort St.
The local Cafe is sponsoring our carols....should be a great night!

Busy busy Christmas.....love Christmas!

Opportunity
remembrance
Carols
holidays to come...
summer....
sand, beach.....swimming with my kids...
food....
maybe some good coffee....

its all good....love it!

Great day in church today.
The service seemed to 'flow'....it seemed like seemingly radomn aspects of the service were all interelated and with common themes....
We introduced our Ministry Team Leaders and Leadership Team to the church, and stood and prayed for them all.

I served communion to all the leaders....who then in turn went on to serve communion to the congregation. It was a visual reminder that leaders are servants first...and not above anyone else....

Then...continuing the 'flow' thought...I then radomnly introduced a visitor from Brazil to another girl who came from Portugal...not thinking they spoke the same language...which of course they do. (duh!) and off they happily prattled to each other, and ended up organising for the visitor to attend a home group...God is good..and knows far better than me what needs doing.

Melinda made some incredible morning tea.....little savoury cheese, bacon, tomatoe scorll thingos...and some lemon butter scroll things...mmmmmm...scroll things.....

This is excellent.
Rick shows how the church can be the third leg on the stool to bring about real change in the environment, social and spiritual issues in the world.

So much social activity on Beaufort St today.
Went down to community centre to help set up for the Artisan Markets which our church administers. We set up a free bouncy castle and music, and look after the stall holders...its great.
About 30 artisan/craft and other stall holders....hive of activity and people.

Drove down the road, passed Mondo's butchers with their markets...
Bought some beautiful Ciabata Bread from Lawleys Market, picked up a coffee from the Beaufort St Merchant, just across from Elmars open street hot meat stall.....

I love living here!!

Do you think a Pastor should follow the example of Jesus? Be careful how you answer!!!

I reckon there is a great book to be written entitled, "How Jesus dissapointed people".

I might right a sermon on that.

Jesus often withdrew to pray.
He often abandoned the crowds clamouring for healing
He very often did the exact opposite of what the religious leaders of his day expected of Him....

He upset a lot of people.

As a pastor, I reckon we often dissapoint people, upset them, and withdraw from them. Maybe, when we are at our best, we are just following the example of Jesus.

The world changes.........

Truth is, if you has asked someone 15...or even 10 years ago, if someone called Barrack Hussein Obama could be elected the US President, they would have been reaching for the white coats....

I am glad about the decision the USA has made today. It may not prove to ultimately be the right choice, but I can find many reasons why it is a good decision.

He is black.......I am old enough to remember racism.....and still see it today. Barracks election has shattered a lot of preconceptions. We are all equal before God. The colour of the pigment of our skin is totally irrelevant.
I have seen the videos of how coloured people were treated in the US. This is just the truth, an ugly part of their history, as ugly as Australia's. Enough people in the US have seen past the colour of his skin, and their own predjuices...and voted for him, wonderful.

He is relatively young. He seems vibrant, he seems to challenge. After what I saw of him in a SBS documentary, he seems to have integrity. One person they interviewed said that when he was elected the president of the Harvard Law Students Society, many thought he would divide the group, and promote people on the basis of colour. He did not. He dissapointed many initially, but then....they discovered he was fair, and concillitory. This is what the US needs.

I don't think Mc Cain would have been a bad choice either. He appears to be honest, good humoured and reasonable.

But what is good, is that it appears the election of Barrack has occured without riots, violence or other such things which unfortunately characterise other elections around the world.

If I was a US citizen I have no idea who I would have voted for, honestly.
But as a citizen of the world, and a Christian, I will pray for Obama....God bless him.

Steve Addison has nailed it on the future of Baptists.
He points to some very serious questions we need to be asking of ourselves.

"Baptist membership has been falling since 1992.
The gap between membership and population growth has been widening since 1911.
Church attendance has been growing since 2003 but the numbers may not be accurate.
The number of churches is increasing.
The gap between number of churches and population growth has been widening since 1911.
Mainline Protestant churches are in serious decline which outweighs the growth in evangelical churches.
The Australian population is growing at unexpectedly high levels and will continue to do so."

But we probably all know this....what is important is solutions....
This in particular caught my attention....

5. Build a church planting movement
There is no secret regarding what a denomination must do to multiply
churches in a healthy sustainable way. This is what is required:
a. Clarify the vision and ownership for multiplication.
b. Recruit and select the right candidates to lead church planting
teams
c. Equip and coach leaders in the field.
d. Partner with healthy existing churches to plant churches that
reproduce
e. Intentionally grow the leaders who will plant churches in 3-5
years time
f. Ensure funding strategies are sustainable and will not inhibit the
growth of a church planting movement.
We know what to do. The question is are we willing to commit ourselves
to relentless implementation?

Full report

ps.....we do need a new logo as well Steve!!!

My indoor beach volleyball has entered the nexus of confusion.
We have not lost a set yet this season (a set is 3 games)
We are on top of the ladder
We all turned around tonight and realised..... we are the old farts of the competition. Seriously.
All of us are closer to 40 than 30...most of the teams we play against are 20-30.....

I doubt this nexus will continue....but I am enjoying it while it lasts!

A great crowd in at church today. Despite the fact I am sick sick sick, it was great to be at church.

An interesting comment from a visitor, who normally attends another church.
His comment, you have a real mix of all types of people, and we do.

About 50 kids under 12, a stack of parents, a few (very few) 40-50's and a good amount of the 'silver hairs'.
It is truly a generational church.
We try hard to do the blended type service well.
Most church growth manuals tell you that this does not work.
But with our songs, our worship leaders pick a good mix, but they are down in a contemporary style....but this seems to resonate with 99% of people.
This morning I caught a senior lady singing along pre service to one of the newest songs we do. That made me feel great.....
I read a lot, and read widely, and I think there is truth is a lot of material. But somehow our church does not have to follow the rules.