rhythm+hue
My musings, writings, observations, ideas, & thoughts about God, Life, and following Jesus in Suburbia.
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Archive for August, 2008
Getting over our “little kingdoms!”
I visited the VicRelief Foodbank yesterday to get inducted for the Dining Room. It was quite a humble experience, but it was something that came up in the induction that has bothered me.
The foodbank has over 700 agencies listed as being able to access the food. It came up in conversation that there are quite a few churches and agencies getting food from just the Croydon and Mooroolbark and surrounds areas. It was suggested that perhaps a group of these agencies could combine to do a “shop”, saving time, fuel, money and the staff and resources of the food bank itself. The problem is, we aren’t aware of the other churches handing food and welfare, some meal services sure, but on the whole, none of the myriad of agencies and ministries in this area know each other, let alone work for the same causes, and with the same motivation.
Even within the churches serving meals such as the Dining Room, there is fierce rivalry about days and spaces, money, food and people we serve in God’s name! This is sickening and disgraceful to say the very least.
After some thought on this, I thougt I might do a “census” of the ministries and welfare services within the area. I did one earlier for the churches in the Mooroolbark area earlier out of curiousity and disgust to find almost 15 churches in the one suburb of Mooroolbark, yet not working together in an area rife with poverty, homelessness and other social justice issues. I’ll post the PDF later when back home (on the iPhone at the moment).
It saddens me, and I am sure God, that we cannot work together in unity! Imagine the impact combined outpourings of love and resources could have on the community and imagine what impact that would have on the Kingdom! We, and I mean, those of us who profess to follow Jesus, have to get over ourselves and the need for our own little kingdoms! This means accepting others and getting over the man-made doctrines and crap we call denominations, to start outpouring the love we have been shown through Jesus!
I’ll be praying about doing this census, but would appreciate your prayers and thoughts!
Sorry for any spelling errors - using the Wordpress app on the iPhone!
Addendum: PDF of Map of Mooroolbark Churches Heres the map I mention earlier about the known churches in the immediate area.
Posted in Australia, Church, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal, Social Justice, church life, croydon, missional |
2 Comments »Suddenly my site is popular!
Seems the older post on Planetshakers, where I commented on an article in the Herald Sun, is drawing attention when folk search for Mike G (not idea how to spell it an not goign to try) and Planetshakers.
All I am going to add to this is… prayer and refer folks to Mark Sayer’s commentary on this mess.
Posted in Australia, Grace, church life, failure, megachurch, prayer |
No Comments »Sharing the heart and soul of The Dining Room
Myself, David K, and three other volunteers from The Dining Room spoke tonight at a gathering of local churches that have joined together to provide some welfare assistance as a group in their area. We were invited to speak about The Dining Room to a group of church leaders, volunteers and people who had been actively providing welfare assistance for the past ten years. (more…)
Posted in Australia, Jesus, Kingdom, Social Justice, church life, croydon, prayer |
No Comments »Reflections from a new Victorian drivers licence
Well, a couple of days ago my wife and I renewed our Victorian drivers licences. This gave thought and pause for reflection on a number of fronts. Do I mention that my wife was given a 25% discount for three years of exemplery driving with no tickets and fines! I didn’t mention the fact that I most of the driving! But, regardless I am proud of her and the discount!
Anyway, firstly it gave me pause to think about the past three years. Yeah, not long you might say but that was the last time I renewed my licence, or should I say that was when I changed back from a Queensland licence to a Victorian one - and the three years? Well it was cheaper than the ten years and at that time we were skint from the move back here! But that is besides the point (hey, I do have a tendency to become distracted!) - what gave me pause to think was about the period of three years. (more…)
Posted in Australia, Family, Grace, Jesus, Kingdom, Personal, Uncategorized, church life, church planting, failure, life, prayer |
No Comments »Channel 7 sucks… ok, maybe crass, but they stuffed up bad! (Again and again!)
I am supporter of GetUp, the social action group that rallies Australians to get together and make a statement about many issues that the Government needs to pay attention too.
GetUp organised to air a commercial urging our Prime Minister to not be silent about Tibet. GetUp raised support to produce and screen the ad during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. The ad was professionally produced, airtime booked professionally etc, etc but….. it failed to air. Here’s what GetUp had to say about this. (more…)
Posted in Australia, GetUp!, Media, Social Justice, Television, failure |
1 Comment »Test post from iPhone
Just a simple post from my iPhone, using the free Wordpress app. It took a while to work out the XML issues but now works a charm! Just have to used to the keyboard on the device!
Posted in Apple, Blogging, Personal |
No Comments »Empty Opulance
Wondered what to call this small piece. Settled for Empty Opulance as that were two words that spung to mind when viewing the images I am going to point you to look at now.
By USAmerican photograher Joe Johnston, the series is called MEGACHURCHES and can be found on his website.
Click through on the left, once the flash page has loaded, to PROJECTS then MEGACHURCHES and have a look at the many pics of USAmerican Megachurches - ok taken while they were empty, but still the vast opulance and offensive use of money is evident in EVERY picture. Have a good look and leave some comments here about it.
Posted in USA, Web, failure, megachurch |
No Comments »From little things big things grow…
I am reading a great book at the moment about the Church and getting back to it’s first love - Jesus, the book is Reimagining Church by Frank Viola.
I have been wating to join or form an organic church since reading Neil Cole and going through Forge.
So, I am at a loss as to where to begin besides Prayer - and I ask for you all to keep this in prayer too!
I will try an update tomorrow.
Posted in Australia, Jesus, Personal, church planting, croydon, prayer |
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