"Over-against us"

Don Carson says "God stands over-against us in wrath"
I like that. I think I'll use it.

Reading biographies

I am really bad at reading biographies.
The majority of biographies I have read have been of musicians.
In fact, I haven't read a single biography of any of my favourite Christian authors, and just realised this was a poor oversight.

The other day, I heard an interview between Mark Driscoll and Don Carson, and hearing that really put Carson's writing into a much more illuminated context for me.

And I realised that where we as Christians need to be discerning of what we read, and testing it against the Bible, we can have a better understanding of authors and their motivations if we read their biographies.

So, I'm gonna get stuck into some soon.
Wish I had realised this earlier.

Reflections at Christmas time

Christmas is going to become more and more important as the years go by, as the Emerging church gets more popular (Or is it dead? Sorry, just touching some nerves :P), and similar liberal view of Christian spirituality permeate our culture.
As things like the virgin birth get called into question, the deity of Christ, the authority of the Bible, the historicity of the Bible, Christmas will become a time where the two views, that of Biblical Christianity and of extreme liberal christianity, will need to ask again and again these questions.

While the whole world looks on.

It will become a time where we can speak of Christ the way the Bible speaks of Christ, and where we can share with those who think they know the Gospel the real truth and weight of what it means to believe in a humble Saviour, divine yet human, took sin for us yet exalted, gave us the gift of new life by faith yet deserves all our praise by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Christ, born The King of our lives.

Some helpful things I just read:
C. J. Mahaney looks at the disturbing nature of the Birth of Christ, and why it's important to see it this way here

Albert Mohler revisits why the virgin birth is important to Christian belief here

"Here's a big idea: Everything belongs to God"

Mars Hill is currently doing a series on Generosity, in 4 parts from 2 sermons.

I've been finding it excellent, and really helpful to refocus my understanding of money and generosity.
And it's really encouraging to be reminded that I have the ability to be generous, and that I can be excited about it, rather than ticking the checkboxes and feeling like I've filled my moral responsibility.

I really liked how he described tithing.

You can find the video podcast Here

'Cultural relevance'.. or cultural snobbery?

Often this passage is used to justify a new expression of church, in the name of cultural relevance:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

And it's a fair call, I myself subscribe to a modern church methodology. But are we at risk of becoming the new cultural snobs?
I can't help but think that hip music, no robes or rites, 'missional' language and preaching to the postmodern persuasion is alienating many from the Gospel.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Are we possibly becoming too much of a Gentile to the Gentiles at the expense of becoming a Jew to the Jews?

A page a day..

I am about to embark on an adventure of writing to encourage me to look more deeply into the Scriptures.

To set aside some time in each day, maybe as little as 30 minutes, to reflect and write only a page on what I have read in God's Word, and how this can apply to my life.

I don't intend to blog these reflections, at least not in the interim, but to put pen to paper, engage the body in writing as well as the mind in thought and spirit in prayer.

The thoughts also won't be as well rounded as a blog post either, I've come to the conclusion that loose ends don't always need tying off, at least not when simply reflecting for personal reasons, as opposed to preaching or constructing a topical paper.
I'm hoping this might help me to allow scripture to speak more into those blank spots, and I get to make revisions of my writing.

In any case, I'm looking forward to it.
Any thoughts?

I'm back..

Well, it has been some time.
And at Pryderi's prompting (in the encouraging fashion) I am again writing blogs.
Please assist me in keeping it up, comments are kind of like the scriptures as described in 2 Timothy 3:16..

"..useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"

and being the wretched sinner I am, I need all the help I can get!

Sadly, unless your comments are quoting the Bible, claiming 'God breathed' may not be what I'm encouraging here.. But don't be put off, comments are still welcome!

Glad to be back :-)

Completion?

Well I've blogged about my lists, and I've blogged about my need for direction, now I'm going to blog about getting things done.. or more accurately, not getting things done.

Tim from my church shared something with me when we were discussing leadership and leading groups, to help me lead a group in moving forward with goals. It's called 'The Experiential Learning Theory' and the basic idea is that we learn by Experiencing something, Reflecting on that experience, Theorising about the Experience, and then Applying that Theorising, which then becomes another experience.
I've just done a botch job of explaining it, there is better explanations here.

The secondary part of the theory that I found particularly helpful, was that people tend to excel in one of these four areas, as Activists, Reflectors, Pragmatists, and Theorisers. None of these groups are mutually exclusive, as the theory dictates we need all in order to learn.
Within a group working together, there tends to be a mix of these, and there is a tension between them. As the leader of the group, it would be my job to ensure we didn't get stuck in one area, but let the cycle continue.

I tend to gravitate toward the area of being a Theoriser. And will sometimes need the assistance of a Pragmatist or and Activist in order to achieve something, otherwise I tend to be happy to remain in my theory land. But sometimes the theory is just so exciting, you have to try it out, give it a whirl.

Attraction

I was talking to my mate Mike recently. We have fairly candid discussions. The other day I found myself discussing with him what I found attractive in a Christian woman. He reckoned it was worth blogging about. So here it is I suppose. I hope you believe me! :-P

The biggest thing for me, and probably the first thing I notice about someone, is their servant attitude. And sometimes, this hits me for six.
I find that there is an inherent beauty in someone who has a servant heart. Someone that is willing to be the one that helps out preparing or cleaning up, someone who will go out of their way to give you a ride, someone that will always look for an opportunity to bring a bit of light into someone else's life.
Coupled with quiet humility and joy, and I just lose it. This is probably why:

Where someone humbly serves another, it's a beautiful example of following the two greatest commandments. The humility, avoiding glory for ones actions or intentions brings all the more glory to Christ. This is an example of loving God, and not seeking their own glory.
The act of service itself is a response to Christ's commandment that we love one another, and shows Christ's Lordship over their life, and to do it with Joy.
And if a girl shows that to be an important part of her life, I just can't go past it! I can't help it.. I guess God has granted me the appreciation of the work of this nature he does in his servants. Other considerations follow.. so no, don't worry, I don't fall for every girl on the planet.. :-D

But for all those people, male or female, who have shown me such love, I want to say thankyou, and I praise God for your gifts, and I encourage you to use them in every opportunity you get.. Thankyou for being a wonderful example to me.

Beach Soccer

It's coming up to the summer holiday season, and it's about the time when people start pulling out the BBQ, hitting the Gym, going to Music festivals and eating too much Icecream.

An initiative of Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Hobart is the 'Endless Summer of Love' (Their brochure is here and here)
This is an excellent encouragement to actively seek to use those summer months for the furthering of the Gospel.

Along independent but similar lines, I am looking to begin somewhat of a Beach Soccer mission or ministry.
I don't know how it's going to take form yet, there are many ideas going round in my head, but here are a few currently in focus:
- Provide regular (weekly) game/games of soccer on a Sandy bay beach. (local for most)
- Provide an opportunity for Christians and non-Christians to mix in fun, team based, but completely informal sport. Extending to potentially a few games running simultaneously.
- Potentially Christians can provide food or drinks weekly for those attending and spending time after playing sharing a meal together.
- Prayer time before and after our games, and seeking opportunity to invite our friends along to church, or where our model of church may not resonate with them, invite them to a different church!
- Actively initiate healthy discussion on issues of faith amongst those attending.

My difficulty is in knowing how far to go. This is essentially 'pre-evangelism' (not so much a fan of that concept, as pre-evangelism is still evangelism in my mind) and will depend on the individual to use the opportunity to expose their friends to the Christian community, and seek the support from fellow Christians to talk about topics of faith.

Any thoughts, suggestions, critiques? Feel free to pass on this blog if you feel others can contribute to the discussion, I'd appreciate the input!

Edit: I must give much credit to my friend Hannah, who got 'the ball rolling' and had all the enthusiasm!

Small Groups II

Our system at Wellspring is not without flaws, and in its initial form, was difficult to operate in.
One casualty was the Live Music Missional Team.
This was my team.
Where the system failed was in community. The focus was very external, the object, to reach people with the Gospel. The method, to go out and be community. People were invited to join missional teams where they felt they shared a common interest, and engage with the team's general direction
The idea was sound, the execution, not so sound. We may have wanted to be community, but in fact had never fostered a growth of community before setting out. We lacked a lot of direction, and were not sure of the way forward.
This, at least in the Music team, is in large part my fault, and a difficult lesson to learn.

I am grateful for the recent refining of our small groups. It allowed for the pruning of some of our old ideas and the introduction of new ideas to include and encourage the natural desire of some of the quiet leaders of our service. The result is a healthy and growing interest in joining small groups, studying with one another in community, where we can invite others in. The live music team can still have life, but to be successful, it's basis needs to be in Christ, community with Christ, community with one another, and then the extension into the community large.

Direction

I have previously blogged on my love of Lists.
I have similar feelings about Direction.

I am definitely a directional man. I love taking directions, and I love giving directions. Often I won't embark on a project unless it is clear to me the aims of the project and often also its expected outcomes, in other words, I like whatever I am doing to be driven with a direction in mind.
This includes baking cakes.
When working with others, I have a tendency to demand some form of direction be set, and often roles to be designated. I guess it's a mannerism of mine. I like to be organised in this manner.

Sometimes I like to 'see how things go', but often, and to be honest, I struggle with this idea.

Small Groups

I know Mikey loathes the word Missional. But the title of my blog contains the word, so I shall use it. Now I've conceded that, I will go on to talk about 'missional stuff' :P

At Wellspring Resonate, we have a desire to equip members of our church to live a life of witness in all areas of their lives. One way we do this is through our small groups.
The model is changing, developing, and our recent expression of it is called 'Communities'.
Communities is designed to serve both those inside the church, and outside the church, with bible-based studies, prayer, support, accountability, and the most important and obvious thing: true community.

In our small-group model, we have a system, where a member of the church will step up, or be invited to lead a small group. Some of these small groups have a focus in a particular part of our culture, eg. Live music, Outdoor/Adventure, Book Clubs, Mentoring. Others are simply called 'Tuesday Night community group' or 'Monday Night community group'. All these groups were previously called missional teams, as the focus was and is one of mission. Now there is greater focus on building one another up, we have adopted the much more inclusive name of 'Communities'.

Wisdom and Youthful ambition

About the quote, bear with me. I felt it important to quote it before commenting (sorry there isn't the greatest context for the passage):

1 Timothy 4
"¹¹Command and teach these things. ¹²Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. ¹⁶Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

I had a conversation with my friend today about churches that are falling by the wayside, and specifically she was talking about her Gran's church. She spoke of a young pastor who came into the church and set about changing everything. Many of the elder members of the congregation left, until it was just my friend's Gran remaining. And her only reason to stay was out of a sense of duty, in essence to be a reminder that the older members of the church needed to be pastored as well. The church community is suffering the loss badly.

And I had a think about that.
And I thought it was concerning and important to think about.
In my youthful ambition, I can have ideas, and they may be good ideas, but without proper spirit-filled wisdom, and bad timing, and most likely a feeling of self-importance, I can find myself hurting Christ's church.

Paul writes to Timothy to set an example to those that are older than he is, through the way he speaks, the way he acts, and the way he loves. But primarily, Paul reminds Timothy to preach the Gospel, and this example is what will come if he applies it (the gospel) to his own life too.

This passage is both an encouragement and a warning.
We may be young and passionate, and we shouldn't be held in contempt because of this, but we are also under the Gospel, the message we wish to preach, and it is just as relevant to us.
Let us be wise, with a wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit, to teach the word setting an example through our actions, and our attitudes.
If our heart is on the Gospel, I would suggest that it wouldn't result in the migration of the older generation.

The Christian/Atheist debate

I am becoming increasingly tired of the Christian/Atheist debate.
Below I made mention of the Dawkins-Lennox debate, but I'm not just thinking of that, I'm thinking closer to home.
Recently I have been having a few discussions with Atheists via facebook. Mainly I have been acting as an arbiter, or simply discussing the Bible on it's own terms. I'm not into the Philosophy, and neither am I qualified to answer. Plus it can be a little dry.

But all this makes me wonder.
Is Christianity engaging the Atheistic community helping, or is it increasing the problem?
Are we simply giving tools of rejection to those who might otherwise accept the Gospel?
It seems the more we defend, the more voices that become educated in atheistic thought and come against us.

I'm also finding that in discussion, when coming back to the Bible, so much more gets discussed and considered. I don't think I'll become an apologist. I just want to preach the Gospel man.

"he will simpy be remembered as wrong"

I was having a conversation with my Dad today, about the Dawkins-Lennox debate. (Thanks Jolly) My Dad and I have a lot of interesting discussions, as he is a self titled Christian evolutionist, as he's a background in extensive but incomplete education in most areas of tertiary science and medicine. (I don't feel that puts him in a box) And I'm a Creationist as far as the bible takes me into the scientific discussion. (Neither, I feel does this put me in a box) and we differ on things that are not Gospel issues.

My Dad has a lot of Dawkins' books, and as I spoke to my Dad today, he was telling me that it is apparent to him that Dawkins wants to be remembered as much as Darwin:

"But I feel he will simply be remembered as wrong,"
He went on, after a pause that is so Characteristic of my Dad's conversation style,
"not in the Christian/Darwinism debate, but purely in evolutionary science."

Blogfast: partial failure.

I know, a week early.. I wasn't doing very well keeping away from the blogsphere. I found myself not only returning because you hear about what's going down in the blogsphere from people in the real world, but also because I would search the internet for things, and interestingly enough, most of the world is running their own blogs, not websites anymore! And people posted bloglinks on facebook.. I think next time both need to go, and not for as long a time.

But having made the (not so good) effort, I have noticed and learned a few things:

- It is unsettling that there are certain things that have become or are becoming designated blog discussion only, like talking about sexual issues, pornography and politics. I am glad it's being done, but is it easier done on blogs? And is it adequate?
Back in primary school, before blogs and the internet in fact, there were a lot of 'special books' and people brought in who didn't know you to discuss untouchable subjects. Why will it never be a personal thing?
-My current main source of written Theological influence is a blog. A corporate one, but a blog nonetheless. Is this a worry? Will books be better?
-The world is becoming segmented into bite sized pieces. I'm labelling it neither good nor bad, just interesting. But in light of this, what does this mean for educational blogs? Are we getting holistic information? Are we also adding to the simplifying of everything?
-We are spending our time talking more than ever, as everyone has an opinion, and will develop there own online opinion. Does this mean we listen less?

Just some thoughts and reflections.

I am going on a Blog fast..

I spend such a long time with my head in the blogsphere.
This isn't always a bad thing, but to a certain degree it distracts me.
I read I write I learn, but more often than not I just waste time, because I am reading opinions rather than hard facts.
So I am going on a blog fast, starting tomorrow, until November the 1st, and taking all that time I enjoy in the blogsphere, and making it extra time I spend in the bible.

The next challenge is to take on facebook. *gasp*
See you in a month.

Mission update #1

Well..
This is the first of many MANY posts that are my mission updates.

At the moment I'm in my very early stages of preparation..

My current preoccupations:
- Needing to find a full-time Job so that I can save for the trip (My current guess-timations are sitting at $10k).
- Working with Tim on where I will be going and what I may be doing.
- Trying to understand the complicatedness that is going overseas.
- Reading reading reading and learning about Cambodia.
- Setting dates to aim for.

If you feel like praying for me, these are the things I need prayer for at the moment (plus some other things I guess!)

Quick to listen..

A conversation I had today:

"I don't think he would listen, 'cause I'm new [to church]."
"It's the new people we want to bring in.. so it's the new people's opinions that matter most!"

How often do we listen to the voice of the new-comer or the visitor?

Bother..

And here I was thinking I was being original..
other people have been Imagining* about the 'Hymn of the Atheist' too.. check it out:

http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/09/imagine-no-sill.html

*pun wholeheartedly intended

Losing freedom..

"Christianity's claim to being the truth takes away my freedom.. all truth is relative"

"Post-modernism's claim to relativism takes away my freedom.. to believe the Gospel"

Listening and Blogging.. Mutually Exclusive?

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.."

I think James wrote this knowing that some time in the future there would be people blogging on the internet.

Imagine..?

"Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today"

This is the reality of so many people, living life for a 'heaven' in which Jesus doesn't exist.
Where Christ's atoning death counts for nothing as we live our daily lives pretending the biggest moment in recorded history was simply an unfortunate event for a man and his family.
Lennon describes the Atheist's heaven, which becomes the ultimate Hell. Separation from God.

I don't need to imagine John, I can see the people living for today all around me.. and it makes me sad.

Lennon's song was supposed to be one of hope.
The reality is probably better reflected in the cover by A Perfect Circle.

Spurgeon Quotes #1

This is a bit of a funny one..

"Well," says one, "I like to be my own master." Yes, and that involves two things - first, you have a very bad master; and, next, your master has a fool for his servant! But he who takes the Lord Jesus Christ as his Master will be rightly and wisely guided - and hence arises the comfort of such a relationship. - A King Sent in Love (2760)

A bit of *Driscoll* controversy..

Tim Challies makes comment on Mark Driscoll..
He brings a voice of reason to the discussion on Driscoll's style.
Love or 'Hate' MD it's a good read.

A bit of Controversy..

The chorus of a popular and much anticipated rock song* of 2006 goes like this:

"I need to watch things die
From a good safe distance
Vicariously, I
Live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same so
Why can't we just admit it"

In context, the song is talking about watching death on the television, via the news and other programs: "Stare like a junky into the TV"

But having a listen tonight for the first time in a while had me thinking, is this not true of our experience as Christians if we aren't getting out there and spreading the Gospel?
You might react and see this as harsh.. but if we aren't actively seeking to share the Gospel, are we just living while the whole world dies?


*the song is Vicarious by the band Tool. If Maynard knew I was linking his music to sharing the Gospel I think he'd be sick, many times.

Gospel according to..

Second hand information can be good.. but sometimes it's really helpful to get back to the source.

This has never been more true than with the Gospel.
In the big bad world of evangelism so many people have their own idea of the Gospel, and preach it daily..:

• "Jesus was just a man"
• "The Gospels of Mark, Mark 2.0 (Luke), Mark 2.1 (Matthew), and John are all literalist revisioning of a Pagan Mystery religion."
• "There was no literal Jesus."
• "The Good News is there's a sale on Mormon ties and hoodies"

In our present post-christian society (anyone got a technical term for this?), we have the challenge of preaching and ministering the Gospel to those who have already "heard it" today..
They'll accept anything as Gospel..


..without reading it themselves.

How can we be challenging the secular world to be opening the Bible before creating their own version of the Gospel?

The Ps, the Es, and a little Irony

I just can't dig politics.
Nor economics.

I just don't quite understand them.
I know their value, and I know, in a sense, we need them both.

And as a Christian it's certainly something I need to be mindful of.

But I could never blog about it.
This is ok, because One Salient Oversight covers it. (I can't pretend to understand most of what he talks about.)

If he blogged about NIN or Rage Against the Machine (bands in his favourite music list that I am known to be a little fond of), then I would understand the content.. Ironically enough, both bands bang on about politics and economics..

Edit: if you rearrange P(s) E(s) and I(rony) you get PIE.. not related, but yummy.

A quote to ponder..

John Piper at the Resurgence National Conference 2008 - Text and Context

"I think the way to be faithful to John Calvin, insofar as he was true, is to stay faithful to his book, which is right here [the Bible], not the institutes. And so the way to push the truth of any system that you think has got some truth in it, is not to wave the banner of the system, but to wave its foundations here, talk about [the Bible]"

any thoughts?

EDIT:
Taken from a live Q and A with American Pastors John Piper and Matt Chandler. Full vid here

"In the world, not of the world.."

A common phrase.
But what does this really look like?

How much should we be removed from the world?
To what degree should we involve ourselves in the activities of this world in order to win people to Christ?

There are the extremes.
The Exclusive Brethren are at one end, our 'lapsed' brothers and sisters at the other.

We are called to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), and shine like stars in a depraved generation (Philippians 2:12-18). We are also called to do all things to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:23-33).

Does this define our behaviour in certain contexts, or, does it define which contexts we place ourselves to behave?

Are we to witness in every place, or is there places or contexts that we cannot witness?

Can we also participate in the world, for necessity (say our Jobs), being witness to Christ to the best of our ability?

Lists

I'm a guy who loves lists.
I'll list anything if it helps me grasp a concept or a requirement sooner than it takes to write the list.
Often they don't function as a checklist, but more a 'know list' things to be aware of. Keeps me a little more aware.

The other day I started a list, but, more of a checklist, for all the costs and other time consuming things involved with going to Cambodia.

It's huge!! And sobering..

and getting bigger.. :-s

A call to Ministry?

It's all well and good to want to go into ministry, but a challenge set to me by a close friend of mine today was to ask the question: "Is God truly calling me into ministry?"

And to be honest, the question floored me.

My desire is to see people saved, by the one whom saved me, Jesus Christ my Lord. I also feel that God has gifted me to minister about Jesus to those who are lost, as I also feel he has equipped all of us to minister in our own ways about Jesus.

But does this become an answer to the question? Is God truly calling me into ministry?
On the surface, and in part, yes it does. As Jesus, in what is famously called 'The Great Commission', has instructed us to go out and make disciples of all nations.

But what about life service? What about actually becoming a pastor of a church, a leader of the flock?
How can you know?

I'm not sure, but a few things that were made clear to me:

Firstly

John 12:24-26 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

It needs to be a daily commitment. Death to yourself, follow and serve Christ.
My friend said that each day is the same prayer 'Lord, that you might use me for your good and perfect will, and not my own will."

Secondly
God's call to ministry starts yesterday. Generally speaking, There is no starting point, there is no defined beginning and end to someones ministry, but it is something they have a desire to do, and ministry is the natural progression from that, by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly
There will be refinement, and there will be challenges and trials.

2 Timothy 4:5 "As for you, always be sober minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."


Any thoughts?

Moving toward mission..

Hey There!
Welcome to my mission blog!

I guess this blog is a space for me to share some thoughts about mission and ministry in the lead up to my mission trip to Cambodia in 2009, and heading toward starting an MTS apprenticeship in 2010, plus some general thoughts on some general things.. Generally..

I'll be updating this with small and large updates, please keep returning to see how things are going!

Al