• Getting over our “little kingdoms!”

    NiallAugust 29, 2008

    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 |
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    So, early Christians did meet in a Church Building!?

    NiallJune 11, 2008

    I was reading my RSS reader this morning over a coffee and almost spilt my coffee over myself and my laptop when I read one of the headlines streaming from the ABC. The headline was “World’s first church unearthed in Jordan” - so, there I was thinking they had unearthed a mass grave of early Christians, slaughtered by the Empire of the time.

    But no. The article goes on to say that archaeologists have unearthed a shelter, or place where early Christians hid. (more…)

    Posted in Church, Media, Web |
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    Burma Benefit Gig

    NiallMay 25, 2008

    Some of the guys we travel with at Eastern Hills Community Church are running an over 18 benefit gig soon to benefit UNOH’s work in Burma. I hope you guys out there can spread the word and hopefully get a crowd together for the evening! There is also a Facebook group to join and spread the word to benefit this cause.

    When: Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 8:30pm

    Where: Ruby’s Lounge, 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave

    $10 at door and proceeds going to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.

    Bands include: Selahphonic, She’s an Ocean, Megan Woods, and David Powys

    Posted in Australia, Church, UNOH |
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    Biting the younger generation

    NiallJanuary 22, 2008

    I wasn’t totally surprised to see an article in Sunday’s Herald Sun here in Melbourne about Planetshakers church. For some time now I have been thinking about church and what it means to be the church and wondered specifically about Planetshakers and some of the larger churches in light if Pagan Christianity which I have been reading. But, I guess I was more taken with the fact that the article exposes what PS wants to do with all the money it is taking from the younger generations.

    (more…)

    Posted in Australia, Church, Media |
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