rhythm+hue
My musings, writings, observations, ideas, & thoughts about God, Life, and following Jesus in Suburbia.
-
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 »Becoming Anabaptist…
I have found myself lately considering my own faith and where is it is leading me.
I grew up in the church of Christ (non-denominational/accapella) where my father was a minister for a few years in Brisbane. So, for a couple of years we lived in USAmerica while he studied to become a minister with the churchof Christ. While, most of the folk I have met along my journey in the cofC have been wonderful, caring and loving folk, I must say that the cofC as a whole is very legalistic and extremely conservative. There are even a couple of unwritten beliefs that when expressed publically get denied.
Anyway, now as I approach forty and have travelled away from the cofC, done the Forge internship, and continue to read, pray and explore, I do find myself identifying more and more with the Anabaptist’s. I have been lent some great material from Bessie at Oikos about the Anabaptist’s which I am thoroughly enjoying.
I must admit that a small part of me still says No! It’s not the Church of Christ! Silly, I know! So, I continue to explore and question, pray and read, talk and listen to wiser ones than I. I believe that some of the reasons for identifying more with the Anabaptist’s has a lot to do with the stripping away of the man-made crap that has become religion and the church in the last few centuries (Pagan Christianity by Barna and Viola was a great read and help in this area)! Social justice and following Jesus as a disciple are other reasons for identifying with them.
But, at this stage, I also find myself going to a post-modern but kinda tradiitonal we’re-not-offcially-baptist-but-are-baptist church.
I’ll write more about this as I can. But as for prayers and any comments you may have!
Posted in Church, Jesus, Personal, life, prayer |
1 Comment »Why Mark is angry!
Mark Broadbent has two articles in the excellent Neoleader site about why he is angry about the church in the Western world. His most recent entry cites some excellent examples why we may not be experiencing success in our mission to share the gospel in Australia.
To many people I’ve met have told me that there’s a reason we are not experiencing evangelistic success in Australia: ‘Australians are just too hard to reach’. I certainly agree that we are not the most spiritual nation on Earth, but I just can’t buy into their argument.
HERE’S WHY:
We’ve given Australians every reason to walk away from Christianity…
1. Catholic priests committing pedophilia
2. TV evangelists asking for money
3. Boring Chapel Services at Private High Schools
4. Boring Church Services
5. Ned Flanders (I love the Simpsons, but Ned is not helping our cause)(If you’re not sure you agree, just watch an episode of The Chasers. They regularly find reasons to pay out Christians).
Go take a look here and here and share your comments here please!
Posted in Australia, Blogging, church life, missional |
No Comments »Reasons Muslims Convert to Christianity
A recent survey of 750 Christians who had converted from Islam revealed five common reasons why they choose to follow Christ.
- The lifestyle of Christians. Former Muslims cited the love that Christians exhibited in their relationships with non-Christians and their treatment of women as equals.
- The power of God in answered prayers and healing. According to the survey, experiences of God’s supernatural work increased after their conversions. Often dreams about Jesus were reported.
- Dissatisfaction with the type of Islam they had experienced. Many expressed dissatisfaction with the Qur’an, emphasizing God’s punishment over his love. Others cited Islamic militancy and the failure of Islamic law to transform society.
- The spiritual truth in the Bible. Muslims are generally taught that the Torah, Psalms, and the Gospels are from God, but that they became corrupted. These Christian converts said, however, that the truth of God found in Scripture became compelling for them and key to their understanding of God’s character.
- Biblical teachings about the love of God. In the Qur’an, God’s love is conditional; but God’s love in the Bible for all people was especially eye-opening for Muslims. These converts were moved by the love expressed through the life and teachings of Jesus.
Leadership Journal, Winter 2008, Vol. XXIX, No. 1, page 13.
HT: SA
Posted in Jesus, church life, muslim, prayer |
No Comments »Emergent Jewish Leaders meet Emergent Chirstian Leaders
Anyone care to comment after watching that?
Posted in Media, emergent |
No Comments »What is going on?
I wrote the following one evening recently but have been unsure whether to publish it… tell me what you think.
In the course of my studies I have been researching homelessness and poverty in Australia, and in particular, Melbourne, and recently I had the great pleasure to go meet a lovely woman who works for the Salvation Army at a Crisis center here in Melbourne. After a tour of the fantastic facilities and meeting the others staff, we sat for a coffee and chat. A great hour and I was extremely thankful for the chat.
But, it further fueled my righteous anger to understand that local churches weren’t offering to help this crisis centre - something that we have found at The Dining Room (TDR). However, before I rant, I must say that there are some churches and schools in the area who are helping TDR, but let me emphasize - some out of many. We have some churches in the local area that are perched on acres of land, some with schools on the property and some without, and some with empty buildings and some that have a handful of people meeting in them.
Posted in Australia, Church, Fund raiser, Politics, Social Justice, church life, croydon, human rights, prayer |
No Comments »Reggie McNeal - It’s AD30 All Over Again!
One the men I love and respect as a teacher and mentor, Alan Hirsch, recently had this fantastic video of Reggie McNeal speaking on his blog. It was very powerful and thought provoking I wanted to share it with you. (HT Alan)
Addendum - In case you missed it or are reading this in an RSS reader, Brad Brisco has let me know there is another video of Reggie speaking about the same thing on his blog, as well as a link to the audio of both talks. Thanks Brad - I would also recommend adding Brad’s blog exploring missional church to your reading.
Posted in Blogging, Jesus, Kingdom, Media, Web |
3 Comments »
Recent Comments