tHEOBLOBY

1 thessalonians

2010-06-10T13:12:00.001+12:00

GIANTS EXIST...OR DO THEY
I saw this picture the other day...giants exist...

Pizza 56 m high...so how tall is this person?

It's a trick of the light isn't it... our eyes that see in 3 dimensions, and normally perceive depth are tricked because in the photo there is no way of showing depth and perspective accept by blurring objects in the back or foreground....

I wonder whether sometimes our relationship with God is like that…
Whether sometime we get a sense of false perspective
whether sometimes our view of God is dwarfed by our feelings and experience and that our God is just way too small and sometimes our problem in the perspective of where we stand can seem so much bigger…

TESTIMONY
Christian when I was 21 – grown up in a Catholic church and attending a Catholic school but no real understanding of what the whole things was on about…
I guess for me it all came to a head when I was taking my final exams... In RE, I got a grade U…upgradeable
I took that to mean that I did not understand Christianity and I didn’t understand God…so after 16 I turned my back

At 21 people entered my life who lived out the truth, and I was converted…
But it’s only looking back on it I realize now that my God was just way too small.

Sure I knew that God had created the universe and me, and you… that type of thing, but I struggled to trust him with the every day things...
I guess it’s that PERSPECTIVE PROBLEM
When I put my problems and stood them against God, my problems dwarfed god
He was in the distance… and my problems looked much bigger…

Now the obvious answer to this problem is one of relationship.
Donna Marie brought this up last week,
the more we are open to relationship with God the more that relationship develops an attitude of trust,
and we come to a realization that our God is bigger....
Relationship is the key to seeing your God as bigger
Relationship is key to shifting the perspective of your problems on to his Will being done

so the question is then how do you increase this relationship with God…
How do you get to know God more…?
The standard answers relate to spending time with God.
Pray. MORE
Read your Bible…. MORE
Worship …MORE

While all these things are good and they do help, the reality is that in the world we live in it’s far easier to access these things,
To attend Church regularly
To worship with some great music in the style of your choosing
And to read bibles in many ways with countless different translations
We have more churches in a town like Blenheim than supermarkets
We have christen books shops
Christian TV
Christian radio
And even Christian fashion
And yet still I encounter people everyday whose God is just way too small.

Time, access and Knowledge in themselves don’t seem to deepen the relationship

SMALL GOD< SELF FAITH
It's an important idea to get your head round because if your God is not big enough then you'll start to think everything that happens in your faith is about you...
you'll think worship is about the music you like
sharing the gospel is about you doing all the work. Like a sales man getting the deal
you'll think prayer is about what you need...
Is your God big enough?

Were beginning to look at Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians…

I think it might help us in understanding some ways in which we can increase the size of our God.

How it came into being... THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS...
A lot of what we don know outside of the letter comes from the book of Acts chapter 17.
When Paul arrived there he immediate went to work in the synagogues gatherings of the Jews, talking to them about Jesus...
We also know that he went to work in the marketplace – probably using his position as a tent maker – or leather worker to share the gospel.

Three weeks later a disturbance occurred – some of the Jews from the synagogue took offence at what Paul was saying and basically drove him out of town…

This left a handful of baby Christians--probably no more than 2 months old in their faith--all alone in the center of a pagan community.
So after Paul settles in the Greek city of Corinth, he writes these two letters to his friends in Thessalonica.
You have got to wonder, what could Paul possibly do in three weeks?
How could Paul possibly develop these people enough to be able to stand on their own two feet and to trust in God…?

READING
Relationships take time don’t they?
Building trust in God is a long term process….
I mean if I could be part of a church and church school for 16 years and come to the end of that time and get a U in my RE exam you have got to wonder what these Thessalonians could possibly know about God…

How could they possibly no the intricacies of the Christian faith and come to that depth of relationship that we all need…
3 weeks is just not enough or is it….

But there was evidence that there faith was not only real, but alive and that in that time and the few months that followed from Paul being among them to writing this letter there faith was growing.

They were bearing fruit...
1 They were an example to other believers –
2 they had turned from idols
3 they were serving God

They certainly don’t have it all together but there perspective on God was causing them to reflect his work in their lives

BACK IN PERSPECTIVE
In this first chapter we can see some objects which should help us put the picture of our God back into focus,
that should help us generate some depth perception, that should help us see that we truly serve an awesome, incredible, wonderful God

V3 …
In their Christian lives Paul has seen first hand… in the 3 weeks he was with them
The work they do which is a result of their faith
The labor which is a result of their love
And Their steadfastness which comes from the hope they have

They worked on their faith…didn’t just sit back and expect it to happen
Now we know that these guys faced opposition,
I guess one result of that is that we can often just back off completely.
I mean no body wants to be disliked...
But in spite of this they pressed on.
They say faith is like a muscle? It needs to be worked, and some of the best training you can do on your muscles is resistance training…
Having your faith tested will deepen your relationship with God

On top of that, what they face causes them to pull together – they don’t go through their problems alone
But with each other,
They love each other,
I think we all know that loving others is not always that easy.
It’s easy to love those who are like us but people who are different can be scary
the reality is that is loving those who are different we open ourselves up to God more; it grounds us in god’s Love and deepens our relationship.

To top it off they had hope,
In the midst of the situation the good news that Jesus has died, risen from the grave, ascended to be with His father and promised that he would return again for them was giving them hope.
Like walking around in a dense fog and then suddenly being lifted out of it they were able to see a future for them... A future that was secure in God.
The glimpse of the end, gave them a purpose for living in the present,
persecution, trials and problems were temporary

V4
they were chosen…
Chosen by God...
this is one of them realities that we often find it hard to get our heads around.
And far too often we take it as meaning something it does not...
I think most of us have had an experience of being chosen at some stage...
Being picked for the football team...
It's often down to skill, ability, worthiness
you are chosen because you are good...
In God's reality that is not what it means...

Another way we could look at this is that in terms of a relationship,
God has chosen to have a relationship with you...
Whether you choose to return that relationship is your business...many don't
Many just choose a relationship that sees God as a cosmic butler...
They choose to respond to God when they have needs...
Is that really relationship, or using someone?

What it means to be chosen is that God has done 99.99% of the work in building this relationship - but we still need to respond.
He sent his son to die in your place...he didn't have to do this , this was his choice
Now none of us deserve this, In God's eye's if this was the 1st 15 he was picking we wouldn't even deserve to be on the bench.
But God thinks you are worth it...
Not because of any merit of our own, but because He is God, it's pure grace.

God is committed to this relationship, to help it to happen he even send his Spirit, to help and guide us.

Our response is the issue; will we accept the fact God has chosen us to have relationship with him?
It's our perspective of God that is too small, not out God.

V6
the final way that they developed their relationship was through the subtle art of Imitation.
This seems to have been something that Paul saw as being key to helping those Young in the faith....
They didn't have the amount of knowledge and the depth of time in this relationship with God, so Paul calls upon them to imitate me...
He was a role model of what the Christian faith should look like of what relationship with God should look like...
And because of that not only would Paul sought to deepen his relationship with God, so would they...
Even at this tender stage in their faith the Church of Thessalonica was a role model.
A witness, they were being looked at
people were talking of how they were living for Jesus.
We are all role models in the faith to other people...
I think some of us are bad role models... not all the time. But when we loose our rag
maybe we model something that is not Christ like.
When we snub people it doesn't speak of Christ's love.

When we would rather argue and condemn people than show Christ’s love we are being bad role models...
I have to watch this, you have to watch this. That fact that we are role models should cause us to seek to deepen our relationship.

I want to be like Jesus, because people see Jesus in Me.
I want to be more like Jesus because when people look at me that is what I want them to see.

You don't need a degree in theology, a dog collar or a halo to do this; you just need to be open to God's relationship...
He's done the work; we just need to be open to receiving that work
to letting God be seen in us.
To changing our perspective.

If you want to increase your depth perceptions of the majesty of God
Then live out your faith
Love those around you
Live in light of the hope you have
Recognize your chosen ness – God wants relationship with you
Imitate those who have been walking the walk longer than you and be a good role model too others – seek to be Christ like

At the end of the day what will increase the size of God in your life is the depth of your convictions
The Thessalonians were absolutely convinced that there God was a big God able to work miracles in their situation,
To sustain them until he returns or take them up to be with him at death.
Because of the depth of these convictions they were failing to surrender absolutely to him.
If you are mildly convicted you will be mildly surrendered and you God will be too small.
But let me assure you we serve a big God, if you can't see it, then it's your perspective that wrong...

Youth Ministry Position

2010-06-03T12:01:00.000+12:00

Youth Pastor/Intern Church of The Nativity, Blenheim
We have vacancy coming up for either a qualified or partially qualifed youth worker, or someone looking for a youth internship with a possibility of continuing study through Bishopdale Theological College.
The Church of the Nativity is situated in central Blenheim. We are an Evangelical/Charismatic Anglican church with over 300 people attending each week. The youth ministry is largely amongst Intermediate age youth (20+), with a smaller high school group (10+), but with plenty of potential for growth. As the Youth pastor/Intern you will be working as part of a solid staff team, involved in the day to day running of the ministry, and there is plenty of scope to put your mark on the ministry and develop your skills and giftingd.

Salary will depend on experience, a vehicle is included as well as allowances.
For Enquiries please email michael@nativity.org.nz

Thank You

Rev Michael Treston

revalation13

2010-06-01T08:47:00.001+12:00

INTRODUCTION
Over the last few weeks we have been delving into the mystery which is the book of revelation.
I hope that the image that John wants his church to hang onto in the face of the trouble they are in is starting to become clear…
I hope to that as we as a church and you personally read and re read this great book, you are starting to hear God’s voice for your current situation, and the times that we as a church are in.
That being the case, we are about to be thrown into the midst of confusion again.

Chapter 13 and in particular the last part of it has caused so much scare mongering that in many respects we should steer well clear.

BULLYING -SCHOOL
When I was a kid at school,
Omen movies, Damian the living incarnation of the beast, with the number 666 on his head as a birth mark…
As circumstance would have it this new insight into scripture gave us bored catholic school boys a new lease on life in terms of our bible reading.
Suddenly reading our new KJV GIDEON bibles became playground game.
Usually involving us picking on the kids who we thought had the mark of the beast
Beating him up and ripping great chunks of his hair out to find the mark
And if we couldn’t find it taking a marker pen and putting it on them.
I am not proud of myself for this…
BULLYING - FUNDAMENTALIST
Lately American fundamentalist preachers play a similar game,
Coming up with sometimes wild and wacky formulas for calculating who has the mark, which is the beast….
So according to them who is the beast?
Lots of interpretations…latest
Arnold Schwarzenegger... APPARENTLY if we add the word president and give every letter of his name a numerical value then by a series of odd calculations we too can discover his secret identity…
When he said in Terminator “I’ll be back” it was prophecy about the fact he would return in the last days to establish Satan; kingdom…
It sounds comical... but it’s scary that people can be led into believing something like this based on the thinnest of evidence…

BARCODES
Another way in which the church has jumped on board with it is in terms of barcodes and the impending cashless society….
Now each barcode has a double line at the beginning middle and end.... now that double line resembles the number 6 in the bar code...
It's caused some people to see that the number 666 is in every bar code,
And I think we all know that with out a barcode it's pretty hard to buy anything...
So is this a fulfillment of biblical prophecy?
So that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is the name of the beast or the number of it's name

I think the first thing to be aware of is that in Revelation the number is on the buyers or sellers and not the products.

But it does seem that barcodes on products is one step away from barcodes on you and me. A cashless society, beckons?
how easy and convinenient it would be if we all had our own bar codes...
if that sounds a little scary... fear not
the double line on the bar code is not a 6, the number of the beast is not hidden on your barcodes....
It looks like a 6...but it isn’t.
GRAIN OF TRUTH
the problem is with all these theories as odd as they may seem is that there is always a grain of truth there…
Like watching the last episode of the TV series Lost we want to solve the mystery
Its part of human nature so we will often take the grain of truth and build around it an oyster of odd meaning.
OVERVIEW
let’s look at the text.
Chapter 12...Satan has thought against the child of the women... but not able to do away with it...
so Satan calls upon his minions the beast...
to carry out the war against the church
the first beast has received a mortal head wound....
this is the first clue into the identity of the beast.
It's an open secret... very much mysterious to us but very much obvious to the first hearers.
But like a political cartoon that refers to events from 5 years ago we so easily miss what John is saying.
So who is the first beast...
Arnold Schwarzenegger... he had had a head would in lots of movies...
Actually, no the simple explanation is Nero…
Urban rumor of the day had it that the emperor that died of a self inflicted head wound, but somehow came back to life…he survived.

The number would seem to point to Nero too
Now if you were to take his name in Aramaic and give each letter a value apparently it add up to 666.
Giving letters values is one of the basic kid’s games I think we have all played at some time…
In Pompeii there was some graffiti found in the ruins that said
I love her whose number is 545.... Interesting…
It was probably done as a way of talking about someone without them knowing.
If John wanted to call the emperor a beast, it would be safer to not name him.

The emperor who used Christians rolled in tar to light the road side is the beast

But it also points towards something we know about another emperor - Domitian

Amongst his many feats he was the first of the Roman emperors to declare himself as divine. A living God.
As I said a few weeks back he had his own processional choir that would follow him singing songs of praise.
He also struck coins – literally gave them a mark with words of homage to himself – and demanded that people called him Lord and God....
On top of that there was a practice of issuing a certificate or mark to all who wanted to buy and sell at the market
The certificate was obtained through an act of worship, putting incense into a bowl and saying a little prayer.
Shopping as an act of worship is probably a good idea… but worship of whom?

All would be calm with the world if you followed the rules…
Give a little incense, sing a little song and all would be fine...
But refuse and you stand against Caesar, and against Rome and against the forces of the world.

It seems like such a small thing, but as John sees behind the curtain he sees reality.

The kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Rome as long as it demands worship of Caesar are in conflict.
How could they say Jesus is Lord and give incense offerings at the market stall?
So as John glimpses behind the scene he sees reality...

Domitian is the beast, a tool of the antichrist, demanding worship.
Nero is the beast for his harsh persecution of Christians

The point though is not the number or the identity of the number that is important.
But what the number represents… opposition to God
Opposition to God’s Kingdom being built.

If God had a number it would be 777, 7 signifying the number of perfection, 3 7’s signifying the trinity.
Each member perfect. Father Son and Spirit.
666 then signifies falling short of God’s glory, an un holy Trinity, Satan and the two beasts,
Or Failure upon Failure upon Failure…

BALANCE
The images from Chapter 13 scary as they are need to be balanced out with the images we have elsewhere in Revelation:
Chapter 7.

In chapter 7 the angels are just about to release God’s fury but there is this pause…
READ Verse 2 and 3
It’s not only the beast that marks people God does too,
Now who these people are is the source of a lot of debate, the 144,000, again the language isn’t that clear
it’s like much of revelation speaking in a type of code.
The JW’s for instance say the 144,000 is a literal number meaning those who are the elect of God…so if your 144001 you don’t get in…144002 no chance 144003 forget it and so on…

Well I don’t think it‘s a literal number, an accountants number or even a census number
– it’s a number that conveys meaning and feeling rather than a specific figure...

What I believe is more appropriate is to see the number as a code for something else…
144,000 is a multiple of 12
12… what does that mean...
Well we have in scripture 12 tribes…12 apostles…
12 then is the number that signifies God’s work in the world through people…
With the tribes named it sounds like the nation of Israel, but it isn’t that either.
– It doesn’t quite match your historical listings of the tribes…
Joseph is listed as a tribe along with his son Manasseh but not his son Ephraim - And the tribe of Dan isn’t listed at all
The 144,000 are a people who are like the nation of Israel but different

The changes are I think deliberate…
John is pointing to another reality
Those who are sealed are like the 12 tribes, but not the 12 tribes
A Historical continuation of God’s work that he began with Abraham…
The Fullness of God’s work through human kind – THE CHURCH
Its John pointing to the church – the Church is the one’s who are sealed...
Who have received God’s mark as opposed to the beasts?
Paul uses a similar image in Ephesians
Eph 1:13-14, "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance."

What Paul is saying is that if you have heard the gospel of truth,
That Jesus Christ toke upon himself your sin and stood in your place, receiving the death that we all deserve for what we have done.
That if you believe this truth and accept this truth into your life then the presence of the Holy Spirit with us is God’s seal on our lives…

So even if we end out with a cashless society and somehow we are conned or tricked into receiving a mark that we find out to be the mark of the beast.
We would not forfeit our salvation.
That has been sealed in by God… it won’t wash off
We are the Father Possession.
He has redeemed us,
He has paid the price to win us back from the grip of death

CONCLUSION
The Image of the beast needs to be seen alongside of the image of the 144,000 who have also received a mark…who have been sealed by God.
– of a God who is on the throne
– A slain lamb that has been sacrificed and is now worthy to redeem his people and judge the world so that God’s Kingdom can come in its fullness.
– A God who does not demands our worship like the beast but deserves our worship because he has redeemed us… set us apart.

As we gather around the communion table this morning we want to give you the opportunity to renew your commitment to Christ.
And if you have never done this before then to also give you opportunity to do this for the first time.

As you take bread and wine you are accepting the truth of what God has done in Jesus.
His sacrifice for you
His death for you
And his overcoming of that death.

But we also want to give you the opportunity to receive a symbol of the sealing that God has done.
So we will also have people with Oil who will mark your head with the sign of the cross to symbolize that you are now God’s property…

Prayer ministry will be available at this time too
And if you are doing this for the first time could we encourage you to talk with one of the pastoral team about this commitment.
We want you to grow in faith and to put you in touch with people who can help you to grow in your faith

“I seal you with the cross of Christ,
The promise of God’s Spirit with you.
The mark of your inheritance”.

A RANT ABOUT SKY SPORT

2010-05-30T18:24:00.001+12:00

Sky Sports is a sham, they want your money but won't show the content you pay for...
I complained about the way they have messed with the guide and showing of the ALL WHITE game their answer is as follows..
I FOR ONE AM GOING TO CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION!

Thank you for your email.

Our monthly SKY Watch is printed 6 weeks in advance and as per note on back pages of each edition all listings were accurate at the time of printing. LIVE coverage of the All Whites and Serbia match aired on Sports 3 from 3am this morning with a replay scheduled on Sports 2 for 6am this morning. As the Tennis ran over the replay aired from 7:30am this morning and as any LIVE event has precedence over any replay or highlight coverage.

As we now have rights for LIVE coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals the replay on Sports 2 for 3pm today was amended out for this and the EPG (electronic programming guide) updated. The All Whites and Serbia match will be next replayed on Wednesday the 2nd Sports 1 from 2am, and Thursday the 3rd Sports 3 from 2am also. Please continue to check the EPG to confirm any changes and updates.

We understand that television viewing is very personal and subjective and any decision we take is never done so lightly but we do have to try and cater to all sporting codes that we have rights to and offer a wide selection of programmes. Unfortunately this will please some customers while frustrating others.

Please feel free to contact SKY Television Customer Services on 0800 759 759 for further information, alternatively please respond via return email and we will endeavour to reply within 24 hours.

With kind regards,

SKY Customer Services Team

tHEOBLOBY: revelation 12

2010-05-28T08:53:00.000+12:00

tHEOBLOBY: revelation 12

revelation..interludes 2

2010-05-21T15:46:00.001+12:00

Interludes
Where have we been?
1 Revelation is looking behind the scenes…
It’s like a look behind the scene…it’s reality but not quite as we know it
2 to understand revelation…you got to take your shoes off.
3 Revelation is about God’s Kingdom come and coming – that requires change
Change requires sorting - Also known as judgment.

We are currently looking at the interludes, the times of pauses between 6th and 7th judgment
As I said last I believe these interludes are the time we live in.
At the 6th judgment - in Rev 6:17
We are posed a question… if God’s Judgment is coming who will be able to stand?
The first interlude was an answer to that a call to stand and be faithful to the gospel in spite of what the world throws at you.
Because God has sealed you he gives you the supernatural ability to stand…
And for those who overcome there is the promise of eternity where we will join with the church past, present and future…the church from every nation and sing God praises…
Why because it’s the only possible response to what god has done for us…

So we stand in the in-between days…
The last days where the new reality of God’s kingdom is breaking in but will only fully be realized when Jesus returns

Tonight we are looking at the second interlude…
It’s kind of like playing blues clues…
You look for the paw prints… paw prints are clues…
In revelation the paw prints are often echoes. Images, because much of revelation is written from the perspective of eternity. - These paw prints help us to see our reality…maybe in a different way.
When we find out paw prints we need to then put them in our hand dandy note book got tour thinking chair and think.
Well that requires prayer, reflection, pausing. Not only asking what this means but how does this speak to me today…

It’s not just a case of reading it.. Revelation is not story book – it is written to transform you, to make you change your mind about this world
To bring you to a realization that in spite of what happens…..
Our God reigns

As I said earlier way back in chapter 6 the question...WHO CAN STAND is asked…
The interlude that followed answered that
Chapter 6 we have another question…
6:10 How long… how long must we go un avenged…?
How long must we wait…

It’s fine to now that you are called to stand.. but for how long.
How long do we have to resist evil….

READ REV 10:1-7
There is to be no more delay... when the 7th trumpet is sounded...that is it.

In the mean time we wait...
But beyond this interim period. that’s it... there is no third act…

But we don’t just wait around like the apprentice who was told to go to the store and get a long stand.
We stand yes but we are called to do something else…
Chapter 10 goes on to introduce John easting a little scroll, which is bitter in the stomach but sweet in the mouth…
We need to play blues clues again.
Called to eat a scroll?
Sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach?

The nature of judgment is that it is a two way street –
We want to see the bad guys get it…BUT reality is that innocents are harmed too

Nature of God’s Kingdom coming is Sweet for some but Bitter for others…
If there is no time left and judgment is up…what about those who don’t turn around…
Yes God is forgiving but how endless is his patience – how much will he put up with before the cries from under the altar cause him to say ENOUGH….

John is called to eat this scroll...
to declare this message… it is probably not an easy message for him to say…
At the end of the day John is a pastor, you only have to read his letter to realize that 1 john chapter 3... he talks about nothing else but God’s love… how Jesus laid down his life so we could experience the height and depth of the love…
Love is an essential part of God’s nature…
But we too easily forget…that the message of Gods’ love is such that it is sweet on the lips
But can easily be bitter in our stomachs
Love make requirements it requires change…
For the kingdom of Love to break in something’s some people will be driven out…
When you are exposed to something as pure as God’s love you seen realize how flawed you really are…
The call to John… is the call to all...
I and you included

Jesus is coming soon... pass it on

Moving on into chapter 11 we encounter a temple and two witness…
Now if revelation wasn’t hard enough to get our heads around…we really need to sit down in our thinking chairs and think about this…
So what Paw Prints can we see…?
Listen, close you eyes, and take your shoes off…

Read 11:1- 11

Sounds kind of familiar.
Echoes of other stories
Building the temple and the exactness of the measurements…
Echoes of Daniel chapter 12…In fact if you were familiar with Daniel 12 you would think that this is what you were reading
…
As we move into verse4 there are more images
Lamp stands….we have heard that before… chapter 2:1
but these lamp stands spew fire…
these lamp stands have the ability to shut up the heavens like Elijah
to turn water to blood like Moses….

Who could these lamp stands be?
….and they will be put to death in a city that is Jerusalem, Sodom and Egypt… places where God’s work was opposed…

So how are the witnesses… well I think the identity lies in the lamp stands...
In chapters 2=3 seven churches are identified...
7 churches who light is burning for Jesus...
Only some of them have burnt out.
Some are in danger of being snuffed out and only two remain faithful…
Smyrna and Philadelphia…

They are faithful in spite of their circumstances.
And even though they face death at the hands of the world. they will continue to remain faithful
And there faithfulness when it is put into God’s hands has an amazing effect

There words become like Sprit fire blazing form their mouths.
Their prayers are answered,
They act in God’s name…and they wind up dead on the streets...
But in time God revives and breathes back the breadth of life into them

Because they are faithful…nothing can hold them down

Faithfulness does not deliver us from death or persecution – because if the cross shows us anything it is that in defeat God triumphs.

In the Lion witch and the wardrobe a deeper magic brought Aslan back to life after the ice queen killed him
In our world a deeper magic will revive the Church that is ultimately faithful to God’s message...

Revelation is ultimately a letter from a pastor to a church…
He has heard stories of who they are in trouble. how Nero has tried to kill them off. how the Jew have driven them out of Jerusalem in an attempt to preserve themselves from persecution
He has heard how times are tough and it seem like all hope is gone…
But this same Pastor. while deep in prayer receives a vision of reality the reality of what is really happening.
The message is clear…it might look as though you have lost, but that is not the real reality.
If you remain faithful…God will take your message and transform it
If you remain faithful – God will cause you to stand in the face of persecution

It looks someday like we are on the loosing side. that we should just give in and sell out
But the realty is that Our God Reigns...
The age we live in is temporary—it will not last.
It’s an intermission between the first coming of Jesus as a baby in a stable bad the glorious second coming where he will come and reign.
forever and ever and ever and ever and ever

The Christian hope is that some day soon...
The kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah and he will reign forever and ever...
AMEN
Maranatha..- come Lord Jesus

revelation..interludes 1

2010-05-21T15:45:00.001+12:00

Interludes
Where have we been?
1 Revelation is looking behind the scenes…Bethany’s cross stitch
It’s like a look behind the scene…it’s reality but not quite as we know it
2 to understand revelation…you got to take your shoes off.
3 Revelation is about God’s Kingdom come and coming – that requires change
Change requires sorting - Also known as judgment.
We had scroll, trumpets and bowls…

Between 6th and 7th we had pauses – interludes…
At the cross Judgment started- in Jesus God’s kingdom has begun.. the bowls scrolls and trumpets have begun
These interludes are the time we live in

But again and again judgment won’t come until Jesus returns
Where he will according to the old version of the creed – judge the quick and the dead

At the 6th judgment - in Rev 6:17
We are posed a question… if God Judgment is coming who will be able to stand

The thing about judgment is who gets judged…
Do we all escape judgment?
or are we in the thick of it?
Depending on who you ask you will get different answers.
And dare I say it how you answer that question may well effect how you live in the hear and now…

There is a segment of the church that see’s in scripture a time when the Church will be raptured…. Carried away.
I am not part of that school of thought…

When the world is judged…and judgment has started – we are in the thick of it.
This interlude I believe speak into that situation…

READING
So when the great day of God’s wrath comes who will be able to stand?
Think about it for a moment…do you have what it takes?

In chapter 7 we have the sealing of 144,000 introduced… the angels are just about to release God’s fury but there is this pause…

Now what this all means is very much up for debate- it’s not clear language – it’s like much of revelation speaking in a type of code.
If you read it with you emotions it might give you some clues.
If you read it literally it might confuse you and like some have done in the past cause them to draw up formulas
The JW’s for instance say the 144,000 is a literal number meaning those who are the elect of God…so if your 144001 you don’t get in…144002 no chance 144003 forget it and so on…

If you put it in the context of the wider book and the question "who can stand?"– The sealing of the 144,000 is what allows them to stand.
Somehow when times get tough and god’ judgment is knocking on the door these 144,000 will somehow because they are sealed be able to withstand what is happening…

It’s not that these guys are excused...
Or carried off to a safe place
– They are the one’s that don’t denounce their faith
They won’t turn their back on god or sell out to the world the 144,000 are the faithful ones…
More on that in a moment...
But what about the number…what’s the significance in that?

Well is don’t think it‘s a literal number, an accountants number or even a census number
– it’s a number that conveys meaning and feeling rather than a specific figure..

What I believe is more appropriate is to see the number as a code for something else
12… what does that mean
12 is the sum of the divine number which is 3 and the earthly number which is 4 our elements: earth, air, fire, and water.
Or better still it’s supposed to remind us of the witness of the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles…
It’s not the literal figure as much as what the figure reminds us of...

12 tribes…12 apostles…

Now it sounds like it’s the nation of Israel, but it isn’t that either. – It doesn’t quite match your historical listings of the tribes…
Joseph is listed as a tribe along with his son Manasseh.
Ephraim isn’t listed
Reuben is listed, but not Dan
The 144,000 are a people who are like the nation of Israel but different

The changes are I think deliberate…
its John pointing to another reality
Those who are sealed are like the 12 tribes…
but not the 12 tribes
A Historical continuation of God’s work that he began with Abraham…

Its John pointing to the church – the Church is the one’s who are sealed...
So who will be able to stand in the face of God’s judgment...
– the Church will…
That’s you and me….

Were not going to be raptured.. Carried off, but somehow when trouble hits we will be able to stand..
The sealing allows us to stand

Look at yourself… you may think that just standing in my work place is hard enough.. How on earth can I stand when all hell breaks loose?

Somehow God will seal in you that little mustard seed of faith and you will make it through.

I guess this is a reminder that we are in Christ because of the grace of God..
Not by anything we have done…
We can stand not because we are superhuman..
But because God props us up…

It’s not the number that counts… but overcoming
And this is something we can only do because Christ is working in and through us….

You see this time and time again, I have heard 100’s of testimonies of this reality – that when times are hard God picks us up…
Psalm 40..
Its God’s Grace, not out human ability…

In the next section we move from one vision to another
Here we see a great multitude from every nation…
If the first vision is of people overcoming in the present reality..
The second is of those who have overcome…
Its people past, present and future
All over comers from every age..
All people who have felt God lifting their hands when theory could stand no more
All people who have received the seal and been propped up by God

And they sing a song of joy… it’s the only possible response to God’s work, to God lifting you
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. AMEN

Take your shoes off and feel that
… if their is not a lump in your throat you may need to check your pulse…

This is the song of the redeemed – it our song
I hope that when you face struggles this song would become a daily reality… you are not alone.
God is holding you up…

But this image is for us a future reality – we have not overcome the final hurdle we keep moving on and moving forward..
But this promise awaits us…

That not only will God seal us, but that is we give our lives for the sake of the gospel – and stand we will overcome – we will be washed – cleansed.

Conclusion
In this interlude we have two images of the church
In the first part the church is in battle – called to stand firm and with God’s sealing overcome – this is a reality we face daily...
Whether it be through persecution or even just in failing church attendances
What ever we face we are called to remain true to the gospel – you look at the 7 letters from the beginning of revelation and how many stand firm, how many stay true… read that for yourself
In calling these seven churches back to Christ John is calling them to remain faithful

The second image is of the church triumphant who have overcome and that is why they sing:
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength are to our God for ever and ever. AMEN
It’s a heart felt response to the realization of what God has done for you…

In a moment we will gather round the table and in doing so we peak behind the curtain into a small upper room where Jesus gathered with his friends for one last time before heading to the cross.
It reminds us that in the cross judgment has begun.
That sin is being overcome

But also communion helps us peak into the future it gives us a foretaste of the reality to come,
when Christ shall reign,
Wars will end,
Famines will no longer exist
And God’s Kingdom will have come...
Interludes deal with judgment on pause…
My prayer for you is that as we gather this new reality will begin to break in and that what ever you face in the week ahead you will be the grace of God be able to stand…firm

Mark 9

2010-05-21T15:44:00.001+12:00

I think one of the most extraordinary aspects of the Christian faith for many people to get their heads round is the fact that the God who is introduced to us in scripture is very different to what we may expect…
In the ancient world most people had a concept or idea of God.
The world was just too big for it to be an accident
Therefore someone must have created it...
That someone was a God.

But to many of these religions that god was often seen as being cruel and uncaring...
Human beings were puppets in his hands manipulated by the ruler of the universe...
Today it's no different...
When we talk about disasters we refer to them as acts of God, as if a God is bored with playing with humans and has decided to through them out of the playpen...
It’s not a nice idea...

But in the scriptures we are introduced to a God who cares...
The one who wants relationship
In the gospels this concept of God is taken a step further...
Not only do we meet in Jesus a God who cares but also a God who has flesh and blood like you and me.
In Jesus we are introduced to a God who wants to be our Friend

Think of that for a moment…
The God who is creator of everything not only loves me...
But cares for me and wants to have a relationship to me…
While sometimes it may seem that we throw our prayers into a void like coins down a wishing well the reality is that God hears them even before they have left our lips…
God is that close…

When you think about it that reality should make everyone on the face of the planet want to come to faith in Christ...
Who wouldn't want the creator of the universe as their best friend?
Who wouldn't want the one who understands everything to be close to them....?

I think we are all too aware though that in spite of this reality, many people still want nothing to do with God, and even we who probably call ourselves people of faith often struggle for intimacy and to trust in this God...
Yeah he is the creator...
Yeah he wants to be my friend
But he's just too Big.... is one excuse I have heard

It's like in that Dr Seuss Story Horton hears a Whoo,
Horton means well but he is just so big that he may accidentally squash the whole of the Whoo Race...

I think the issues for many people is not the bigness of God... or the closeness of God that prevents them forming relationship...
But it's that fact that as Human beings we find it hard to trust anyone...

I remember trying to teach my son Aidan to swim... I was next to him in the pool, my shoulders were big enough to support him... but still he didn't trust me
He would not let go of the edge
Trust is not something any of us do naturally....

Mark 9: 14- tells the story of a demon possessed boy that is brought to the disciples to be healed.
It’s a foot step on the way to trust for the disciples…
I think we are all to aware that in the disciples are 12 individuals that are willing to be used by God… but over the course of Jesus’ ministry more often than not they seem to get it wrong..

A few verses earlier three of the disciples are given an insight into the greatness of God... and his closeness.
There up a mountain with Jesus prays and suddenly God reveals himself in Jesus.
Jesus is transfigured... his appearance changes.
The Godness that is as much an aspect of Jesus as his humanness leaks out…..
If that wasn’t enough Jesus is joined by two of the great prophets….
Moses and Elijah…
The disciples are flawed by this.
To top it all off we hear a voice from heaven – the Father speaks…
This is my son the beloved – listen to him…
God is real
God is close
God cares…
Surely an incident like this would transform their faith...
No longer would they doubt...
READ SCRIPTURE

As they come down from the mountain top and reality starts to creep in, the lessons the experience the joy from the mountain is lost...
But are we any different?
We peep into heaven in worship and forget it all when we come back to earth
when we leave the church walls, it all changes...

It's seems that all too often change in any of us is only every temporary...
We trust in God only as much as we have real need...
When it's something we think we can do in our own strength than too often we do it in our own strength

We should not really be surprised then by the reactions of the disciples…
They are willing to take up the challenge, but they fail, they can’t do it.

As we grow more and more familiar with the stories of the disciples in the Gospels I think we should becoming more and more aware that they continually fail to understand the meaning of Faith...
It's almost like that because of their position as disciples they feel as though they have made it...
So often they fail to see the discipleship – following Jesus is about a journey.
They haven't made it...YET!!!

In Mark 10:28 Jesus is talking about Salvation as a human impossibility, made possible only by the grace of God...
And how does Peter respond...
Well he boasts of the great and noble achievements that the disciples have made
“We have left everything and followed you.” that shows how far from making it the disciples are.
They are only on the road by the grace of God... yeah they left everything but big deal...
It was the call of God that put them on this journey...
It’s the same when Jesus predicts his death and says that all the disciples will deny and flee...
Peter turns around and says – not me Jesus, even if it costs me my life, I won't walk out on you...
But he does...
Faith is fragile.
Even for those who stand in close proximity to Jesus
In Matt 26:31
Jesus says, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Don't ever loose sight of how fragile faith is...
Don’t ever take it for granted...

In the same story of the Demon possessed boy there is another character we are introduced too..
A concerned, distraught hurting father who wants nothing more than his son to be healed...
And the words he uses echo through history..
To many they have been a model of prayer...
A few words that seem to say so much about faith,
And offer a model of discipleship which I think normal people can probably appreciate
I believe help my unbelief…
Amazing words
I need to take a step but Lord I need you to carry me…
it's a recognition that intimacy and trust comes from relationship
But I think it also shows us that doubt also seems to stand often alongside faith.
And it's often our doubt that stops us fully trusting God.

Our faith has limits… that is kind of natural
we trust God to find us a parking space
but would we trust God to find us a job, or a partner?

We say we are people of faith but doubt always seems to follow on it’s heals
I guess it can feel like Doubt is the little worm that kills the fruit,
But it doesn’t have to be that way…

The doubt that the father feels doesn't push him away from God,
Rather it draws him into an honest and open relationship with God...
His doubts change the shape of faith

Unlike the disciples the father understand faith is organic and not static
It’s not that we have a once and for all response but we have to keep coming back time and time again
Following Jesus is a day to day reality..
The Father knows that in the stress and strains of life
Bread soon goes stale
The water of life soon becomes stagnant
Faith is our continued response to the grace of God

That's why when Jesus taught his disciples to pray he told them to seek their daily bread..
Following Jesus requires daily dependence on God..

The failure of the disciple’s shows this well
It’s not that their technique is wrong,
Or that they fail because they weren't Christian enough
They failed because they fail to bring it to God

Jesus reply – only through prayer...
The power to do God's work doesn't lie in them
But in the God who they are reliant upon..

The Father was different – his faith coupled with his powerlessness meant that his faith in Jesus would heal his son...

I guess, we need to have Faith on the mountaintop
But also in the valley...
Faith that God would deliver daily bread...
Because Faith is about reliance -surrendering yourself – letting go

Reliance upon God in the whole of life
That requires a daily diet of prayer...

We cannot work our way out of doubt and a lack of trust-
Belief comes through an on going relationship
Faith seek ongoing understanding
Faith is questioning and struggle before it becomes certainty and peace
Its formed not of abstract principles or understanding the vastness of the universe that God has created, but out of relationship
To know God.. Not just know facts about God but to know him personally

It's hard to trust God.
Simply deciding we will have more faith doesn't help either...
Rather an increase in faith comes from a prayer..
I believe help my unbelief...
Prayer like this are like finding an oasis in the desert.
When we ask for God's help he answers us,
He meets us in our need, we receive Joy, peace and restoration.
God is going to meet our need in his time.
His ways are not predictable, but he answers prayers like this.
At the end of this story -a son is made whole
A father's Mustard seed of faith moves a mountain.

Open, O doors and bolts of my heart,
That Christ the King of Glory may enter!
Enter, O my Light, and enlighten my darkness; enter,
O my Life, and resurrect my deadness; enter,
O my Physician, and heal my wounds; enter,
O Divine Fire, and burn up the thorns of my sins; ignite my inward parts and my heart with the flame of thy love; enter,
O my King, and destroy in me the kingdom of sin; sit on the throne of my heart and alone reign in me,
O thou, my King and Lord
St. Dimitry of Rostov, 17th c.,

revelation 12

2010-05-21T15:43:00.000+12:00

SLIDE
Introduction..
When I was at school there was one subject I really hated… History
As a young kid I could not see the connection between events that happened 200, 300 or even 2000 years ago and what was happening today…
The older and wiser I have got and the more my mind has been shaped by my faith the more I have come to realize there is connection..
History is not just fact and figures but stories of how those who have gone before us looked at and dealt with the issues of the world…
In Revelation history is given new meaning even more os as in this peek behind the scenes of our reality we saw God writing HIS STORY on top of our history

Revelation is not just about events in 90 AD, or events that will happen in the future
It offers a view of history that is like an arrow that moves towards a target.
That target being the Day of the Lord, SLIDE
The time in human history where Christ returns,
the day when our story and His story meet.
Because of that everything has meaning, while we may not feel as though we can understand what is happening in our own little worlds
– it allows us to see the strings that connect the fabric of this world with eternity.

Through seeing the bigger picture then we can live in confidence that not only is God on his throne, but my life has significance.
In the middle of this book of holy confusion we as the Church can receive confounding hope
If we let it speak to our imaginations it gives the ability to look at any situation from a different point of view, God’s point of View…
This morning we have in our reading been carried up once more in John’s vision to see sights that probably seem very confusing…
And hard to understand
The reality is though if we let these images speak to us – they can and will inspire us.

Revelation points us towards the day of the Lord…
In Amos 5 it says that the Day of the LORD
18 Woe to you who long
for the day of the LORD!
Why do you long for the day of the LORD ?
That day will be darkness, not light.

You have to wonder then if that’s where history is going should we not be running the opposite way?
If it’s going to be that scary then hide us in the hills…
The reality is though for God’s Kingdom to come on Earth as in heaven, then this world will need to be judged…
There is so much in this world that is out of kilter with God’s plan that for the vision of a new heaven and a new earth to be completed then Judgment will need to happen…
So while on one hand the day the Lord returns is an exciting prospect the reality is that on that day – all will be judged, and some will fail…

At the cross that Judgment began – the Bowls and the scroll of God judgment in revelation began to be poured out…

Judgement SLIDE
John was well aware of this, he longed for Christ’s return and could see it coming closer daily, the events, persecution trials and tribulations his Church faced were and are signs of the end of the age.
For God’s Kingdom to be established in its fullness – then the kingdom’s of the world need to be judged.
We shouldn’t be surprised then that in these judgments they hit back.
The Gospel is Good News, but it’s also offensive
It’s says you can’t just do what you want – everything has a consequence
It’s says you can’t take what is not yours
It stands in judgment…

Number…
Number in revaltion are not literal number but symbols
2 – witness…Disciples sent out 2x2 in the gospels
4 – signifies the whole world – 4 points ot the compass
6 – man;s number- on the 6th day God created man, but it also represents falling short of God’s glory
7 – fullness or completion – the Sabbath –
10 – again completeness
12 God’s work in the world through man – 12 tribes 12 disciples
1260, 42 months or 3 ½ years – persecution or protection during a time of tribulation and oppostion

Measure SLIDE
In verse one John is called to measure the temple of God.
From where is stand that sounds like a very odd request,
The first thing to realize is that these visions are taking on a fresh reality.
John is no longer just staring into heaven describing what he sees, now he is involved…
Last week he ate a scroll
This week he is measuring the temple.
The actions he is undertaking reflect the actions he must undertake in his own reality..
Eating a scroll, symbolizes the message of the gospel that he has lived by a bitter sweet experience..
Telling people of what Jesus has done. Sweet
Ending up in exile for it…bitter
The actions he is taking are symbolic action – Like Isaiah when he walked around naked and bare foot as a symbol to the Egyptians that they were about to be taken captive, Symbolic actions…
The action he is undertaking echoes those of Ezekiel in chapter 40- 42 where he is also called to measure the temple. Not because god wants to know how big it is but to show how it will be preserved.
It’s the same thing here… in the tribulations that are too follow, the temple will not fall over
The question is what does this mean?
How you answer that can greatly influence how you understand the events that are happening before John’s eyes.
Now Revelation was written about 90 Ad, and we know from history that the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed about 70 AD
Seems pretty odd then for John to be prophesying about a temple that is already rubble… If that’s the case he probably needs taking out the back and stoning – because that is what the OT says to do with false prophets.
Another way of looking at it is in terms of a future building of the temple.
There are many that believe that the events that spell the coming of the Lord will be sparked by amongst other things a rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
But I don’t think that is what John is on about here either,
At the end of the chapter in verse 19 it’s says that God’s temple in heaven was opened… this is the same temple that John is asked to measure in our reading.
It’s not an earthly temple..
But a heavenly temple with earthly connections

The temple is the Christian community – the people of God… SLIDE
Like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that if God’s Spirit lives in you then you are God’s temple.
Through measuring it, it’s saying that what ever God’s people face they will not be overcome, they will be preserved.
Thought physically they have, and will and will continue to face attack – God will preserve them spiritually…
If the Spirit is in them, we are linked with heaven.
What we have here is a similar thought to John’s vision of the 144,000 in chapter 7
They are sealed by God, so they can stand not only on the day of the Lord, but on every day that lead up to it.
– If God’s Spirit is in you then you have been sealed
– If God’s Spirit is in you then you are his temple.
– If you are faithful then you will be measured – preserved

So who will be able to stand in the face of God’s judgment on this world?
– The Church will…
That’s you and me….
Who will be able to stand in the face of opposition?
– The Church will…
That’s you and me again

Look at yourself… you may think that just standing in my work place is hard enough.. How on earth can I stand when all hell breaks loose?
Somehow God will seal in you that little mustard seed of faith and you will make it through.

I guess this is a reminder that we are in Christ because of the grace of God..
Not by anything we have done…
We can stand not because we are superhuman..
But because God props us up…
And this is something we can only do because Christ is working in and through us….
You see this time and time again, I have heard 100’s of testimonies of this reality – that when times are hard God picks us up…
He has sealed his Church
He has gave us his Spirit which makes us his temple
We can overcome….

Witness
As we move into verse 4 there are more images
Lamp stands….we have heard that before… chapter 2:1 SLIDE
But these lamp stands spew fire…
These lamp stands have the ability to shut up the heavens like Elijah
To turn water to blood like Moses….
and they will be put to death in a city that is Jerusalem, Sodom and Egypt… places where God’s work was opposed…

So WHO are the witnesses… well I think the identity lies in the lamp stands...
In chapters 2+3 seven churches are identified...
7 churches who light is burning for Jesus...
Only some of them have burnt out.
Some are in danger of being snuffed out and only two remain faithful…
Smyrna and Philadelphia…

They are faithful in spite of their circumstances.
And even though they face death at the hands of the world.
They will continue to remain faithful
And there faithfulness when it is put into God’s hands has an amazing effect
Not only does their faithfulness ensure that God’s Spirit dwells within them
Not only does God’s Spirit preserve them,
Not only does God’s Spirit Seal them
But it also ensure the words they speak in God’s name blaze from their mouths
Their prayers are answered,
The Blind see, the lame walk, the Kingdom of God is present in their actions
They act in God’s name…and they wind up dead on the streets...

Faithfulness does not deliver us from death or persecution – because if the cross shows us anything it is that in defeat, God triumphs.
But if the events of that Easter weekend show us anything, you can’t keep the God man down
And you can’t keep God’s people down
So God breathes life back into them
Because they are faithful…nothing can hold them down – not even death
In the Lion witch and the wardrobe a deeper magic brought Aslan back to life after the ice queen killed him.
In our world a deeper magic will revive the Church that is ultimately faithful to God’s message...

Conclusion
Revelation is ultimately a letter from a pastor to a church… SLIDE
He has heard stories of who they are in trouble.
How Ceasar has tried to kill them off.
How the Jew have driven them out of Jerusalem in an attempt to preserve themselves from persecution
He has heard how times are tough and it seem like all hope is gone…
There story seems to be drawing to a close.. they appear defeated
But this same Pastor is given a glimpse of a new reality God’s reality
HIS STORY.
In seeing the world through God’s throne room, he is encouraged to stand fast – to remain faithful, to carry on.

For us it’s the same, there are many days when the things we face may make us feel like giving up.
When the pressure is on it may look like we have lost- that we are defeated
But as we glimpse into heaven, we can see that God is still on his throne.
And so we can stand fast also.

In a moment we will gather round the table and in doing so we peak behind the curtain into a small upper room where Jesus gathered with his friends for one last time before heading to the cross.
It reminds us that in the cross judgment has begun.
That sin is being overcome

But also communion helps us peak into the future it gives us a foretaste of the reality to come,
when Christ shall reign,
Wars will end,
Famines will no longer exist
And God’s Kingdom will have come...
My prayer for you is that as we gather this new reality will begin to break in and that what ever you face in the week ahead you will be the grace of God be able to stand…firm

The Christian hope is that some day soon...
The kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah and he will reign forever and ever...
AMEN
Maranatha..- come Lord Jesus

Currently as a church we are focusing more on those we support in Mission. For me these people are a great image of faithfulness, not only in there dependence on God, but in how they try to remain true in all circumstances.
Bronwyn is going to tell us some of the story of one family

Understanding Revelation

2010-05-21T15:42:00.001+12:00

Getting your head around revelation can feel as difficult as trying to understand the functions of your TV remote. The Reality is though that in spite of the confusion that surrounds this book it's message is simple. “God is on the throne”. Now if John had just sent a letter to the seven churches saying:
“Dear seven churches, your mate John here (yes the 'love' one), I can see your having a tough time but God is on the throne, get on with it, Love John.” We would probably be happy with that. Revelation though is more than just conveying simple information, at it's heart is a desire to help those who read it and hear it see there world differently. Like a good sermon it's not just about information, but transformation. He didn't just want to right another letter about how much God loves them, but to stir up their hearts so they could experience how much God loves them.
John is essentially speaking to the heart and not the head and in doing so transforming the way that the 7 churches sees the world, and through this transform also how they act towards that world.
So alongside the sermons you have heard I want to give you some pointers into helping you to appreciate this wonderful book.

First thing is to say that I believe it was written by John the disciple around 90AD on the Island of Patmos, during the reign of Caesar Domitian. The worship of the beast seems to parallel the worship that Domitian called everyone under his rule to give to him. The hymns of praise also echo the songs of Domitian personal choir that followed him all day long (this man had an ego problem). The use of them subverts the message just like Paul did with the Jewish prayer:
“Thank you God that I am not Gentile pig, a slave or a women.” which is Paul's letters becomes,
“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” Gal 3:28
Now some scholars would argue that it's not the same John as John the gospel writer, due to the fact that the type of Greek used is very different. I think we all write differently in different contexts, if I am writing to my lawyer than you would expect a different use of language to what I would write to my wife. In spite of the difference in the language John seems to focus on many of the same themes, motifs and theology, in particular the theme of dealing with opposition. Like Revelation, John's Gospel is also written (I believe) to a church on the wrong side of the authorities. The stress of the Gospel is not only on the nature and ministry of Jesus but also on the need to stick together in the face of opposition. Revelation points towards the need to remain faithful in spite of opposition, but the situation faced by the Church is very similar, persecution.

The second element of understanding how to read revelation is knowing how to interpret it, clearly it's not a newspaper report, but nor is it a straight historical account of events either, from a casual read it seems to be more cryptic in nature than a Dan Brown puzzle book. Historically the Church has struggled with interpreting it also tending to interpret it in one of the four following ways:
Historicist, which sees in Revelation a broad view of history;
Preterist, in which Revelation mostly refers to the events of the first century
Futurist, which believes that Revelation describes future events;
Idealist, or Symbolic, which holds that Revelation is purely symbolic or an allegory of the struggle between good and evil.
Now I don't think that holding the wrong view will affect your salvation, but I tend towards holding these four views in tension. The view I take is that, in the face of persecution (Preterist and historicist) John is calling the Church to be faithful utilizing Symbolic images (the lamb, the dragon etc.) but also drawing the hearers to the hope that when Christ will return and God will establish his Kingdom. In order for this Kingdom to come Judgment must occur (futurist) as there is so much in our world that is our of line with God's standards. Since that first Easter weekend God's Judgment has become a reality, firstly at the Cross where sin is judged (Preterist) but also through out history with the pouring out of the bowls (Historicist). The final Judgment will come with the second coming, when not only will Christ return but heaven (God's reality) will break in to our reality. While this is Futurist it is also Historicist as God is establishing his kingdom in his people, the Church. Given the present nature of judgment and the Kingdom of God we shouldn't be surprised that persecution has (Preterist) and does (Historicist) and will increase (Futurist) as the return of Christ draws closer.

John also makes use of numbers, understanding the significance of them can and does help in interpreting the events of Revelation. John was not however an accountant and didn't use numbers in the same way we would to represent numerical value rather he uses them in a symbolic way.
2 – Witness, Two witnesses, disciples sent out in two's.
4 - The world, Four compass directions
6 - Human's number, Man created on the sixth day. Also represent' falling short of God's intention.
7 – God's number, divine, complete God finished his work and rested on the seventh day
10 – Complete, Complete from a human point of view
12 - God's work in the world, Twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve apostles
Alongside this John also uses 3 ½ years, 1260 days and 42 months. Again these are not literal times but symbolic language, code for an event. They all refer to a period of trial and tribulation, like the persecution John's 7 churches were facing, but how John refers to it reflects God's response to the troubles. In Chapter 11, 42 months represent God's Judgment and 1260 days God's protection over the tribulation (3 ½ years).
The final thing I want you to be aware of is that Revelation is a book you read with your emotions, like a walk on the beach that you can only really fully appreciate when you feel the sand through your toes, revelation is best felt with your heart and emotions. We are supposed to be scared when we hear about the dragon, to cry when we here about the voices under God's throne, to anguish at the delay's in judgment, but ultimately we should also join in the songs of praise when we realize that God has, and does and will overcome evil.
As you enjoy this book more I know that Jesus would be delighted for your voice to join in with the voice of the elders and the choirs of heaven, Hallelujah our God reigns. Now if I could only figure out how to use my TV remote all would be well.

Pentecost again

2010-05-21T12:10:00.001+12:00

A Story…
As a kid we were asked to draw a picture of this scripture in RE – I miss heard what was being said so instead of tongues of fire I just drew a picture of the disciples being licked by giant tongues… did not warm myself to the RE teacher who thought I was tacking the Mick – oh if she could see me know…
WHAT CAN I SAY I was confused….

CONFUSION.
It seems to me though that confusion is one of the underlying themes of this biblical story.
The events that happen are beyond comprehension so much so that event those who experienced it were hard pressed to describe what was happening. In 2:12 we see that the crowd gathered were Amazed and confused – do much so that they had to keep asking each other what had happened here…. This is weird stuff
So much so that the only possible explanation from an on looker is Ah Yes – They must be drunk.
So as we explore this scripture this morning the question, “What does this all mean?” is probably a good place to start…

Well firstly the word “Pentecost” means 50…
50th day after the Passover.
The festival they celebrate on this day we would probably call first fruits, or harvest.
It’s one of three Pilgrim Festivals in the Jewish calendar – pilgrim because they are connected to pilgrimadges to Jerusalem… So to see devout Jews from every nation in Jerusalem on this day shouldn’t surprise us.
What happens to them obviously does surprise them and us…
The idea behind these feast is that they were to remind people of who they are.
Coming to Jerusalem, re emphasises that too,
It’s an excuse to tell the world your story,
- who they were
- how they were created
- and how they were redeemed
And in light of all this then the festivals helped reestablish their identity showing them how they were to live as God’s People.

At Passover they remember who they were gathered out of Egypt in the middle of the night and rescued
At Tabernacles which is like an end of year celebration they remember the 40 years in the wilderness and the establishment of the temple.
Sandwiched in between is this Pentecost, festival, of course they don’t call it Pentecost - In Hebrew they call this – Shavuot

-it’s a Festival with a double barrel meaning for the Jews.
1. To the giving of the Law
2. And to the first fruits of the harvest.

Giving of the law –
If you remember the story of Moses – the Pharaoh ordered the killing of the boys of Jewish women but the girls were allowed to live.
I guess there are two ways to quash a nation of people:
- You can put them all to death by the sword
- Or you can dilute and pollute their blood lines.
In killing the boys that is precisely what Pharaoh intended
When the sons of Jacob, the sons of God’s promise came to Egypt they were God’s people
Over time that got diluted so much so that as they exit Egypt the writer describes them in Exodus 12:37+38 as 600,000 men not including women and children and a mixed crowd….others…
The 600,000 we might call people who had stuck to a pure blood line
The others, were people of mixed blood – not true Jews but not Egyptians either – somewhere in between
People who aren’t really Jewish but wouldn’t fit with the Egyptians either, God fearers, immigrants, half castes we might call them a Motley Crew

In Exodus 19, they gather around the foot of God’s Mountain, to wait to hear God speak

Verse 16 on wards…
A cloud appears, trumpets blasts, everyone in the camp trembled.
The whole of Mount Sinai was covered in Smoke because God had come down on it as Fire…
Sound Familiar…

When Moses went up the mountain he was given the commandments that would be used as a basis of how this motley crew should now live.
The ten words on two stone tablets at Mount Sinia the giving of the law God establishes a covenant with his people
Basically God said – If they follow his law he will be there God, they will be his people.
God has rescued them out of Egypt but it’s only in the giving of the law the establishing of the covenant – if you like that they truly become God’s people.
Without the covenant they are just another people group, the only difference between them and anyone else is their noses and a love of humous.
But with the covenant they have become a Priestly Kingdom and a Holy nation.
So covenant is important – it’s worth celebrating
Prior to the Giving of the Law they were a collection of odds and sods - loosely related to each other descendents of Abraham but also a mixed race
At Mount Sinai in the giving of the Law – the Covenant was established - they became one people, one race.

Harvest
But Wait there’s more because for the Jews– Pentecost/ Shavout is also about Harvest –
The Fifty days prior being the time of the Grain harvest –
So in their farming calendar Passover to Pentecost is when they harvest grain..
They call this SHAVUOT which sounds bit like SABBAT or as we might say SABBATH
The harvest is finished and the land is about to rest, before replanting

What would happen is that on this day an offering by each farmer of two loaves of bread would be made in the temple….
While there as he offered the bread he would remember the story of his people
Deuteronomy 26:5 –
Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians ill-treated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labour. Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;

Harvest is an important occasion in establishing themselves as a people
– the reason they ended up in Egypt in the first place was because the harvest failed they had nothing to live on and so were forced to submit to an enemy people in order to survive.
At Sinai they become God’s People again
they are to be brought into their own land the harvest is not because they grow crops wells
- it’s a sign of God covenant with them,
- his care for them
- God is the source of their prosperity
Without God’s covenant they are not a people,
Without God’s Covenant they have no land
– the harvest will never be their own.
For the Israelites despite the fact they would wander around in the wilderness way longer than they had to through SHAVUOT they are moving to Sabbath – rest from wandering – for them it’s a cause of celebration – a feast, a party…

So In the City of Jerusalem there were Jews from Jerusalem and religious men from all over the world gathered…

Ready to give thanks to God for making them One People – his People.
Ready to re establish their identity as God’s people once more
As they Gathered around the temple expecting to hold up a couple of pieces of bread and give thanks to God for making them a people God breaks in
– like he did at Mount Sinai

As they remembered there story – a historical story of how God had once upon a time revealed himself to the People of Israel,
of how in smoke and fire and noises from heaven, the rescued reestablished people of God had become God’s People.
God Moves again
He enlivens their story
What was just a time to remember who you are suddenly comes alive
but God does something new as well…
Where around the Mountain the work of God was contained – the people were warned DO NOT Cross the boundary of many will die, now God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit is blowing wild…
The building cannot contain it
The people who are touched by the Spirit cannot contain it either,
The Spirit draws them out into the town square where they tell of the amazing things God has done.
Way back in genesis, God scattered the people by confusing their language.
Here on Pentecost morning – the motley Crew from the ends of the earth hear God speak in their own languages
The curse of Babel is reversed.
Sinai is back in business,
God is moving again drawing in the immigrants,
Reaching out to the half castes,
Creating one people again
On that morning four major things happen
1. On that morning the Church is born, A New Covenant is established -
With the rule of the Holy Spirit written on the hearts and lives as opposed to pieces of Stone
Under the High Priesthood of Jesus – who has become our once and for all Sacrifice
2. A New Tribe is established –
Not born of Flesh, but born of Spirit
Not Born form direct family lineage to a wandering Aramean who went down into Egypt way back in history. But gathered out of all the nations of the earth
3. A New Homeland is established –
Where once the people of God had a specific, geographical, piece of dirt, they called their promised land. Now everywhere is a potential land of promise.
As we pray and act in the name of God in this world, then his new Kingdom Comes.
It’s not bound by geography or location but by the gathering of people in God’s name,
Through the work of the people in God’s Name.
4. A New Place of worship is built
The Journey of God’s people led them from a mountain, to a temple, to an upper room to the Street.
Where the Temple was central to all that God’s People did in worship, through Christ the curtain has been torn the street, the market place is as much a potential place of worship as the grandest cathedral.

As the Stories Converge…
The Holy Spirit, “the shy member of the Trinity" reveals himself, breathes life into the dead bones of the religious observance of God’s people.
There are new beginnings
New Possibilities for God’s Mission
And New Life is possible

This can be a present reality for us…
The promise of Pentecost is that we too can hear God’s Voice speak to us
That we too can become his people
– wherever we have come from
– and whatever we have done.
In Acts 2 there is a convergence of many ways in which God has acted in the past and continues to act in the present,
So what does this all mean?

It means the doors are open for us all to have the Spirit’s fire breathe life into our tired faith
Or to ask God to breathe life into us for the first time.

2009-08-27T14:08:00.000+12:00

http://www.summit.co.nz/1132630/photos

Ephesians 4 Family Values

2009-08-12T13:55:00.000+12:00

The faith of Paul really amazes me, SLIDE

Everything he does is for the Lord and his church

You only have to read a little bit of what he has to say and you get that real sense that nothing can separate him from God’s Love

- Chains, prison, ship wrecks, torture

It’s a costly commitment he has to tell people about God

- It’s put him on the offside of his people - the Jews, with the authorities he used to work for and even with some of his brother in Christ

And because of the Ephesians this commitment has put him in chains - remember Trophimus... from Acts 21:29).

He was with Paul in Jerusalem,

and the Jews, thinking that the Paul had brought him with him into the temple, placed charges against Paul resulted in him being in prison.

Paul’s attitude - no big deal - I’m in Christ we’ll work with it

It’s this 100% commitment to the gospel that fuels Paul’s words to Live a life worth of the calling you have received...

New Family, SLIDE

It’s easy to see Paul’s commitment but what about our commitment – what does that look like for us?

I guess we can put Verse 1 that another way that might make more sense

the calling Paul is talking about refers to the name in which we as Christians are called - if you are in Jesus you are no longer John Smith or Jane Doe - you have a new name - a new family Christ

Calling - that the name you have been called to take up

You’ve been adopted in to God’s Family...

At Paige’s baptism this morning we welcome her into Christ’s family and as part of that welcoming she is Christened or named in God’s family the Church

When we are talking about the Church family we are not just talking about Nativity we are talking about the wider church, SLIDE

The creeds we say use the words Catholic Church – or the universal Church.

God has a big family and because he has a big family there is a real need to watch out for each other – and watch our own actions

I think we are all aware that we are judged by how people perceive others in our family and unfortunately we all can too easily get tarred with the same brush

When I was 20 I wanted to join the local police

- I passed all the tests but was rejected on basis that my family had a bit of a bad name in the region

- two of my brothers had done time

- and because of their record my card was marked the police wouldn’t accept me I was judge because of my brothers

When it comes to the Church Family we have a huge responsibility to live up to family standards.

We fail and the family name takes a dive on the commodities market.

Paul was in prison for the commitment he has made to Jesus – taking hits left right and centre for his beliefs

When we fail to live up to the name we are called by others take the hits…

Family Values

I am the youngest of 8 and I left home when I was 21 to come to NZ – I think it took my family 5 years to realize I was gone - the bigger the family the harder it is to stay together

What holds us together is not only having the same family name, but also adopting the Family Values SLIDE

Being part of the family means that we also have family values that we share in common - Quirks, characteristics that are unique

In verse 2 Paul names a few of these family quirks Humility, gentleness and patience

Some times we call these values fruits of the Spirit – why because they are not things that grow naturally in human beings

They are alien values to the average person

Humility- in the ancient world humility was not a value to be honored...

Donkeys were humble - slaves were humble - the average person was not - humility was associated with weakness

Gentleness - again is an alien value - dog eat dog, survival of the fittest is often how we see the world - I have to get what is mine - and just to make sure I get what is mine I’ll make sure I get more than I need. Gentleness is not an every day value

And as for Patience well just look in the car mirror next time you are stuck in traffic and you will realize how alien this value is...

They don’t come naturally… there fruits of God’s work in us not natural human attributes

But these are the values that help hold us together...

We are different and joining into God’s family is not about loosing your uniqueness, your identity and dressing the same way as everyone else.

But if we are going to stay together we need to develop family values so we can maintain our family connection - in spite of our differences.

Now as I said they are sometimes referred to as Fruits of the Spirit that doesn’t mean we lie back and God waves his magic hand and it all happens

We take our part in allowing God to develop them in us –

Family Beliefs SLIDE

In verse 4 Paul introduces us to another aspect of family values – belief

- what we believe - a creed - it’s not some family motto or a deep philosophical reflection on the nature of the universe; rather more often than not it’s stating the obvious.

Saying Jesus is Lord may not mean a great deal in our world but in the world of the Roman Empire where to people were asked to swear allegiance by the words Caesar is Lord - it has huge meaning

Its unpacking things in a way that makes sense.

As the Christian Church we have creeds that say what we believe -

Once upon a time in order to be welcomed into the family you had to be able to memorize a creed - why?

The thought was if you couldn’t say it and you didn’t believe it then you weren’t a Christian - you can’t be part of the family.

- take the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons

- they look like us, they talk like us they, they carry bibles like us

- but they are not part of our Family

- why because they don’t believe what we believe they have a different creed...

That’s why it’s so important for us to say the creeds to each other

- when we come to the Lords table were sitting down for a family meal

- we establish who we are as a family through the creeds.

It’s telling our story - the things we have in common...

But in saying it to each other we are also teaching each other.

now I know some people don’t like saying it every week - it become rote

- Why should I have to say what I believe in order to take communion I have been coming here for years -?

but maybe in saying it to each other we can teach others??

When I think back to being a kid I was told I had to learn the creed into to take communion - I struggled to sit down and learn it - in the end I learnt it through sitting in church surrounded by people who had been saying it week in week out for years

- so to those who know the creed by rote I wan to say thank you for teaching me it too.

And who knows maybe your teaching others too....

Family Business

So we have a name, values and beliefs that make up this big family. But I think we are all aware that there is something more than that

It wasn’t that God just put us all together so we could sing some happy songs on a Sunday morning say some prayers and then go and have a coffee together.

Great as that is - wonderful as it is to spend time with you

- there must be something more?

- and yes there is SLIDE

- The family Business, being part of God’s Family requires a commitment to his core business...

In the Lords Prayer we pray our Father your will be done on earth as it is in heaven- that’s a great honor to be able to call the God of the Universe Dad - but with it comes a concern for the family business - seeing this place become God’s Place - seeing his will done HERE his Kingdom come HERE

He didn’t give up the life of his son and go to great sacrifice just so we could drink tea together

He did it so that we would become part of the family business of reconciliation.

On the cross the debt was paid for our sin - Jesus took every wrong thing upon his shoulders and died the death we deserve

In that we have been reconciled to God

But there’s more…

In his death he set us free - the captives that Paul talks about in verse 8 are people who have died in the faith... SLIDE

And when he ascended into Heaven he took them with him

The image is of a victory parade where a victorious King would return from battle with a triumphant procession of his people behind him

and in the process of this victory parade the King would hand out gifts to all his loyal people.

And it’s these gifts that help us to be reconciled to each other.

Practical gifts that will help us become family.... Family Values

But also practical gifts that will help us carry out the family business - of reconciliation.

We become God’s hands and feet – his agents of reconciliation

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

No hands but yours,

No feet but yours,

Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ’s compassion to the world;

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good;

Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.

Christ Has No Body by St. Teresa of Avila

God’s Business becomes our business.

As verse 10 puts it so the whole universe will be filled with his presence...

God’s kingdom has a universal scale.

God’s business our business reconciliation of all people of all things under his rule.

The trail of captives that ascended is a foretaste - the work is now ours to do.

In Verse 11 Paul lists five gifts, that were to be used to build up all God‘s People for the Family Business. SLIDE

Not going to go in with any great details but:

- Apostle - sent

- Prophet - mouth

- Evangelist - good news

- Pastor - shepherd

- Teacher - nurture

Now without even explaining them I am sure you can think of some of the ways in which these gifts exercise themselves.

And I am sure you can see potential conflicts between them, but without each other the family business doesn’t work.

I mean I think we are all too aware that growing grapes is one thing but unless you have someone to harvest, someone to juice, someone to ferment and someone to bottle you don’t get Wine

it’s no different for the Church

- A church without Evangelists turns teaching into lectures

- A church full of evangelists but no teaching is just a door way...

- A church without apostolic direction becomes a fortress that’s only concern is self-preservation.

SLIDE

But when the apostolic function exist it births new environments for ministry to take place in

When the prophetic ministry exists God’s people are continually called back to him - to his covenant relationship.

And as people are brought into relationship with God through the evangelist a place is created for pastoral ministry of nurture into Christ likeness and then through teaching people are led to a greater understanding of God’s will.

When these gifts work together - the family grows, not only numerically but in maturity too.

Historically the Church in the west has not valued these five gifts we have specialized as churches in shepherding and teaching people

And when they often rose up the people were ostracized for demonstrating these gifts

But we live in a different time - as I said a few weeks back the world we live in is probably closer Spiritually to the world of Ancient Rome SLIDE

-it’s hostile to the gospel – it’s pre Christian

Therefore we need these gifts and people gifted with them if we are to continue the family business

On Tuesday I was sitting in the staff meeting and I could see these gifts present in the staff team… it makes you wonder if God is assembling a ministry team this way - it makes you wonder what he has in store...

But it’s not just about the ministry team.

These gifts have been spread about the whole church.

- For some of you they are sleeping - if so then wake up

- For some of you they have been trod upon - if so then ask God to raise them up in you

- For some of you your angry with the Church – and so your hiding these gifts if so we hope you can find the opportunity to unveil them again

For the sake of God’s family we need these gifts

– after all God didn’t give you them so you could feel good about yourself but so the whole church could be built up…

In a moment we will gather around the table again for a family meal - I invite you as you receive to recommit yourselves to this family again... SLIDE

For others you have never been part of this family

-your sitting on the fringe

-well maybe in gathering you could commit yourself a step further

We are a family; we need to work together - to be one

Lifeshapes - the Hexagon - prayer

2009-06-23T11:53:00.000+12:00

PRAYER STRUGGELS
If I am going to be honest prayer is the thing that I have struggled most with in the following Jesus thing.
It seems so unnatural to me.
I grew up in a Catholic church that prayed very formal prayers
But I am also a person who is easily distracted.
I want to pray but knowing how to pray in a way that honors God and a way that I don’t fall asleep is often difficult for me.
You couple that with the fact I like to be around people – I like to talk and it has felt some days like prayer is impossibility

But if we are to fulfill our life purpose if we are to have relationship with God then it’s a discipline we all need.
Life shapes 6 is a not only a reminder to pray but also a shape to help us pray, as we run our minds over each side we say a way of praying…
LORD TEACH US TO PRAY
Now Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer,
As I said a few weeks back Rabbi’s like Jesus modeled behavior for their disciples to follow
Rabbinical teaching – the goal is to be come like the rabbi – imitation – you are just like your rabbi – a Mini Me
They ate - you ate
They sleep – you sleep
They walk with a limp – you walk with a limp
Failure resulted in a clip round the ear
You become a photocopy of the person you are following
How you learn is by doing things like they did
Basically if you were a follower of a Rabbi you learnt through imitation
So when the disciples ask Lord teach us to pray
They’ve seen Jesus doing it and now there ready to give this thing a shot too
FAMILIAR
The words of the Lord’s Prayer are familiar to most of us – possibly too familiar,
One of the problems is with written prayers is that unless you stop occasionally to think about what your saying you end up just repeating something back by wrote – like learning the times table. But prayer is not supposed to be mechanical it’s a cry to God, it’s the human spirit speaking to God via the Holy Spirit
So if you have never stopped to think about what you are saying then here is a good opportunity to do that.
But it’s also an opportunity to see what this prayer they can teach us about prayer in general
HEXAGON
The Hexagon helps us to remember the six simple phrases of the Lord’s Prayer and how we can apply them to every minute of every day.
And in doing that not only do we learn how to pray but also to align our lives with God’s will for us.• The Father’s Character – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”
This is the ultimate oxymoron.
On one hand we have Jesus telling us that we can call God Father
For some this is a problem – If he is anything like my Father he must be a real Bastard
Well that is not what Jesus means – in the Aramaic the word he uses is literally Daddy – Tender, caring, Jesus is saying “This God, you can actually call him DAD.”
But at the same time this God who we can call Father is in Heaven “up there somewhere’
On one hand he is close and on the other far away, removed.
What do we do with this?

I think it works like this;
Jesus starts this prayer off be welcoming us into the court of the King
– not just any King but the king of the universe
– and in prayer you can sit on his knee and whisper what you want to pray about in his ear.

• The Father’s Kingdom – “Your kingdom come, your will be done”
We don’t use the language of Kingdom much in the 21st Century; it’s kind of been lost in the political shift from Kings and Queens to prime ministers and Presidents.
Basically a King would rule over a region and be responsible for the care of that region – in saying this we are saying – we want God’s rule to be established on earth as it is in Heaven – Why?
– because God is a good ruler, he looks after his people,
– because God is just he is fair to us
– because God is merciful, he doesn’t treat us like we deserve to be treated

But we are also recognizing we want to be part of the family business too.
In calling God Dad, it’s like we’ve been adopted into his family.
Not just any family but the family of a King – his concerns then become our concerns
– the things that effect him effect us
– His cry for justice becomes ours too
– His desire for peace becomes ours
So where God rules in our lives, his kingdom exists on earth as in heaven
We are aligning our selves with the God who is our Father
So we pray for this kingdom to be established but because we are part of the family firm we work for it too
• The Father’s Provision – “Give us today our daily bread”
I think we all recognize the fact we have needs – health, shelter, food, warmth, emotional etc... this is our daily bread
In prayer we are pulling ourselves up to the father’s table and saying ‘feed me’.
He wants us to be there so he created us to have needs but also to see him as the ultimate provider of those needs – Every good thing comes from our heavenly Father.
Our needs ensure that we keep coming back to him – that we don’t forget him – that we realize our dependence on him.
God will provide us with what we need -
• The Father’s Forgiveness – “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”
– the problem is that so often our needs turn into greed’s, the human condition is such that we always want more.
If God our heavenly Daddy is our provider than surely we should have enough shouldn’t we? Not too much so that we become greedy, and not too little that we starve.
If we become greedy we overstep our boundaries – trespass as the old words of this prayer used to say.
We take what isn’t ours
We go places we shouldn’t go
And at the same time if we do it we can guarantee others will do it to us too.
So, just as we ask God to forgive us, we also need to forgive others.
Look at it like this when we sin we not only sin against other people, but we sin against God by saying what you gave me is not enough – I want more.
We hurt others, we hurt our heavenly Daddy.
While the Fathers forgiveness is never ending, it’s conditional on being willing to forgive others...
• The Father’s Guidance – “Lead us not into temptation”
Up until now the prayer has been focused on God and our relationships with others around us.
To use the language of the Triangle
– we’ve done the UP stuff
– and we’ve prayed about the IN stuff.
– Now the prayer also focuses’ us on the OUT Stuff.

Within the Hexagon is a triangle

So the Prayer naturally leads us into dealing with our going out into the world with God’s Message.
What we are saying here in these last two sections - that we are asking for God’s protection as we go out and do his work, as we advance his kingdom.
Give us the strength to be in the world but not of the world
Help out light to shine…
• The Father’s Protection –“But deliver us from the evil one”
But were also recognizing that we have an enemy it’s not just us being led astray that we need to worry about, but when we try to establish God’s Kingdom we are undermining the Kingdom of Satan – our enemy
The Enemy that comes to steal and destroy.

So we need to be guided around temptation but we also need to be kept safe from attacks as we do what God would have us do…

PRAYING THE HEXAGON
Pray with Pauses –
Praise,
Intercessions
Protection
Pray a Clause daily – on the seventh day rest – Anglican Prayer Book uses this form
Cyclical prayer – where each line is developed by the next
If Our Father is in heaven
Then his Kingdom shall come
And he will give us what we need – because in his Kingdom there is no want
And our debts will be washed away – because in his kingdom there is forgiveness
And if we walk in God’s grace and forgiveness which comes from his Kingdom being established then we need to freely forgive others
And we know that God’s Kingdom is dependant on his rule in our lives so we need protection from taking short cuts and temporary fixes and from evil that would seek to discredit and put the kingdom’s rule in our lives down
You can also just pray it as it is – sometimes we don’t have the words to say – the weight of the world seems too much to bare – but here are words of life, freedom, new beginnings, and protection

Pentecost - What is happening here

2009-06-16T11:59:00.000+12:00

BIG UP's to Rob Bell for the Erev Rav thoughts

A Story…
As a kid we were asked to draw a picture of this scripture in RE – I miss heard what was being said so instead of tongues of fire I just drew a picture of the disciples being licked by giant tongues… did not warm myself to the RE teacher who thought I was tacking the Mick – oh if she could see me know… TONGUE SLIDE
It seems to me though that confusion is one of the underlying themes of this biblical story.
The events that happen are beyond comprehension so much so that event those who experienced it were hard pressed to describe what was happening. In 2:12 we see that the crowd gathered were Amazed and confused – do much so that they had to keep asking each other what had happened here…. This is weird stuff
So much so that the only possible explanation from an on looker is Ah Yes – They must be drunk.
So as we explore this scripture this morning the question, “What does this all mean?” is probably an appropriate place to start…

So in getting to the heart of what this means we need to realize that Pentecost is not a word that was invented by a denomination to describe a type of worship that involves speaking odd languages or waving your hands around in worship.
Pentecost has a back story and like so much of the Jesus story its roots lie in the Exodus of Egypt
For the people of Israel this back story of the Exodus shapes their very identity and existence in the world.
While we are not Jews their back story is our heritage – its shapes whom we are without it the Stories of Jesus are monochrome and often difficult to understand. When we come to terms with this back story it’s like someone has taken a palette of color and repainted the Jesus story – it brings it life, depth and significance.

When it comes to Pentecost though there is not just one back story but many
Acts 2 is like a convergence of many ways in which God has acted,
Many promises God has made
It’s the fulfillment of Prophecy
And in the establishment of the Church we have God’s instrument for building his Kingdom made alive, breathed with Holy fire
So what does this all mean?
Well firstly the word “Pentecost” designates the 50th day after Passover.
It’s one of three Pilgrim Festivals in the Jewish calendar
Feast being significant ways of remembering the God story in the life of the people of Israel –
There are three pilgrim festivals Passover, Pentecost and Feats of Tabernacles in particular helped them remember
- who they were
- how they were created
- and how they were redeemed
And in light of all this then the festivals helped reestablish their identity showing them how they were to live at God’s People
At Passover they remember who they were gathered out of Egypt in the middle of the night and rescued
At Tabernacles which is like an end of year celebration they remember the 40 years in the wilderness and the establishment of the temple.
Pentecost – literally means fifty days, fifty days after Passover
In Hebrew they call this – Shavuot SHAVOUT SLIDE
-it’s a Festival with a double barrel meaning
Firstly it’s tied to the giving of the law – The ten words on two stone tablets at Mount Sinai
– Exodus 19 if you like was the first Pentecost.
In the giving of the law God establishes a covenant with his people
– If they follow his law he will be there God, they will be his people.
God has rescued them out of Egypt but it’s only in the giving of the law the establishing of the covenant if you like that they truly become God’s people.
If you remember the story of Moses – the Pharaoh ordered the killing of the boys of Jewish women but the girls were allowed to live.
I guess there are two ways to quash a nation of people:
- You can put them all to death by the sword
- Or you can dilute and pollute their blood lines.
In killing the boys that is precisely what Pharaoh intended
When the sons of Jacob, the sons of God’s promise came to Egypt they were God’s people
Over time that got diluted so much so that as they exit Egypt the writer describes them in Exodus 12:37+38 as 600,000 men not including women and children and others…
The 600,000 we might call people who had stuck to a pure blood line
The others, were people of mixed blood – not true Jews but not Egyptians either – somewhere in between in Hebrew
an EREV RAV EREV RAV SLIDE
a mixed multitude
People who aren’t really Jewish but wouldn’t fit with the Egyptians either, God fearers, immigrants, half castes we might call them a Motley Crew
Prior to the Giving of the Law they were a collection of odds and sods - loosely related to each other descendents of Abraham but also a mixed race
At Mount Sinai in the giving of the Law – the Covenant was established - they became one people, one race
God united them under the Law –
Law being rules to live by –
Rules that say you are God’s people regardless of whether you mother or Father was Egyptian – the Motley Crew, the EREV RAV are know God’s People.

As they waited around the foot of Mount Sinai
A cloud appears, trumpets blasts, everyone in the camp trembled.
The whole of Mount Sinai was covered in Smoke because God had come down on it as Fire…
Sound Familiar…. Is this our back story????

But Wait there’s more because SHAVUOT – Pentecost is also about Harvest –
The Fifty days prior being the time of the Grain harvest – SHAVUOT SLIDE
Which is related to the word Sabbath is what follows – time when the land rests…
What would happen is that on this day an offering by each farmer of two loaves of bread would be made in the temple….
While there as he offered the bread he would remember the story of his people
Deuteronomy 26:5 –
Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians ill-treated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labour. Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;
Harvest is an important occasion in establishing themselves as a people – the reason they ended up in Egypt in the first place was because the harvest failed they had nothing to live on and so were forced to submit to an enemy people in order to survive.
At Sinai they become once again God’s People they are to be brought into their own land the harvest is not because they grow crops wells
- it’s a sign of God covenant with them,
- his care for them
- God is the source of their prosperity
Without God’s covenant they are not a people but an EREV RAV a Motley Crew,
Without God’s Covenant they have no land – the harvest will never be their own.
For the Israelites despite the fact they would wander around in the wilderness way longer than they had to through SHAVUOT they are moving to Sabbath – rest from wandering – for them it’s a cause of celebration – a feast, a party…

So In the City of Jerusalem there were Jews from Jerusalem and religious men from all over the world gathered…
JERUSALEM MAP SLIDE
Ready to give thanks to God for making them One People – his People.
Ready to re establish their identity as God’s people once more
As they Gathered around the temple expecting to hold up a couple of pieces of bread and give thanks to God for making them a people God breaks in
– like he did at Mount Sinai

As they remembered there story – a historical story of how God had once upon a time revealed himself to the People of Israel, of how in smoke and fire and noises from heaven, the rescued reestablished people of God had become God’s People.
God Moves again
He enlivens their story
But He does something new as well…
Where around the Mountain the work of God was contained – the people were warned DO NOT Cross the boundary of many will die, now God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit is blowing wild…
The building cannot contain it PENTECOST SLIDE
The people who are touched by the Spirit cannot contain it either,
The Spirit draws them out into the town square where they tell of the amazing things God has done.
Where at Babel the people were scattered because God confused their language – here on Pentecost morning – the motley Crew from the ends of the earth here these things in their own languages
The curse of Babel is reversed.
Sinai is back in business,
God is moving again drawing in the immigrants,
Reaching out to the half castes,
And as this motley Crew grow in number, this EREV RAV enter into a new relationship with God

On that morning the Church is born, HOT COALS SLIDE
A New Covenant is established -
With the rule of the Holy Spirit written on the hearts and lives as opposed to pieces of Stone
Under the High Priesthood of Jesus – who has become our once and for all Sacrifice
A New Tribe is established –
Not born of Flesh, but born of Spirit
Not Born form direct family lineage to a wandering Aramean who went down into Egypt way back in history. But gathered out of all the nations of the earth an EREV RAV a motley crew of half castes and has beans from the unpronounceable places of the earth.
A New Homeland is established –
Where once the people of God had a specific, geographical, piece of dirt, they called their promised land. Now everywhere is a potential land of promise.
As we pray and act in the name of God in this world, then his new Kingdom Comes.
It’s not bound by geography or location but by the gathering of people in God’s name,
Through the work of the people in God’s Name.
A New Place of worship is built
The Journey of God’s people led them from a mountain, to a temple, to an upper room to the Street.
Where the Temple was central to all that God’s People did in worship, through Christ the curtain has been torn the street, the market place is as much a potential place of worship as the grandest cathedral.
As the Stories Converge…
The Holy Spirit, “the shy member of the Trinity" reveals himself, breathes life into the dead bones of the religious observance of God’s people.
There are new beginnings
New Possibilities for God’s Mission
And New Life
In Acts Chapter one a group of Individuals went up to the room and waited upon God –
In Acts Chapter two the same group of people became the body of Christ, one body, joined by one Spirit
Individuals went up and the Church came down

In a Moment as we gather round our Communion table and lift up Bread and Wine, just as they would at SHAVUOT
Then we are going to remember our story – not about being wandering Arameans,
But about, how on the night before Jesus died he gathered in an upper room with his friends
And in doing that we will be reminded that once we were far off but in Jesus we have been brought close to God. Where once we were EREV RAV now we are the people of God
And in doing this we reestablish who we are and that just as God has called u out of many places he has called us to be his Body in many different places too.
And as we do this we will ask God to breathe life into our remembrance to make us one people, one body filled with one Spirit

As you come forward to receive we would invite those who would like pray to linger at the front, if you want a fresh touch of the Spirit than indicate to the prayer team.

Lifeshapes- the square

2009-06-16T11:58:00.000+12:00

Let’s just pause for a moment for a very quick recap of the journey we have been on
CIRCLE
Way back we talked about how a Kairos moment is a moment in time, an opportunity to enter a circle of repentance and faith – and that these circles continually spiral in our lives and that as we enter and exit we change becoming more Christ like…
SEMI CIRCLE
From there we saw that God created us to be fruitful, and that fruit in our lives only ever grows when we are in balance – rest and work. In the Semi Circle we saw a prescription for a balanced life.
TRIANGLE
After that we saw that we need relational balance in out lives too.
That there is balance there in our relationship with God (Up dimension),
relationship with followers of Jesus (In Dimension)
and relationship with those outside the faith (Out Dimesnion).
And from there that as people we grow in faith by working at these three dimension Up – worship and prayer, In – Accountability and close Christian friendships, but also in stepping Out in mission and service
WHOLE LIFE DISIPLESHIP
Each of these shapes reflects an aspect of discipleship that Jesus not only taught but lived out in his every day life – I hope what you can see is that through this discipleship is not just about Church Stuff.. or Spiritual Stuff but that discipleship is about everyday stuff – it shapes every are of our lives.
If I am a disciple of Jesus then it needs to inform me in everything
How I am a father
How I spend my money
What car I drive
How I do leisure
Even what music I listen, what books I read, what movies I watch are a reflection of discipleship of my growing relationship with God – I don’t switch off – I either am a disciple 24/7 or not…

This evenings life shapes explores an area of life which for some people is going to seem irrelevant – but trust me it is extremely relevant….
Were looking at the square
And the square is about leadership, before you switch of and say leadership is nothing to do with me hang on a minute
If were going to be honest most of us don’t see ourselves as leaders
I for one have an aversion to anyone who walks into the room and wants to be a leader
Normally ‘leaders’ are seen as being loud, branch sometimes obnoxtious people who will jump up and down and say we do it my way…
While that can certainly be called a type of leadership it’s not the leadership I am interested in following or modeling.
INFLUENCE
So how about if I use a different word to describe leadership – Influence –
Because at the end of the day Leadership is influence, if a leader is barking the order and no one is following they are just going for a walk
But if leadership is about influence then I can do that
Believe me you can do it too…
Think for a moment of the many ways you can influence a person
Actions, Words, attitude, gestures,

But there is another side about leadership and that is learning how to be a good follower, submitting yourself to what God is doing in your life.
We need to learn how to follow before we can learn how to lead

JESUS LEADERSHIP
How does Jesus lead?
Rabinical teaching – the goal is to be come like the rabbi – imitation – you are just like your rabbi – a Mini Me
They ate - you ate
They sleep – you sleep
They walk with a limp – you walk with a limp
You become a photocopy of the person you are following
How you learn is by doing things like they did
Basically if you were a follower of a Rabbi you learnt through imitation

Four movements or stages – Jesus leads in a different way in each – the genius of this is that you can save a lot of pain and heartache if you can recognize where you are at – not just as a leader but as a follower.

D1 Discipleship is Directive _YOU DO AS YOU ARE TOLD
STAGE 1 Mark 1:15-20
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
[16] As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." [18] At once they left their nets and followed him.
[19] When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. [20] Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
D1 is about a very authoritarian way of leading
–300 and the Phalanx – Stand fast – you don’t question the leader you just follow.
What you end out with through this directive approach is often people who are enthusiastic but extremely incompetent – I think when the Bible talks about people as sheep – it with this leadership in mind
Great place to start but if this is the future of the Church; oh oh we are in trouble!
High Enthusiasm
Low Ability

D2 Discipleship is coaching – Let’s Talk
STAGE 2 Luke 9:1-17
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. [3] He told them: "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and no extra tunic. [4] Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. [5] If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." [6] So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
In D1 disciples were enthusiastic they have been pick to join the rabbi school of Jesus – there excited – it probably feels like nothing could get in their way
There working for the God man and God is with them….
But what happens NEXT
[10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
[12] Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
[13] He replied, "You give them something to eat."
They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."
Doesn’t it seem weird they could go and heal in the name of Jesus, but when it came to supplying the sandwiches they were suddenly stumped.
They were suddenly out of their depth…
Enthusiasm is a great place to start, but without skills you soon get overwhelmed, D’s went off to put the world to rites, come back, having succeeded – but verse 13 pulls them back down to earth.

You see this time and time again we start with a hiss and a raw but soon fall over
I see this with Kids all the time – score a couple of goals and they think there Man Utd.
When the opposition picks up there game and starts scoring again
The team who though they were Man Utd suddenly look like Accrington Stanley
There heads go down, they start arguing, this sucks becomes the phrase of the day…
It’s like when you learn to ride a bike – it’s great until you fall of and they say unless you get up straight away and begin ridding again you’ll never get up

So the question is how does Jesus lead in this situation. Well maybe he could try and build up the enthusiasm again – tell them YOU CAN DO IT,
Hype them up – maybe even give them another altar call
` – or he can sit down with them and review the game plan.
If I heave learnt anything D2 is make a break for most people
You feel like giving up but if you can build on the experience if you can learn from the failure you will grow – if you can find Jesus when it feels like you life is in the pit your well on the way to becoming disciple
I Guess Experience proceeds explanation
Having failed means they are open to learn
We’ve tried something - its failed
Were confused, fed up what do we do now
We tried to follow Jesus and it doesn’t work out
We can’t do it… its too hard
Trust me if you can hang in at D2 half the battle is won
What Happens next.
[14] But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." [15] The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. [16] Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. [17] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
D3 Discipleship is Pastoral - Friends
STAGE 3 - John 15:12-17
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. [17] This is my command: Love each other.
A shift has happened
After going through the this sucks stage and being coached on the Disciples are growing in confidence again – but they also have learnt some skills from the coach
The Relationship has changed – their friends
They are still followers of Jesus but he is happy to walk in the pack and direct from within.
He’s much more hands off, in D1 Jesus directed them told them what to do – servants, now they are friends
The beginning of the “feet on the desk stage”
This stage is critical – they are becoming responsible, chances are though they won’t want the responsibility though, because all though everyone wants the badge we tend not to want the responsibility that goes with it….

D4 Discipleship is Delegation – I know you can do it
STAGE 4 Matthew 28:1-20
[16] Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [17] When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [18] Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Disiciples have grown in confidence and what’s more they are competent
L’s Low Direction, low examples
This is the Feet on the desk stage Time to delegate responsibility - if you don’t then you will loose them
GIVE YOUR JOB AWAY
One of the hardest things I have had to do is this…

CONCLUSION
The process of discipleship:
Directive -> Coaching -> Pastoral -> Delegating
I do it, you watch.
I do it, you help.
You do it, I help.
You do it, I watch.

Choosen for LURVE

2009-06-16T11:56:00.000+12:00

As many of you are probably by now aware in spite of the mixed of accent I am in fact a Yorkshire man – my mother says “there are two types of people in the world them from Yorkshire and the rest of em…”
Roughly translated if you’re not from Yorkshire you are an other a nobody…
Yorkshire humor, blunt, often said with a tongue in cheek and often insulting – there are many times I have walked away from a conversation with a Yorkshire person shaking my head – “did they just insult me… I thought they were a friend?”
When I ask my daughter who spent some time with my mum a few years back about what she remembers about her – she says this
“Dad your mum scares me, the first time I met her she shook her fist at me – aren’t grandma’s supposed to love their kids…” In a Yorkshire household that is love.
I guess you can imagine then that being a Yorkshire man I am not really into sloppy sentimentality – say it like it is and say it straight. If you’re going to have a go at me do it and don’t butter it up
Yorkshire men tend to hate flowers and sentimentality for no reason…
And Hallmark moments don’t exist in Yorkshire homes…

I think most of you would probably have received a gushy Hallmark card at some time well a Hallmark moment is a sappy emotional appeal, especially one that manipulates peoples emotions.
Its not that I am cold and emotionless, I just don’t like emotional manipulation and I struggle with gushiness.
Why am I telling you this?
Well I guess in the scripture there are some passages which have often been turned into Hallmark moments – 1 Corinthians 13 is a prime example – you hear it and you often think wedding bells – and because of that you can often miss what Paul is actually saying.
Today’s reading is another one that is in danger of being hallmarked too death.

It’s filled with very emotional language and it’s Jesus talking at a very emotionally charged time in his ministry
– he is about to walk out of the room to his death.
So emotion, feeling is high, but please don’t let that emotion overcome you – please don’t take these words and turn them into Hallmark moments
· To do that is to miss something really important.
· To do that is to glance over how Jesus redefines existence for the followers of God
· To do that is to turn the gospel of Christ, a message for the world into a greeting card where people turn around and say, “Awe that’s nice”, put it on their shelf and get on with their lives.
Don’t be fooled just because Jesus is talking about Joy, Love and Friendship he is not talking about that little puppy you had as a child that followed you everywhere and wagged its tail whenever you came home from school.
Don’t Hallmark moment the Gospel…

LOVE
9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” Isn’t that nice…
Doesn’t that fill you with warm fuzzies…?
God is love, Jesus loves me, Love one another – Period
Jesus has just washed their feet, is in the middle of sharing a Passover supper, and now Jesus is saying how he loves these guys…
I am sure they were touched by this – unless Jesus was in a drunken stupor saying “I lurve you guys - let’s have another beer” type of love then they would have been touched,
How could you not be touched?
Jesus Loves them – and I guess as we gather round the out skirts of the room I think we can say he’s talking to us too.
Jesus loves you – that’s awesome
But before you run away in the warm fuzzies,
know this – this love is defined by the way the Father has loved him.
It’s Love but not as we know it…
It’s intimacy but maybe not as we would imagine it
It’s Jesus inviting these twelve guys into another level of relationship, but maybe not as we imagined it
So how did the Father love Jesus? – What’s the model for how Jesus loves us?
He had pushed him out of the comfortable confines of heaven down onto earth where, as a baby, Herod tried to kill him,
The Father sends him into the wilderness for 40 days under assault by the devil trying to get his claws into him,
The Father loved him by pressing him into conflict with the super pious and with violent bureaucrats, who plotted to put an end to him,
And the Father loved him by encircling him with friends who were total lemons.
How did the Father love Jesus?
Peril at every turn, demons to be cast out, the sick pulling on him, crowds pressing, a woman yanking the hem of his garment, no roof over his head, and then the worst conceivable end possible – in betrayal, torture and death… but to top it all off the father demonstrates his Love in Abandonment....

It’s not what we would imagine when we think about love
Maybe we would prefer it if Jesus had turned around and said _ “as the Father loves me… well I am going to spare you from that love, I’ll love you differently, I’ll protect you in every situation, no one will ever say anything bad against you, you will love a peaceful and comfortable life.”

When Jesus says “13Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” He means it – he is about to do this for the guys in the room and for us who hang around the outside

Love is about Sacrifice, that’s the love that Jesus has poured out for us abundantly. That’s the love Jesus wants us to offer.
Not all hearts and flowers but giving of yourself for others and if we abide in his love, like he asks us to then His Joy may be complete is us.
We may lose the roof over our heads or be confronted with a change of lifestyle that ruins our comfort levels,
We will have people give us the odd look and by puzzled by our weirdness,
We probably won't get ahead in the world is were prepared to abide in god’s love,
It's hard, unfathomable, something you have no ability to pull off--but you go, and you know the one loving you has been there, and it's so hard, which is why it's meaningful.
And in this not only will we love as the Father loved Jesus, but His joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Too often we associate Joy with Happiness don’t we!!!

JOY
But Joy doesn’t come from satisfaction at being full of stuff,
Joy doesn’t come from winning the race of who has the most toys,
Nor does Joy doesn’t come form a fat bank balance
It comes from the Holy Spirit
– It’s that feeling of I get it
– It’s the feeling of fulfillment
– It’s runs deeper than pleasure;
– It’s the response of something deep in the soul to realizing the depth of God’s Love for us,
– It’s that feeling of freedom, of eternal destiny – that though the whole world is falling apart God has a place for you – Jesus the master builder is marking out a ¼ acre site with your name on it
– In Matthew 13:44, Jesus explains it in the form of a parable
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Why a parable? because it’s so hard to find words to describe it

This runs so contrary to the Pursuit of happiness that so much of the world seeks after.
Its sounds like the same thing but when you dig down deep its worlds apart.
If we abide in Jesus’ love – it might look like we loose – but trust me we win BIG TIME,
Because not only do we get to know that we are loved,
not only does Joy well up in us like an overflowing river but we also get to be called Friends of Jesus, Friends of God.

FRIEND
That is an amazing responsibility and something you should never take for granted.
In the Old Testament two people were called friends of God, Abraham and Moses.
Two amazing individuals who if I was to meet I would just stand there, mouth open. Gorping … What would you say?
Now I don’t know about you but I am defiantly not in their league
– they earned the right to be called friends of God, I am only here by grace.
So friendship with Jesus is not something I take for granted
– Jesus is not some buddy Jesus who I can use and abuse when ever I feel.
Because he calls me friend I call him Lord
Psalm 84: 10, says I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Godthan dwell in the tents of the wicked.
To be a doorkeeper for Jesus would be the most amazing honor, but when we abide in his love he doesn’t call us servants we become friends.
–
CHOSEN/COMMANDED
But that is not the end of the story
- not only does Jesus Love you,
- Not only does Jesus want you to abide in him and receive that Joy
- And Not only does he call you friend
- Jesus also chooses you.
To identify ourselves as chosen…. In our world sounds like absolute arrogance –
Maybe looking into the Greek would be helpful:
In the Greek the word Choose – Eklego has a deeper meaning than whose in and who’s out. It’s chosen to do a task – maybe a better word is selection.
It’s like when you were at school and the two captains picked the sports team. Normally the team Captain would Eklego team members, based on merit – the strongest the sportiest, the best looking, the guy who has the ball…
They would be the Chosen one’s Jesus turns this on its head
When team captain Jesus picks he doesn’t do it on merit, or skill or ability – he picks the weak one’s not the jocks, not the first 15, the first eleven or even the first seven. He chooses the rejects, that’s an amazing feeling… to be chosen when you fully don’t deserve it
I remember being at school when the head boy elections were on – all the staff were told to vote for who they believed should be head boy – I got three votes – three teachers out of 25 thought I deserved to be head boy – I was blown away, the head boy only got 6 votes…
Why he choose me or you I don’t know but I am grateful – I am so grateful, and that is one of the reasons I am more than happy to tell others – my gratitude at God’s lobe for me, has turned into Joy and it overflows…
And maybe that’s why we get picked – because when we respond to God we do so from a grateful heart – when we say yes to God’s YES to us, we are eternally grateful.
But there is more to it
Because alongside Eklego is another word Entello or in English Command.
Entello is not a boss telling you to do this or do that.
It’s not Jesus reverting us back to being servants again, Entello / Command infers a task or a commission.
So we’ve been chosen – which is pure grace – nothing of our own merit, and commissioned – charged with a task… to bare fruit, fruit that will last.
So yes you have been chosen but not so you can sit around and soak in the grace and wait for Jesus’ return - you have been chosen to bear much fruit,
You’ve been chosen to be light in the world – Jesus has a mission for us all that’s why he choose us
- to connect others into the vine
- to connect others to Jesus,
- and through connecting them to Jesus you connect them back into the Father – the source, the root, the sustainer of us all.

If Jesus wanted to win in the religious game - he would have chosen the Pharisees. They were the first 15 of the religious playground, the one’s with the skill,
They were the ones who prayed at least three times a day.
They knew their Bibles.
They worked hard at obeying every one of God's laws.
They fasted once or twice a week to show their religious devotion to God.
Instead he choose fishermen -- known to be crude and foul-mouthed, impatient and hot-headed.
He chose a tax collector -- known to be a swindler.
He chose a zealot -- a fanatical revolutionary.
And he chooses us -- known sinners,
known to be somewhat less than perfect,
known to have all kinds of problems in our lives.

And not only does he choose us but he calls us friends
So go out into this week and share the love – not the soppy sentimental Hallmark understanding of Love – but the love that comes from Joy, the love that pours out of you because of the grace that God has poured over you.

Jesus' prayer John 17

2009-05-25T11:39:00.000+12:00

It seems rather ironic that so soon after Easter we should head back into a prayer in the gospels that immediately proceeds the betrayal, denial of and crucifixion of Jesus
But then this is how the gospels operate – we see new truth in the light of the cross
Prior to the cross so much of what Jesus said sounded like he talked in riddles
Some of his closest followers probably though he was a bit weird at times
Through the cross Jesus’ words and became aha moments
Through the cross – riddles become truth

This morning we are looking at the final prayer of Jesus before he went out to the Garden of Gethsemane.
It’s a prayer not only filled with tension at what is about to happen but also about the tensions of following Jesus.
Discipleship
Jesus’ prayer for us, his desire for us is pretty much that we continue his mission. In Matthew 28 he commissions his disciples – US to go and make disciples,
here in John 17 as they gather round to share the last supper he prays for them as he sends them out into the night
A night when they’ll be separated from him –
This prayer is like the last will and testament of what Jesus wants to see his followers become.
On the night he spoke this intimate prayer to his Father but with his followers listening in I suspect it didn’t make much sense – after the events of that Easter weekend, after the ascension, as they moved on in the mission I suspect it would have made more and more sense.

It’s a prayer but it’s also instruction
Not about how to do the mission
But about whom we need to be – how we need to relate to each other and to the world o live with tensions.
Tension One
You don’t have to be a scholar to realize that there are three uneasy tensions in this prayer –
In verse 9 Jesus says
“I pray for them but I do not pray for the world”
That’s kind of a weird prayer isn’t it?
John 3:16 Jesus says For God so Loved the …….. (world) that he gave his only son that
His prayer seems to be contradictory – on one hand we are talking about God loving the world on the other but I am not going to pray for it…
How do we make sense of that?
God loves the world – he created it, he brooded over it, but at the same time he sees what it has become,
The world as we know it is not what God intended
Look at it like this
John 3:16 – Jesus is talking about the created world the world he made – that is what he wants to redeem
John 17 – it’s the world we have created,
- the political systems that are corrupt,
- the way we have exploited our neighbor in the name of greed
- the way we pollute the planet
Our world is a world that on one hand is blessed with the finger prints of God, but on the other decaying, dying,
In Revelation 21 one of the final images of John’s vision is of a new earth because the old has passed away – God’s kingdom has come so not only the world God created that god created that reflects his Glory – everything does.

So while Jesus does not pray for the world, he does leave us to be part of that world and that’s our second tension,
Tension Two – We are in the world
In verse 11Jesus goes on to say, I am no longer in the world but they are in the world –
How do we live in a world that is corrupt and dying – clearly with the presence of Evil and remain safe?
How do we handle being in the world but not of the world?
I guess most of us are aware of the two extreme of Christianity
Liberalism – where anything seems to go
And fundamentalism – where nothing goes –
One extreme embraces everything of the world – one shuts itself off from the world.
Living in tension is not easy – so when you think about it moving to the extremes is the natural thing to do –
I mean if the world is an evil place there are two responses move into the Christian ghetto – which I guess is fundamentalism at a pinch or
Ignore the fact the world is an evil place and baptize everything and say it’s from God – which is liberalism at a pinch.

On one hand we can have lots of fellowship with one another and await the Lords return on the other we can look at the world through rose colored glasses – and when someone does something evil we’ll say it’s not evil they are just expressing themselves

But does mission exist in either of these two worlds?
How do we be Salt and Light?
Well from what I have seen the people who are called to be salt in the ghetto look as though they have been sucking lemons.
For liberalism – well we all no what too much salt does in a diet

As for light, well fundamentalism recognizes that the world is a dark place but when you are called to be light you probably blame the dark for being dark.
Or should we blame the light for not shining on the dark.
Liberalism tends to respond to the call to be light by turning off the light and groping around in the dark
I don’t think Fundamentalism holds the answers for how we are to live for Jesus
Shutting yourself off avoiding everything that isn’t Christian is not being Christ Like
Nor do I think Liberalism is the answer either…
Liberalism tends to be absorbed by everything
Jesus calls us to a middle way in but not of the world
Don’t run away from the world – engage with it but don’t compromise
That’s the middle way – that’s what Jesus prayers for us to be.
If we are going to do carry on the mission of Jesus we can’t do it from the ghetto, nor can we do it if we have no good news to offer.
We need to follow the middle way

Tension three - Unity
Now were talking about Mission about being called to carry on the task of Jesus – telling people the Good News but here’s the rub
If you walk into this world by yourself you’re going to end up a casualty – You may not realize it but the world hates our message – we call our message Good News – the gospel – but the reality is that to a world that is set in its ways it’s not Good News.
So when Jesus says in John 17:14 that the world he means it.
John’s Church knew this too well –
They were persecuted for their beliefs – driven out of the synagogues
John himself was imprisoned on Patmos for his beliefs.
“Hated” – yes you can expect that

But God has a plan to help us survive – even to help the message spread- it’s called Unity – it’s called community, because there is strength in numbers
When two or three come together Jesus is with us and the Church becomes an irresistible force for good
When the world sees us working together it starts to think these Jesus fella’s or not so bad – it actually becomes soft to our message
Community/Unity is part of God’s plan for surviving in this world – if we are to go out and not hide, if we are to go out and not be absorbed then we need to do that together

But that doesn’t mean we have to be uniform – we don’t have to all look the same.
In the God head we have perfect unity – so much so that the Son, Father and Spirit can describe themselves as one – yet three persons. The Father is not the Son the Son is not the Spirit- unity yes uniform NO
Jesus did not take a cookie cutter and make us all the same
We will argue,
we will disagree
but our unity comes in our love of Jesus – if you love Jesus and I love Jesus well we have something on common we can be united in Christ.
The first disciples were unified because of Jesus not because of themselves – there were fishermen, tax collectors, revolutionaries, brothers who though with each other but there focus was on Jesus – that unified them.
When Jesus ascended the point of unity became the one Spirit that was sent from God – the Holy Spirit unites us.
Its God desire for us to be one – but the practicalities of it is not that easy.
Though the Spirit is at work so is our humanity – community doesn’t just happen
We can’t just all turn up on Sunday morning and expect to be community – it doesn’t work like that
It has to be worked at
Prayer
In Leviticus 16 there are instructions for the priestly duties on the Day of Atonement –
If you know the Exodus story Moses at the commands of God brings the people of Israel out of captivity in Egypt.
In order to be the people of God the people of Israel under the leadership of Moses establish a covenant relationship with God at Mount Sinai
On the one hand the covenant promised life to all who obeyed it, and, on the other hand, it pronounced a curse upon all its transgressors.
The Day of Atonement was then like a get out of jail free day – an opportunity to find forgiveness for the inevitable that you will mess up.
On that Day according to Leviticus 16:17 the high priest was to perform the ritual of purification –
For himself
For his family
For the whole community
In the same way in this prayer Jesus follows the same shape
For Himself
For his Disciples – his earthly family
For the Whole Community for the Whole Church
When we say Jesus is the great High Priest we mean it – not only in the sacrifice he offers in his own life, body and blood but in the way he prays for us
Roman’s 8:34 tells us that the Jesus who dies and was raised is seated at the right hand of God pleading with God for us.
So in John 17 he starts a process that he continues into eternity – pleading. Praying intercessing for us.
In the cross he has fulfilled the requirements of the Covenant
– becoming the scape goat for our actions,
– the perfect sacrifice for our sin.
But his high priest role still continues – in prayer
If you are ever tempted to say no one ever prays for me – know this
– I may forget,
– the prayer chain may forget,
– Peter may get too busy
– and even Derek the most organized man in the world may forget
– but Jesus doesn’t – he prays, he pleads, he intercedes – he is our great high priest.
In his death and resurrection Jesus is the perfect realization of the Day of Atonement
In prayer he is our great high priest

So while the life of a disciple is filled with tensions we can hold fast to the fact that Jesus is praying for us
Don’t take them out
Deliver them form the evil
That they would be one
While Pre Easter we might read this prayer and focus upon the sacrifice through the lens of Post Easter – that side of Jesus ministry is finished, but prayer continues, his mission continues in us and because it continues in us – we need him praying for us.

Lifeshapes - the Circle

2009-05-14T15:02:00.000+12:00

THE CIRCLE - learning
Power of symbols - what does this symbol mean (SLIDE NIKE TICK)
Three circles what does that mean (SLIDE THREE CIRCLES)
More Symbols (SLIDE MCDONALDS M)

In our culture we tend to learn and remember things using symbols
The Nike tick is rich with meaning over the years Nike have told us heaps about their product through a simple tick

We Learn more by what we see rather than what we hear – life shapes –

Life shapes is about using the power of symbol – giving the symbol meaning and learning some pretty simple Discipleship skills.

First symbol is a circle. (SLIDE LEARN)
In looking at it we will find answers to some of these questions...
How do we learn?
How do we know when God is at work in our lives?
How does God guide us?
How can I grow closer to God?
Will I ever change?

We are bombarded day and night by experiences – some good some bad, it’s as if our life is a series of events that pile up on each other - the question is God saying anything to us through these events or are they just a random collection of coincidences?
Is God trying to communicate with us through these ordinary things of life?
When you think about it – He must be.
One of what I believe the basic understanding of being a Disciple of Jesus is that not only do we learn from scripture but scripture forms and shapes us so we learn form life too
So that if we are disciples then Jesus will be or want to disciples us through these events and experiences
We need to be people who are able to hear and see what God wants us to learn then, and to be willing to act and learn form experiences
What that means is that we need to bale to hear Jesus voice in the midst of our life and to be able to engage with what he is saying in these ordinary things.
There is an old saying that we learn form experiences – that is not strictly true we learn because we have decided to learn form them – that requires us to take the experiences look at them and make some decisions based upon what has happened.
Prime example driving in a car in the wet – you skid on a corner and loose control
- that’s an experience
- you learn from it by – adjusting your speed next time
o Putting more grippy tires on your car
o Not driving in the wet
o Doing defensive driving so that when your back end goes you know how to respond
Just carrying on driving is not learning from an experience.

How you learn from it is be in its simplest form observing what happened – the car skidded
And changing something so it doesn’t happen again
Or if it does happen you have more control...

The process of learning from life is always pretty similar – observe, react.

Being a disciple is no different – if life gives you experiences then we should pretty much guarantee that in there God wants you to learn how to react accordingly
That’s discipleship – learning how to live in response to the one we are following.
Events when filtered through our understanding of God then can teach us.

Scripture shapes us – because it from the scriptures that we meet and understand Jesus
But Life also shapes us as we respond in ways in which Jesus would or how Jesus shows us to respond.

The more we reflect, the more we grow, the more confident we can be in life’s experiences

Viv Grigg – I want you humility, it comes through being broken again and again and allowing God to rebuild you again and again – his life experiences made him humble – he could have juts turned around and said Nuts to you God when the first painful experience came around – he didn’t because the God revealed to him in scripture – Jesus doesn’t walk away – that gave him peace – that grew his confidence.

So how does the circle work?
Some people view life as a passage of time (SLIDE LIFE)

Greeks differentiate this view of time (SLIDE CHRONOS AND KAIROS)
But remember we said that life is also a series of events

In the following passage what sort of Time is Jesus talking about? (SLIDE BIBLE BIT)

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come”, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14, 15)

Time – kairos – not just the passage of time but an event in time (SLIDE EVENT)

So it’s an opportunity to learn (SLIDE KAIROS)
Positive or negative
You’ll recognize it by the impact it has on you
E.g., loosing a job, gaining a promotion

Signal opportunities to grow

What Kairos moments have you had in your lives?

The Kairos moment is the space and place in which you enter the ‘circle’ – hopefully they are opportunities for growth
Kairos Time is like - entering God’s gym
THE IMPORTANT thing about them is that you do not stay as you are, YOU NEED TO GROW…

Going back to the scripture we saw earlier (SLIDE BIBLE BIT)
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come”, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

We saw it was Kairos Time.
There are some other words to make a note of (SLIDE KINGDOM)
The kingdom (God’s presence, God’s rule) is within reach for all of us!
What do we do about it?
How do we reach it?
How do I find God?
We need to according to Jesus
Repent (metanoia) =Change your mind, a process of transformation
Believe (Pistis) =Step out in faith, something you are sure about

Put that in terms of the circle (SLIDE KAIROS TIME)

REPENT SIDE OF THE CIRCLE (SLIDE REPENT SIDE)
OBSERVE – look at your life, hoe have you reacted to the situation, emotion, what are your thoughts about it - BE HONEST
REFLECT – think about the observations you have made – process them, why did you react like you did. –NOTE easier for introverts to do this
DISCUSS – invite other in, chat about it with others, obviously in many cases this will need to be someone you can trust. When working with young people the best way to build trust is to be open with them – watch your barriers though

In Matthew 6 Jesus does just this – Sermon on the Mount – cost of being a disciple – its decision time for the listeners.
He make an observation - Look at the birds of the air, look at the flowers of the field,
He asks them to reflect on this observation do they worry?
The question would prompt discussion…

We cannot stop here; we must learn to believe (SLIDE BELIEVE)
Repentance is an internal thing,
Belief is external it is action in light of a new way of behaving

PLAN – strategy for recognising the problem and embracing a proper way to act – this is not about thinking – we have done that- it’s about action. Without a plan we will intend to put thing right but fail miserably – the road to hell is paved with the best intentions
ACCOUNT – someone to hold us accountable – internal repentance has an outworking in faith – as the scriptures say confess your sins with one
ACT – Action, do something about it

(SLIDE FULL CIRCLE) Often people go half way round the circle. We are good at reflecting but often don’t change because we are not accountable and don’t act

Parable of the wise and foolish builder (SLIDE MATTHEW)
Matthew 7:20-27
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
[21] "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' [23] Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
[24] "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

What I think it is saying is that repentance - Lord, Lord, without action or belief is not real repentance
Wise - put what they hear into practice – built on a solid foundation
Foolish – don’t put them into practice – no action – disaster……

Practical example
Me and soccer – event was a kairos moment
Observe – what did I do – lost my rag, blew my stack
Reflect – why did I do it – bad mood, took the game too seriously, forgot about the fun
Discuss – talked about it with those who were there, accepted their criticism
Plan – put something in place to stop it happening – a cool down period, asked people to tell me if I was being too serious, apologised privately and publicly
Account – team held me accountable.
Act – changed behaviour
AN UPDATE….

LIFE IS LIKE A SLINKY – full of Kairos moments (SLIDE SLINKY)

Lifeshapes - the Triangle

2009-05-14T15:01:00.000+12:00

Last week we began to look at the balanced life that is needed for authentic discipleship.
We saw how work and rest were as equally as important
God has given us work to do but he also called us to rest –
I guess part of being human is that we are involved in the act of creation through our work but also in recreation of ourselves body soul and spirit as we rest, reflect on God’s work and wait on him.
At the end of Matthews gospel he tells the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations – that is work
But the next action we see the disciples doing is going up to an upper room where they wait for the Holy Spirit SLIDE
Work and rest.
Create and recreate

Were continuing to look at the balanced life today – in particular the balance in relationships

In Genesis 1:26 SLIDE
Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness…
I guess that fact that we are made to create and recreate are a way in that image is fleshed out in us
Just as on the seventh day God rested from the work of creation so God has made us with that same rhythm in how we operate…
But there is more to that image than just how we work rest and play

The God we are created in is trinity – Father Son and Spirit – three persons but of one substance
For those who were here last week you’d probably remember this icon that I used during communion
Remember I said that icons were not paintings of reality but windows to the mystery of God – and how they use everyday figures in a manner that portrays the reality of God.
Nothing is by chance every brush stroke has meaning
The colour blue which is the base rob colour for the three figures reflects the common nature – but the outer colours of the robs help us understand the different out workings of God
Namely as
God the Father
God the Son and
God the Holy Spirit
Within the God head there is relationship
One of the ways in which people are beginning to recognise that the image of God work it’s way out in us is that we are built for relationship – we are built to be in community
From the earliest days of human existence humans have formed themselves into relational groups that mutually support each other – the village, the tribe.
But that relationship is not just about people it’s also how we relate to God too.

In Jesus we see this relationship lived out to the Max –
He demonstrates 3 relational dimension of his life–
Luke 6:12-19 SLIDE
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
In Luke 6 Jesus modelled the following relationships SLIDE
• UP to his Father

• IN with his close friends

• OUT to people not in the community

This brings us to our next shape, the triangle
Each point reflects something of the relationship

Firstly he related to god the Father in an upward dimension UP
Again and again we have Jesus drawing away to be with the father in rest, prayer, worship and solitude
But Jesus relationship also had an inward dimension IN
He related intimately with the people around him the disciples was a model of the first cell group – they were family he would talk through concerns with them share with them
And finally Jesus also modelled an outward dimension OUT
He ministered to the crowd – he had compassion on the crowd he wasn’t just concerned with the inner circle – but when ever there was a need he gave of himself to meet that need
Jesus modelled not only the balanced life of work and rest but of healthy 3 dimensional relationships
It was God calls us to do also SLIDE
Micah 6:8
Ask the question, “What does the Lord require of you?”
Answer, “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”

Three dimensions in text
Do justly (what is right for others) – OUT – witness and service - MISSION
Love Mercy – IN –loving others - COMMUNITY
Walk Humbly – UP – submission to God – WORSHIP/PRAYER

Here is the thing I have seen time and again people, churches, youth ministries, Children’s ministries, and cell groups tend to do two dimensions well. And often fail with the third – which leaves many thinking is their more – is that it, is this is all my Christian faith is about? Well the simple answer is yes there is more – for you there is another dimension to your existence – but you’re probably going to need to work at it.

As I said the Natural human tendency to do two well – which means we fail to reflect God and we get frustrated.
Look at it like a ring road with three sets of traffic lights SLIDE
Traffic moves smoothly if they are all on green – but as soon as one is red or the lights are out of sink with each other you have traffic jams – you get flustered – you cease to grow in your faith and in fact you probably stagnate.
Community fuels Mission
Mission fuels worship.
Worship fuels Community

Important for individuals – Zoe - UP, Jon - IN
But it’s equally as important for Churches
THE BARREL growth principle SLIDE
Water sinks to the level of the lowest hole
We will only grow as much as our weakest aspect

Jesus had three dimensions to his life.
An upwards relationship with God his Father,
An inward relationship with his disciples
And an outward relationship with the world around him.
We need to have a focus of all three to fulfil our purpose and identity and make life whole.
I hope you can see that in terms of your faith you are probably struggling in one are
So how do you overcome – change?

Maybe you need put the Triangle in light of the circle
Throw it into the learning circle – maybe this is a Kairos moment for you
Observe – Worship Sucked
Reflect – No Fuel to do the other stuff – yet we have great musicians
Discuss – Where is the blockage coming from? Well probably from me – worship wasn’t my thing so as so often happens in leadership it isn’t the group’s thing either – whether they like it or not
Plan – We need to introduce new leaders into the worship, I need to be come a worshipper
Account – met regularly with people to talk worship
Act – We worshipped - TOGEHER
It took off we went form being a two dimensional group to a group whose worship fuelled mission whose mission fuelled community whose community fuelled worship and people grew in their faith.

Here at nativity we are hopefully addressing some of these short comings seeing where the traffic lights are and over the coming months – and I think we have already begun we’ll challenge those blockage – hopefully for us as a Church but hopefully also for us as individuals

If we are going to call ourselves disciples we need to
Love as Jesus loved – Up dimension
Live as Jesus lived – In dimension
Do as Jesus did – Out Dimension

Sermon for Good Shepherd Sunday

2009-05-05T16:06:00.000+12:00

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday –
It seems odd in our ever changing region to celebrate good Shepherd Sunday – after all in the five years I have lived in the top of the south I’ve scene the landscape change from sheep to grapes – we should really be celebrating Vineyard Sunday… Actually next week Sunday is about Vines but getting back to this week….
I struggle with rural images – having grown up in a small town of 55,000 I ain’t scene many sheep, and I don’t think I’ve ever scene a shepherd in the flesh

So for those of you like me who are rather disconnected from the rural images of sheep and shepherds I Should point out what Good Shepherd Sunday is about
It is not a study of sheep farming methods throughout the age – though I am sure that would be interesting
Nor is it an appreciation Sunday for those who work hard on the land supplying the country and the world with sheeppy products – though again that might be a good idea
It is a Sunday where we actually explore Leadership –

I am not sure whether you have noticed this or not but Leadership seems to have been the obsession of the Church in the 21st century
A Major reason behind this obsession is I think the belief that; “Everything Stands or Falls On Leadership”
When business fails it’s the CEO being hung drawn and quartered – admittedly with a fat redundancy cherub.
When a sports team fails – it used to be because of the players - now they loose because the manager failed…

The Church is probably no different more often than not when the leadership fails the Church fails in her mission
And I think we are only too aware that these are tough times – as Peter pointed out at the AGM we have gone through 13 significant personnel leadership changes in the last 13 months.
We have had a crisis in stable leadership
Thankfully as a church you have been able to whether some of the storms.
The story of – Judges 17:6 seems:
“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes”
Thankfully in our context what is right in people’s eyes is largely what God would have us do.
As a church you have over the last few years largely done the right thing
-and for that you need to be applauded.

But there is another crisis that faces the Church
Figures out in the UK say that if the Church of England continues in its rate of decline than by 2050 there will be no one left to blow the candles out.
In our context while our decline is not as potentially traumatic as the C of E we do still have a crisis – we are not growing – and for a church like our with the resources we have that’s an issue
And if the saying is true that Everything Stands or Falls on Leadership
Than we have a Leadership crisis still.

But I believe we also have the resources to overcome this crisis – to grow again
– not just in numbers or bums on seats
– that’s easy growth
All we need to do is either put on the best show in town
Or change our counting strategy move from bottoms on seats to knees on kneelers and we can grow 100% overnight

The fact is we still face a crisis – we are failing to make disciples.

Strangely enough crisis in leadership is nothing new for the people of God…
The OT is chock full of leadership crisis’s,
And when it’s not about the leaders it about how the people have fallen away from God – why? Because the leadership failed…

Today in our reading we have Jesus offering a model of leadership to the people of God – because of a crisis.
He offers two contrasting approaches – that of the Good Shepherd and that of the Hired Hand.

To really understand the Good Shepherd you need to understand the hired hand and I guess the reason for the hired hand running.
In scripture he runs because of the threat of wolves – there is a story with that story.
John was writing the gospel for a church in crisis
While we can’t possibly know the whole situation John was working in we know that he was selective about what he includes – as he says in 21:25
“There are also many other things that Jesus did: if every one of them was written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”
I guess when your time is short you want to make the main thing the main thing and For John what he includes in his gospel are the main things for his community of faith so he records Jesus words for the issues that speak to his community.

One issue we know about from history is persecution- in the early days of the Christian faith – followers of Jesus were scene as part of the synagogue – the early followers were largely Jews – and so Christianity was scene in terms of being a Jewish sect.
As you might expect when you realize who Jesus was and is
– namely God made flesh you are going to start rubbing people up the wrong way in the synagogue
– To the average Jew that’s just not possible.
– God is one
– Messiahs don’t die
– And how could Jesus be God if he hung around with sinners
The Christians then were basically excluded from the club.
And because of that exclusion they were not trusted by wider society
– They were seen as a cult
Rumors spread,
Christians were cannibals because they ate the body and drank the blood of their leader
They also would not recognize Caesar as Lord – because Jesus is Lord
That can just sound like a trait statement but in the world of the Bible that was rebellion.
Subsequently the church came under attack and persecution – So while Jesus is talking about the wolves of the Pharisees attacking the sheep,
John uses the story to warn the Church of the Wolves of Rome attacking the sheep too.
When persecution comes the hired shepherds run for the hills rather than stay and defend the sheep.
When crisis come the leaders of the Church then they are to make a choice about how they should lead either as a good shepherd or to run away, like a hired hand.
While we don’t know whether John had experienced Persecution when he was writing the Gospel we do know its something that John would experience first hand –
Revelation was written while he was on the island of Patmos
– because of persecution,
– because he had spoken out the word of God,
– Because he had stood by the sheep.
So who is the hired hand?
On one hand it’s the Pharisees
But its also a back handed swipe at Church leadership that run away in the face of persecution – when crisis emerges

On the other side of the image Jesus offers the model of the Good Shepherd
When you think about it Shepherd and leadership are not really two words that go together.
Though a Shepherd leads the sheep is a worth while observation –
I mean let face it we can all be as dumb as sheep at times.
And After 13 years of youth work I can tell you that most teenagers have heard instincts – if one does it they’ll all do it – regardless of how stupid it appears
In the ancient world Shepherds were at the very bottom of the status in the ancient world.
They were uneducated, illiterate, dirty, smelly, rough and irreligious men.
In our context I suspect the image of the shepherd we are most familiar with is the great southern
– The grumpy,
– beer in hand,
– One word answers don’t really inspire many people to follow – even if we are dumb as sheep.
It’s hardly the model of leadership that you would want your Church leaders to aspire to.

There are of course some aspects of the image of a Shepherd that fit well
Jesus knows us as the Shepherd knows his sheep,
Jesus protects the sheep
Jesus searches for the lost the way the shepherd searches for his lost sheep,
So while there is much we can learn from some of our rural images of Shepherds and even by giving the image the adjective Good it’s still an odd image of leadership…
Yet this is the image that Jesus draws on when he talking about those who lead and protect the Church – God’s people
But the kind of shepherd that Jesus is describing is not a normal shepherd.
It’s the Shepherd that Ezekiel talks about In Ezekiel 34 – not some smelly, illiterate, misfit of society who is banished to the outskirts of the city.
This is the Good Shepherd –
As God Says in Ezekiel 34:15
“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed and I will bind up the injured and I will strengthen the weak.”
This is the God Shepherd that promises to seek and save.
This is the model of leadership Jesus is describing.

So what does that look like?
For the Church that has emerged out of one crisis of lack of stable leadership into another crisis of how we do mission we need to take on the mantle of being shepherds
– Good Shepherds who model ourselves after Jesus.
But since leadership is not only a function of those who get paid but a function of all God’s people as we lead in families, workplaces, schools or where ever we offer our witness to the world the model of the good Shepherd is for all of us.

In times of crisis with God‘s people he again and again brings them back to this model of leadership -
Good shepherd-leaders build relationships with people and people follow because they know and trust them.
They are not distant and isolated, not strangers.
Good shepherd-leader exercises influence with people by setting an example for people to follow.
Good shepherd-leaders are not selfishly focused on building themselves up.
Instead they focus on building other people up, helping them to grow and live a full life.
Good shepherd-leader serves people sacrificially.
This is sometimes the hardest thing to do – it’s hard to give and give, but just because we are called to give sacrificially doesn’t mean we are meant to be abused either Don Dickson or a dozen eggs.
Good shepherd leaders don't run away when the going gets tough.
Good Shepherds are Mission Shaped, they recognize that the people in the sheep are not the only people that matter – but that God is at work in the world beyond the sheep pen of the Church.

I Hope you can see Leadership in the Church of God is a huge responsibility
For John’s church when the going got tough the tough scarpered meanwhile he was left to rot on the island of Patmos
Having been involved in leadership in the Church for over ten years I can understand why sometimes they run
I may not have had my life threatened for the gospel but sometimes the needs of God’s people can threaten your sanity
And though it’s a pleasure to serve you at the same time it’s not always easy giving out when all you hear back is a lot baaaah’s
So, on this good shepherd Sunday Pray for us who are in leadership if we are to lead you through this crisis in God’s mission to draw in other sheep than we are going to need:
Your support,
Your love,
Your patience,
And your help…

Seven Last Words

2009-04-09T11:41:00.001+12:00

THE FIRST WORD Forgiveness
Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place called "The Skull", they nailed Jesus to the cross there, and the two criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said "Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing."

THE SECOND WORD Assurance
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals hanging there threw insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" The other one, however, rebuked him, saying: "Don't you fear God? Here we are all under the same sentence. Ours, however, is only right, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong." And he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!" Jesus said to him, "I tell you this: Today you will be in Paradise with me."

THE THIRD WORD Comfort
John 19:25-27
Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that time the disciple took her to live in his home.

THE FOURTH WORD Desolation
Mark 15:33-34
And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Elo-i, elo-i, lama sabach-thani?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

THE FIFTH WORD Suffering
John 19:28
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst."

THE SIXTH WORD Trimuph
John 19:29-30
A bowl was there, full of cheap wine mixed with vinegar, so a sponge was soaked in it, put on stick of hyssop and lifted up to his lips. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished";

THE SEVENTH WORD Commital
Luke 23:46
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.

DESOLATION Reflection Has God Left the Building?

2009-04-09T11:39:00.000+12:00

What are we to do with these words – “My God My God why have you forsaken me?”
As we reflect upon the cross, these are the words of Jesus which probably cause most problems
How could God turn his back on his own Son?

Many of explained the abandonment as being a consequence of the sins of the whole world past, present and future being thrust on to Jesus like a scapegoat, and that on the cross he becomes a sin offering for us…
So that as more and more sins are thrown at Jesus – it becomes unbearable for the father – for a holy God to look upon him.
The problem with this explanation though is that God is Omnipresent,
He cannot exclude or remove himself from his creation but must look upon sin everyday.

Maybe another way to look at it is that Jesus cry of abandonment mirror the cries of countless millions who suffer oppression, enslavement, abuse, disease, poverty and starvation.
The cry of abandonment mirrors their cries to God
Just as they cry God why is this happening to me?
God where are you?
God why am I suffering?
In the same way Jesus the perfect sin offering feels the cries of the rejected, experiences their pain, identifies perfectly with the millions and millions who have and will suffer.
And at the centre of this decaying world is the cross
In experiencing abandonment and loss God puts his stake in the ground and says “I am here”.
While the cross is about forgiveness it’s also about identification with a suffering humanity.

As we survey the wondrous cross it may feel as though God has left the building – the reality is he is right here in the midst

Reflection on Triumph

2009-04-09T11:37:00.001+12:00

They say you can’t keep a good man down
The Christian story says you can’t keep the God Man down
Even when he appears beaten, even when he’s defeated, like Rocky Balboa he keeps coming back for more.
But here we see the God Man – Jesus- Abandoned, desperate, parched, dying… but still, with his final breath, angry at the gulf between the way things are and the way things might be. - Shouting at the invisible.
Forget gentle Jesus,
if you ever remembered him.
What can you do but shout when you see the distance between the way things are and the way things might be - and find yourself being strung from one side to the other?
Howling your prayers.
Yelling your psalms.
Life screaming at death Hope screaming at cynicism.

If the psalms teach us anything it’s this - if you can’t shout at God, who can you shout at?
And if you think that your decibels can climb across the unknown universe, that you cries can be heard by Love and that Love will answer, then you will shout even louder.
With his final breadth Jesus the God man shouts into the void
It is finished…
A voice crying in the wilderness
The God man trusting in the hands of the unseen,
The hands of mercy,
The hands that make all things new.
They always have and always will.

What other hands dare you fall into?
Perhaps then we are not abandoned.
Perhaps then we are not beaten,
If the cross teaches us anything it is this even when we are defeated there is hope.

In 1985 after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Derry teacher Maurice HARRON created this sculpture "Hands across the Divide," as a symbol of hope for the war ravaged nation of Northern Ireland. He hoped it would inspire peace and reconciliation for the people of Northern Ireland.
In Jesus the divide between us and God has been breached.
We no longer shout our prayers into the void of space but in the name of Jesus we access the throne room of heaven.
It is finished is not the cry of a boxer who has taken one beating too many – it’s a cry of victory.
The breach has been mended.
The final sacrifice has been made.

heads up to http://www.rejesus.co.uk/site/module/seven_last_sayings/ for some of the wording

Reflections on Comfort

2009-04-09T11:34:00.001+12:00

What was his mother thinking?
Watching her son dying, slowly, by degrees.
“I wish it had never come to this”? “I wish I could wake from this nightmare”?“I wish I’d never had him”?
And what about the favourite follower?
What’s the point of being a disciple when there’s no master?
So much for being in the inner circle,
when the circle is being bent and broken before you.
So much for being special when all your hopes and dreams are being drained of life in front of your very eyes.
And what were the onlookers thinking?
The ones whose curiosity had slowed them down to a halt,
to check out this first century car-crash? Event-seekers, intrigued by what the small crowd were looking at over there on Skull Hill, what was going through their minds?
Interesting piece of action by the looks of it,
Always good to get the news firsthand.
Nothing like fresh gossip to add a bit of kudos.

Which of us knows what any of the rest of us is really thinking?
We can barely read our own minds, let alone those of others.
None of us can predict the significance of any of our moments.
None of us knows the role we are playing in the invisible grand narrative.
Take the soldiers, dicing for a dying man’s clothes, salivating at the market resale value.
Ringside seats for the cosmic drama…
but too busy living to notice.
We only know for sure what Jesus was thinking of.
He was thinking of others.
As usual and in that, we can take comfort.

Heads up to http://www.rejesus.co.uk/site/module/seven_last_sayings/ for some of the wording and the idea

Reflection on Forgiveness… the seven last saying of Jesus

2009-04-08T14:55:00.001+12:00

Father forgive them – what an amazing statement,
and not something I find particularly easy to say
– I like most people get angry and upset and somewhat annoyed when someone does something against me.
Revenge is usually the first thing on my mind
The Creed - Get them before they get you is something I lived by for many years – it’s certainly a lot easier to take revenge than forgive.
While if it was you or me we probably would have called down fire from heaven,
or asked God to open up the ground and swallow them up,
Here we have Jesus practicing what he preached – Forgiveness –
It’s so un-natural and yet so basic to the Christian Faith and how many times should we forgive someone 70 times 7 – that translates as an awful lot.
Yet forgiveness has power
– it turns the nameless so and so who wronged us into flesh and blood – a person a fellow struggler on this life journey,
– it releases us from being captive to the past that would stop us moving forward
– it allows us to enter fully into the life of the Kingdom of God

But sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves.

Palm Sunday Sermon notes

2009-04-06T08:31:00.001+12:00

THINKING ABOUT CUSTOMS.
There are many customs from biblical times that make little sense in today’s world…
Extreme example….(2 Samuel 13:19) Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.
Ashes repentance
Tearing robes something terrible has taken place
Hand on head expressing grief or punishment
That’s where the idea behind Ash Wednesday come from (ASHES)

Sacrificing animals as a form of worship
Circumcision – I am so grateful that we don’t have that as a requirement for church membership
But some customs we do understand
Communion and baptism being two ancient customs – we have given them a new meaning in light of the Churches experience of Christ, but they still reflect much of the culture of the day

Today we are looking at a custom which does translate – a parade
Parades are something we are all familiar with –whether it be Anzac Day or the local Santa Parade – we’ve all seen them and experienced being part of the crowd. (SANTA PARADE)

EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE
Wonderful scene to pause on – who doesn’t like a parade,
What’s more it a parade with a donkey – “who doesn’t like donkeys?”
And palms – the 1st century equivalent of helium balloons – who doesn’t like balloons

Maybe the image of a Santa Parade fits in well –
After all the inner examination of Lent, the reflecting on our humanity, the sacrifice, the preparation for Easter – it’s good to take some time out celebrate…
And this was some celebration – Jesus the Christ is entering the City
The Kingdom of God is among us
And wonder the people shout Hosanna – Save us – because they have recognized their sin
This parade is a celebration of God’s victory
Death where is your sting?
This is a Glorious homecoming – Yahoo for Jesus.

But I think we all realize that to see this Parade as a victory march is to put it a week to early.
Jesus’ mission isn’t yet finished by this point
There is no victory YET,

It’s a parade yes,
But its important for us to understand what sort of parade it is, what is driving the crowd,

To assume that they are singing hosanna – Lord Save us and putting them same meaning into it as we would makes no sense of the events that follow in the week leading up to the crucifixion
Parade yes – but let’s not jump to conclusions.

What sort of Parade was it – I guess the answer to that lies with the crowd how they read and understood the situation. (SMALL CROWD)
So who were the crowd, what were there expectations
Firstly we know they were largely Jews, though as John points out (12:20- ), among them were some Greek God fearers.
People who maybe did not want to subscribe to everything of Judaism but were judging by the fact that they were in Jerusalem for the Passover to all intents and purposes followers of God

Enormous crowd gathering for the Passover –
I guess then the fact it was coming up to Passover meant that the population of Jerusalem would have been big…
The background to the Passover is in Exodus 3:7 –
Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.” The God who hears the cries of the oppressed. God rescues these helpless slaves out from under the hand of a foreign oppressor.
How did God do this…?
Well if you remember the story of Exodus God first sent 9 plagues down on Egypt and Pharaoh said NO – 9 times (PLAGUE)
He said Yes when God took some extreme measures and allowed the Angle of death to descend on Egypt and kill every first born Son – the Jewish first born sons were spared because they had marked their door posts with the blood of a new born Lamb.
The angel would see this and PASSOVER. (PASSOVER)
So the Jewish people would once a year they would gather at a time called Passover to celebrate their Freedom –

But we know that the Jews of the day weren’t free – far from it
The Romans were in charge and ruled over Jerusalem. (MEDIUM SIZED CROWD)
And The Romans had a Governor – Pilate – Pontius Pilate,
Pilate’s job was to keep order to ensure that the Jews knew who was boss.
In Luke 19:39 we have one of the Pharisees asking Jesus to quiet the crowd Down – Jesus replies – “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
The Pharisees want the crowd to quite down because they don’t want the Romans stamping down their authority.
As it was Pilate (the Roman governor) would probably have felt pretty weary about this festival anyway.
Think about it …
There was always a big mess to clean up,
Fights would break out,
And simply more people to govern and take care of during these times.

What is likely given the presence of Pilate at Jesus trail is that just as Jesus was walking into town from the south east, so to was Pilate marching in form the north west, with a message-
“Don’t mess with Rome”

It would begin with the roman eagle saying the Roman Empire is coming.
Behind the eagle would be the roman soldiers sending a message that resistance is futile submit or die.
Historians talk about Pax Romana – the peace of Rome – Rome (MAP) maintained peace through shows of power
Crucifying, flogging, and jumping on the back of anyone who would even whisper rebellion.
Everything is about power and strength and domination.
The roman army on the march evoked fear and terror.
They would march through your village to let you know who rules the world.

And Passover was about Freedom
Passover was to remind them that God hears the cry of his people when they are in trouble.
Given the Political situation of the Day PASSOVER had more meaning

Just as in the same way a man hanging of the cliff by a rope find a new meaning in the prayer – GOD HELP ME.

So with the Roman “jackboots” sitting on their necks the Jews would have discovered a fresh relevance in PASSOVER.
It wasn’t just a recollection of ho God had rescued them once before – it was a cry for help NOW,
it was a cry of RESCUE NOW.
The people sang hosanna – it wasn’t some nice praise and worship song –
it was a cry of help – SAVE US…

So the remembrance of PASSOVER had created a crowd,
The need for a new PASSOVER had swelled the crowd.
Add to that Gossip and the fame of Jesus and suddenly you have a major sized crowd –. (LARGE CROWD)
In this world Jesus is a celebrity the stories about him have been told far and wide and that has added to the number.

Try and picture it – the streets were full of people wanting change, wanting someone to save them – a messiah

Parade yes but probably more like this one… (G20 PROTEST.)

On a Day like this the Romans would have been outnumbered probably 30 -1,
Sure they have swords,
Sure they have body amour
Sure they have shields and horses
Sure they are strong,
But even with a sword could you hold of 30 people hungry for change – I doubt it
On a day like today the revolution could begin….

The Crowd just needed someone to lead them
And so they sing:
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Can you feel the tension rising…?

And along comes Jesus….
Ridding on a donkey…
And that is significant,
so significant that Mark spends half of his account describing how the donkey was acquired.
Firstly it’s significant because it’s a fulfillment of a prophecy
Zechariah 9:9“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Secondly it significant because a King to enter town on a Donkey was to say – I come in Peace
Remember I said at this time we probably have Pilate coming into town with his army in a show of power – I doubt he arrived on a donkey.
More likely a huge Stallion, snorting, kicking it feet in the air… accompanied by chariots, legions of soldiers – marching in line swords drawn
And Jesus came riding into town on a donkey
While Jesus is the Messiah he is no warrior Messiah
Yes the Crowd is looking for a messiah (BRAVEHEART)
But probably more a Mel Gibson Brave Heart Messiah who walks up to the pompous English and say’s “I’ve come to pick a fight”
A Messiah on a war horse not a messiah on a donkey

It was the wrong mode of transport for a political revolution
But precisely the right mode of transport for someone who would offer their life as a sacrifice to take away the sin of the world.
He simply did not meet their expectations
They couldn’t see how someone coming in peace would ever change the world,
would ever be there answers to their cries to God to save them
So we shouldn’t really be surprised when a few days later in the week the song changes
Hosanna (save us) – Crucify him
Give us Jesus – give us Barabbas
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – cursed is the one who hangs on a tree

Yes a new power has come into Jerusalem – but it’s not what the crowd expected
Yes there cry of Hosannas – Save us will be answered God has heard the cries of his people
But As Dietrich Bonhoffer said before his death at the hands of the Third Reich in Germany"God allows himself to be edged out of the world and on to the cross....and that is the way, the only way, in which he can be with us and help us....Only a suffering God can help."The crowds on that first Palm Sunday wanted a Warrior King,
but Jesus came as a suffering Messiah.
Jesus came as one who would die on a cross for the sake of human kind.
The crowd missed the point.
What about us? Do we get it?
Do we see Jesus as the suffering Messiah who did turn the world upside down for our sake and continues to shape the world with his love and grace?

Two by Two - Mission Shaped Spirituality

2009-04-01T10:30:00.001+13:00

ARE YOU SCARED YET?
Evangelism is scary – I think as we look further into it the scarier it looks – last week Derek talked about traveling light
– leaving some of our baggage behind
I don’t know about you but I am pretty attached to my stuff I am pretty attached to me – and dare I say I am pretty attached to my baggage
If you aren’t’ scared then you should be…
Because not only are we not to take anything
but we are being sent like lambs among wolves
And if you read on through these accounts of Jesus sending people out – you will probably have noticed that in Chapter 22 – you are going to need to take a sword
You couple that with the divide that exist between the world of the Church and the world of those who do not attend and I think we all realize there is a huge gulf
Mission is scary

We have got to ask then – is there any Good News
Does it get any easier?
WE ARE SENT TO PEOPLE LIKE US?
Well we go into the world to do a task – tell people about God’s Kingdom
in doing that we need to realize that we got to people who are like us
Flesh and Blood people who laugh cry, eat, sleep sweat when it get s too hot – freeze when it gets too cold,
People who like us are equally worried about the current financial situation people who are as glad as we are when Friday comes.
There marriages fail at the same rate as marriages in the church.
They have teen pregnancy rates very similar to the rates of teens in the church
And believe it or not the rates of STD’s are statistically higher for Church kids than they are for those in the world

We share a fallen world - We share a fallen nature
The Christian hope and belief is that we ARE being redeemed – we are not there yet

We have been sucked into this FALSE idea that the world in here is great and the world out there is icky…

Well I have some Good news the people we are called to reach are like us

BUILD A BRIDGE
And because they are like us we have a bridge – though there is a divide between the Church and the world we are people with a foot in both camps
We belong here but we belong equally in our work places, among our families that don’t believe, in our neighbourhoods.
Yes there is a divide but the good news is that Jesus can use us as bridges
– To bring the gospel into all the world. We just need to build the bridges in places of connection.
Sandy beeches prone to erosion don’t make good place to build bridges.
Unless you are confident of the place you stand on you can forget about building a foundation for a bridge.
Building between low ground and high ground doesn’t make for good building practice either.
Unless you can meet someone on a level footing bridge building is difficult it requires humility from us
– It may require us to hold our values in check.
I think it’s important to realize most of all that there are some communities that some of us will never be able to build bridges into
– For me the vineyard owner association is probably not a good place to build a bridge
_ I would probably struggle to build a bridge into the rotary club
– The distance to cover may make the span of the bridge impossible to maintain – for me I may not find a person of peace there.
- But the local football club – I think I can do that.

Maybe many of us should not ever think about building a bridge into the skate board culture, but some of us that may be an easy step to make.

In the gospel reading the 72 were told to go and seek out a person of peace
That is a person in which we can find a connection
– not someone who is going to be against us but someone who is like us
– Someone who we understand – someone who understand us
– Someone who speaks the same language
– It could age and stage, it could be social grouping, could be common interest.
I think what you will find when we seek out these people the message will be seen as good news because it is lived out in us.
It will connect, it will offer something, it may even be what they want to hear and receive.

THE ENEMIES PLAN - PROPOGANDA
I want to warn you that that in the face of this type of evangelism the enemy has a plan to undermine it - Yes we do have an enemy
A major way is in the use of propaganda
– the way that he puts doubts in our minds about the world
– the way he demonizes everything.
The Nazi’s used this effectively during ww2 it’s easy to exterminate 6,000,000 Jews when they are faceless animals with a number
– But give them a name, a story, dignity and you have a different situation

Propaganda, hearsay, prejudice and assumptions about others are massive tools in the devils arsenal.
He know if he can confuse the lines of communication that we will fail in our mission

Finding a person with which you share Common Ground is finding the Person of Peace
-Finding a person of peace is the first step to bringing the gospel
-Building a bridge on common ground is the second step

I think at the end of the day this is something we are all capable of doing

MORE GOOD NEWS
The second piece of Good News is that we don’t go alone…
Jesus sent out the 72 in pairs – in teams, in missionary units
We don’t go alone –
On a practical level given the amount of danger it sounds like we are going to face this could be about protection. Maybe Jesus send us in base units of community because we are going like Lambs before wolves – if we are in pairs we can watch each others backs…
While this may be helpful it’s not about watching each others back in a hostile world though I am sure that is a bonus it’s about modeling community.

JESUS MATHS
In mathematics 1 plus 1 always equals 2,
Jesus breaks the rules of Math’s – he promises us that when two or more are gathered in his name then he is there also
Going into mission two by two means we are offering something bigger than the sum of two parts.
Jesus goes with us…
And if Jesus goes with us then God is present in what we are doing
And if God is present I think he will bless it

In Jesus math’s one plus one does not equal 2 people quaking in fear…
It equals infinite possibilities,
The fullness of God with us….

But there’s more….
Not only does one plus one equal God with us, it also demonstrates the message we are called to bring.

It models the Good News
When we are a one plus one and two by two mission community we are in the flesh presenting the Gospel to a the world around us

ONE PLUS ONE ALWAYS GIVES US A FULLER MESSAGE
Far too often we have understood the gospel as encouraging people to subscribe to a certain set of doctrines.
We get them to walk the Roman Road – maybe some of us are familiar with it:
1. Acknowledge God as the Creator of everything - Romans 1:20-21:
2. Realize we are sinners and that we need forgiveness. None of us live up to God’s standards. Romans 3:23:
3. God gave us the way to be forgiven of our sins. Romans 5:8:
4. If we remain sinners, we will die but if we repent of our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will have eternal life. Romans 6:23:
5. Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you are saved. Romans 10:9-10:
6. Determine in your heart to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today. Romans 11:36:
But while this approach is useful it’s only part of the story – it’s only part of the message
What Jesus calls us to do is invite people to share in the life of the Kingdom –
To participate and become part of this community that lives its life under a God who is Trinity
Doctrine and belief is part of it, but it’s also about a way of living, how we treat one another.
If you were to go to an overseas culture it would probably take about 5 minutes to realize that they have their own unique culture – their own unique way of doing things
The Kingdom of God is no different – it’s culture is based on sharing, mutual support, love, forgiveness, giving people second and third chances,
it’s a culture that says Children are as important as the elders and that leadership is primarily demonstrated in service
– It’s about a different way of living not just in the Church but in the world too.

It’s being salt and light
Salt being an antiseptic, a preservative, adding flavor
Light being about lighting up the dark places.

It’s about offering our lives as living sacrifices to God

Yes we are called to subscribe to a set of doctrines but we are also called to nail our colours to the flag of God’s Kingdom,
to take up a new citizenship.

Evangelism is about inviting people into this network of relationships.

We go two by two because in doing that we model something far greater than a guy standing on the street corner preaching to the lamppost about the Roman road.
SATAN’S PLAN
Again though Satan has a plan
He realizes the power of two people going in the name of Jesus – so he undermines it–
– He tells us forget them we can go this alone
– He says don’t forgive them because they are no good so and so
– He tells us that following Jesus is all about me
– His master plan is about division
But we don’t need to fear
Because we are not in this alone God is with us.
It’s his mission

The God whose mission this is send us we may not have a bag to carry,
We may be going like lambs among the wolves –
We may even be sent out and told to take a sword
But he goes with us
We go in the name of the Father,
Through the life and witness of the Son – just as the word that became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood and calls us to do the same – to make his word flesh in our communities.
To top it all of we go empowered by the Holy Spirit.

What is there to fear?
Satan?
Well why he may attack and undermine we need to realize that when we go in Jesus name – Satan’s plans will fail
A little further on in Luke Gospel from verse 17 we read
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

Comment on Sermons

2009-03-30T09:47:00.000+13:00

Just realised that often what i write in a sermon and what are sya are moe often than not very different.
Just a thought to ponder

Mission Shaped Values

2009-03-30T09:46:00.000+13:00

Sermon on Holistic Mission
Over the past few months we have been talking a lot about Mission
It’s a loaded word that has many different meaning depending on the context.
Business,
Cultural abuse,
Colonization,
War against terrorism,
Undercover military operations
Sound systems,
Ice Hockey
And a host of different associations within the church too.
It’s the street preacher who rebukes the lamppost
The person who goes overseas in Jesus’ name
The activity of people who go overseas and build schools in the Solomon’s
Here is an image I grew up with….OVALTINA
Mission is also a term that has been seen by some as co word for bigotry, oppression and imposing of alien values on tribal cultures…

The problem has been that many things we have called mission have been more about us
– expanding the empire
- making people like us
- ensuring that the resources of a country fall into the hands of good Christian folk rather than pagan Muslims
Mission has been so often associated with abuse because as the Church historically we have often abused those around us in our name and in the name of profit rather than going in the name of Jesus
- At the heart of the problem is a failure of the church to recognize mission is at the very heart and nature of God – Our God is a missionary God
1. The Father sends his Son to be the savior of the world (1 John 4:14).
2. The Father and the Son send the Holy Spirit into the World (John 14:26).
3. In the same way the God who is Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, sends us into the world. So Jesus can say ‘In the same way as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ (John 20:21)

The point is that mission isn’t some kind of ‘bolt-on’ activity that gets added to God. Mission defines God’s character. (Cistene chapel)
The mission of the Church is not our mission but God’s mission – we are merely his hand and his feet.
Mission is joining in with what God is already doing…So that clarifies something – mission is about God’s activity. It’s about God being active and being active in God’s name.
The question is what does that activity look like?
Depending on whom you ask you’re liable to get some very different answers
I have a friend in CHCH who says mission is about telling people about Jesus – telling people a set of truths and then getting them to tick the boxes
We have a problem – Sin
Sin is separation from God
We need someone who can bridge the gap
Only God is able to bridge the gap
Therefore God must do something to bridge the gap
Jesus is the answer – the God man
Tick the box and score 1000 points
I have a friend in Auckland too
And for him mission is about restoring creation
God created a beautiful world for us to inhabit in communion with him
We spoiled it; God kicked us out the garden
Jesus died to reconcile the relationship – and through that we could work towards restoring creation
So who is right?
Who has the right view of mission?
CHCH or Auckland?
They are both right
The good news is about more than saving us from sin, but it’s also about more than restoring creation too.

In fact in the Anglican Church we talk about mission in five ways – not one way – it’s not an attempt to make everything mission but it is an attempt to express the fullness of God’s mission as described in Scripture.

(1) Proclaim the Good News
In 1 Peter 3:15 Peter says. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” That about telling people about Jesus – what Jesus has done – as God’s people we need to find meaningful ways to express the truth.
Proclaiming the good news may involve a formula and boxes to tick but for most of us it’s more likely to be about What Jesus has done for me – starting from your own experience often helps people connect with their experience.
(2) Making Disciples
That sounds easy but I guess the question is what is a Disciple?
Often in the Church we have talked about discipleship as learning scripture and understanding it – so churches have set up Bible classes studies on the Pauline letters, the synoptic gospels that sort of thing. But is that what discipleship really is head knowledge or is there more to it.
I think there is more – lots more. Discipleship is about equipping people to be part of the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is a nation within a nation –it’s a different set of values, beliefs – a different way of living.
– it’s culture is based on sharing – as a church we regularly share a meal around the communion table – in doing that we are receiving foretaste – an appetizer of reality when God’s Kingdom has come and we will all be invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb - Jesus
mutual support, love, forgiveness, giving people second and third chances, a culture where leadership is primarily demonstrated in service
– It’s about a different way of living not just in the Church but in the world too.
It’s being salt and light
Salt being an antiseptic, a preservative, adding flavor
Light being about lighting up the dark places.

Being a disciple is about nailing our colours to the flag of God’s Kingdom, Taking up a new citizenship.

(3) Responding to Human Need
What did Jesus say the greatest commandment is?
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one” answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (NIV, Mark 12:28-31).
Standing next to the poor, offering a cup of cold water to someone in need (Matthew 10: 40 – 42) is an essential aspect of mission.
Now some people say we do that so we can preach to them because they are so grateful – no we do it because that is what God says we should do – the world has a word for this it’s called charity.
Charity is actually a biblical word – it comes from the root Charis – which sometimes we translate as love, but more often as Grace – and in both cases its God’s love and Grace.
To offer charity is about giving someone God’s grace – it’s a blessing.
Yes it’s open to abuse but God has poured out his Charis up on so who are we to say he shouldn’t do that to others just because they may sell the gift and but a lotto ticket or a 12 pack of beer.
We are simply called to love – to offer loving service.

(4) Challenge Injustice
If we are called to pray that God’s Kingdom should come on earth as in heaven – and if God’s kingdom is about how we treat one another about modeling forgiveness about sharing round the communion table as an appetizer for the reality when his Kingdom has come then as a church we should challenge everything that gets in the way of that shouldn’t we?
In Isaiah 58 God says that the kind of worship he wants to receive from his people is “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke”. That’s powerful stuff – coming against anything that would prevent God’s kingdom coming and allowing people to receive that Kingdom
This is the sort of stuff that challenged William Wilberforce to make the abolishment of slavery his life’s work.
But it could equally be about:
Saying no to gluttony when so much of the world is starving
Saying no to the moral decline of society
Saying no to Easter eggs because the manufacturers them but their coco beans from source that use child slave to harvest them.

(5) Caring for Creation
While it seems like an optional extra too many caring for our environment is also an aspect of mission
Now I know what some of you are thinking
“Why bother to care for the environment when heaven is really our home and the earth is going to be destroyed anyway?”
Well firstly we should care because it was the first commandment of God in Genesis 1
He said to be fruitful and multiply and have dominion – that’s not about exploitation or using up all the earth resources in one generation it’s about caring - looking after it – nurturing the planet.
But God doesn’t just leave it there..
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life – that’s not just about God loving humans – the Greek word that we translate as world is cosmos – and it refers to the whole created order.
If you like John 3:16 is about reversing the issues of Genesis 3 – we are redeemed but so is the whole world
Secondly we need to look after the planet because when we exploit it –someone else – usually someone who is a lot more poor than us suffer people who have less than us go without and all so we can have the latest toys – it’s sick…

We are talking about Mission but we are talking about holistic mission – that’s not some mumbo jumbo new agey thing it’s mission as God intended.
We are all called to get involved in this
Mission is at the very heart of who God is –
Our God is a Missionary God –
A God who reaches out to us…
And calls us to do the same

Ash Wednesday to Mission Shaped Church

2009-02-25T14:13:00.003+13:00

after several months of silence i am back in the land of the living - last month I was priested and two weeks ago i started at Blenhiem Church of the Nativty as assistant Priest. This morning I was asked to lead communion at our Ash Wednesday morning service - loved it, I love Ash Wednesday the black smudge on the forehead from the ashes really speaks to me. As part of communion i gave the following as a blessing -
May the Christ who calls you to take up your cross,
give you strength to bear one another’s burdens
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you forever.
AMEN

It makes me tingly, more so becuase we are using lent to focus on becomming a Mission Shaped Church. Lenten studies looking at doing a mission audit of our selves, Sunday evening focusing on the values of a Mission Shaped Church and Sunday morning looking at the Spirituality of a Mission Shaped Church. Ash Wednesday as well as being a time to look inward will for our church be a time to look outward too....

A Nativity Story

2008-12-23T15:56:00.001+13:00

I have been thinking a lot about the Nativity Story, not because it's Christmas but because in a little over two week we head over the hill to Blenheim to be part of the Parish of the Nativity, where I'll be associate Priest. The Nativity story I am thinking about relates then to a Church that has boomed and somewhat lot its way over the last few years. My hope and I believe my commission is to help them and join them as they re-focus re-gather themselves and re-engage with their community. It's a story about re-birth and the hope that Christ brings –it's going to be an adventure and certainly a story full of hope.

Why Calvinism explains the world well

2008-12-17T12:25:00.001+13:00

I have just been conversing with a person over what appeals to me about Calvinism – I guess for me it explains the world well and pictures God in a way that makes sense of Pauls and the gospel writer interpretation of the Incarnation, life, death and resurrection.

I think also I've found it really helpful in ministry, the assurance that God is sovereign and therefore somehow in control of the mess helps me,

Pastorally – "shit happens"

Missiologically - "shit happens, but here is shovels to clean up even though I know that shit will still happen"

Discipleship – "shit happens – please learn to use a toilet"

I should make this a footer for my emails… a new image of youth ministry – potty training.

Ordained....

2008-11-28T09:00:00.001+13:00

On Friday 5th December I am being Ordained a Deacon at Nelson Cathedral 7:30 pm - come along if you are in town

New Fresh Expressions Leader

2008-11-05T08:53:00.002+13:00

Just Spotted this in the Church Times – B+ Graham is a top bloke – and just the right guy I believe to recapture and reinvigorate the fresh expressions movement…

A NEW Archbishops' Missioner and leader of Fresh Expressions has been announced following the Rev Steven Croft's appointment as the Bishop of Sheffield. The Rt Rev Graham Cray will assume the fulltime role from May and will step down as the Bishop of Maidstone. The new appointment means Bishop Cray can develop many of the ideas put forward by the Working Party he chaired which produced the highly-acclaimed Mission-shaped Church report. Both the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Methodist Church announced this week that the Fresh Expressions initiative would continue for a further five years. Fresh Expression is a means of developing new styles of conducting worship and liturgy and has produced some radical forms of church since its genesis. Speaking to The Church of England Newspaper Bishop Cray, well known in some circles for his involvement with the charismatic youth movement Soul Survivor, said he was totally committed to the new role.

"This is releasing me to spend my last years in stipendiary ministry giving it my whole attention," he explained. Discussing his vision for Fresh Expressions he said he wanted to see "more and more parishes and districts take this up and have a go". It was also about developing existing Fresh Expressions, he said. "We have got to help existing ones mature. One of the things to do is to learn the lessons that help projects move from being experiments to securely established and mature Christian congregations." The Bishop also said he would like to see liturgy developed further in Fresh Expressions churches, in particular how it can be conducted in a "light touch way".

Hail to the Thief

2008-11-05T08:47:00.001+13:00

I just heard on the news this morning that in the US elections they were expecting a record 65% voter turnout. For a country that prides itself on democracy and patriotism 65% turn out would suggest lethargy. How can such a 'majority' ever claim to be the voice of the people when over a 1/3^rd of the country choose not to vote – any wonder the whole system is open to theft and corruption of the highest order – hail to the thief – I am sure many non US people would be glad to see the back of YOU. One would hope that the next president is far more honest…

Niche Marketing

2008-11-03T15:30:00.001+13:00

Just been thinking of the connection between Niche Marketing and being missional, while they are not one in the same it seems to me that every church has a purpose in worshipping and glorifying God in THAT particular community at THAT particular time. I guess then that finding your niche must in some way be key to that. One of our local Churches, Nelson Baptist has set up a ministry to the courthouse – which is just across the road offering a drop in for families who are waiting for court appearances – it brilliant, because they understand their location, they understand their transient community, I suspect that many of our churches could do the same – the world is on our doorsteps and while the gospel of Christ is more than just scratching where the world is itching – it's a good place to start proclaiming it. Now if I could only get a call to the church outside Disneyland….

Assessing Church Health

2008-10-23T10:54:00.004+13:00

It seems to me that statistics are never that helpful when we want to assess the health of a church – there are too many outside factors that can cause a shift in 'bums on seats', so here are some other possible Church Health Assessment ideas.
In medical health they talk about Human homeostasis that refers to the body's ability to regulate its internal physiology to maintain stability in response to fluctuations in the outside environment. The liver and kidneys help maintain homeostasis. The liver is responsible for metabolizing toxic substances and maintaining carbohydrate metabolism. Regulating and balancing in response to external factors makes a healthy organism – I suspect the same can be said of the Church as population/economic/social/immigration/migration trends seem to knock stats one way or another. This means they are quite difficult to read. If we take this sort of approach to Church Health – which I suspect reflects more the gospel we might be able to come up with some other factors. Resilience – I would suggest that is over stating the case as one sign I would consider of health/discipleship is resilience - pointing more towards where the people are in their faith rather than the ministry of the Vicar/priest/ministry team

Every Member Ministry - I think a good indication also – to be Christian is to be a minister how seriously is that taken up – not just in church but in the community. I suspect a better indicator of health is volunteers per parish population base, from there we could give a percentage basis- I would suggest 50% + would be healthy. The fact volunteerism is on the decline may be an indicator of either poor discipleship, people's busyness, lack of opportunity to serve or poor teaching, but it is certainly an indication of poor church health

Fringe Activities: The Church is in tension it is on one hand a closed system (a worshipping community) but by nature and professing it should also be growing form the fringes. If the Church has homeostasis health then as a body it should be able to regulate its internal physiology to maintain stability in response to fluctuations in the outside environment. Therefore you would see Healthy growth and also healthy decline in response to the external environmental pressures. Health of church governed by what is happening on the fringes – that's what makes it different to the social clubs – that is how worship and mission are balanced out with that in mind here are some other possible indicators:

Visitor Volume Ratio – 5:100 and form there a Visitor Retention Ration – 4:100 –
Friendship Ratio – 1:7 vital sign of life
Small Group Ratio – 7 groups per 100 people
Financial Ratio – $1 in $10 to outreach (local and or Mission)

For what it's worth....

Different Ways of doing Youth Ministry

2008-10-22T10:11:00.001+13:00

Over the last few years I have gotten increasingly despondent at the ways in which the average Church seems to approach youth ministry. There seems to be little in the way of innovation and nothing beyond social programs and worship services. But I am feeling a lot more chipper as I take stock of what is emerging in our region:

Group one has set up a travelling LAN party ministry aimed not only at youth but their fathers too. About once a month they invade a church hall set up 15+ computers connect them into a server and play Battle Field games – they cook a meal together and also have a devotional. In January they hope to turn the event into an overnighter with paintball too. The kids who hate the regular youth group stuff love this...

Group two intends to run bush line activities for small groups 6 weekends a year – they'll take the small group (1 to 3 leader ratio) into the bush teach them how to make fires, shelter and forage and use it as a growing up experience (mini rites of passage I guess)...

Group three takes two van loads of young people each weekend during Winter up to the snow – where they board and learn how to climb – they've even had a go at making an igloo...

Group four isn't even a group it's a developing project based around an online chaplaincy (care) for youth who are in remote churches, the hope is that using technology we can help the one or two kids from every small town church in the region join together – face to face meetings will take place too but much of it will be net based.

Group five is a young people who got dragged into a youth development course – every other year we bring 20 or so young people from around the region to learn life skills – to develop communication, leadership and confidence in themselves.

We still have regular youth ministries but it seems that it's these new initiatives that strengthen the regular ministry, they are also helping to link in with the wider church – kingdom building...

We are on the move....

2008-10-21T11:02:00.001+13:00

Well its official the Treston Family is on the move. On January 19^th my wife starts work as a mental Health Nurse in Blenheim, on January 28^th our two kids will start at their new school in Blenheim. As for me well I have been accepted for ordination to the diaconate (big words).

What that means that some time in the next few months I will cease to work for the Diocese of Nelson and commence work for a Parish in Blenheim. I am looking forward to working once again with a community of people on a faith journey – the last few years has been very difficult professionally and personally not feeling as though you have a church family to belong too, so I am looking forward to that. Also looking forward to seeing Maureen's work blossom – she has done really well in her training and beat 20 odd people to get this position – I'm very proud of her and she is going to be a great Mental Health Nurse.

Last night our summer soccer season started and I guess that is one of the things I will miss outside of the Church I have made some good relationships with people through football and I know quite a lot of people around town as a result. Scored my first goal last night which was an absolute scorcher – came close on two other occasions too, a 25 yard shot beat the keeper and skimmed the cross bar and a point blank shot was fumbled of the goal line...

I can't say where I will be working yet – until the Church has announced it but it's a job I was offered in June – it's taken until now for the clergy rings to be jumped through. Just as well God doesn't move as slow as the Church sometimes....

Mission Shaped Liturgy part2

2008-06-12T13:47:00.001+12:00

I guess it would be too easy to read a title like mission shaped liturgy and assume that what I am suggesting is liturgy and worship shaped by its context. Nothing could be further from the truth – For me our liturgy should shape us for mission – when you peak over the fence into the reality of Heaven your sent back to earth with a new sense of urgency. A few year back when studying of my degree I did a stage three paper in The book of Revelation, it really impacted me the way that the story helps the 'hearer' engage a fresh with their local context – Schusler Fiorenza suggested it helps the hearer in the task of liberation of breaking free, politically and socially I hear the words and I am inspired a fresh not only with confidence in the gospel because Jesus reigns but with zeal too, I want to see his Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Liturgy/worship can do that

I guess then a mission shaped liturgy would be as much about being countercultural as it would be about being relevant. The relevance comes in how through worship a new – God shaped view of reality is achieved.

Mission Shaped…. Liturgy part one

2008-06-10T09:20:00.001+12:00

When you think about it you would rarely associate prayer book liturgy with mission, particularly in the Anglican Church, yet the more I read about the history of the Anglican Church as a movement (I am not sure whether the word denomination fits) the more is see mission as a driving force in it's shape. One thing that strikes me in particular is the dismissal - Go now to love and serve the Lord. Go in peace. Amen. We go in the name of Christ

I attended a church where the leader said this from the back – not the front and was the first to exit – it really hit me – to go in the name of Christ is call to mission to love the world to serve out lord and to go in God's shalom (peace). It's not last order at a bar but a serious call for God's gathered people to scatter, to take the faith with them and live it out.

It's a nice place to finish – but its' also a great place to (re)start.

Mission Shaped…. PEOPLE

2008-06-06T13:40:00.001+12:00

I have just had three days in Auckland as part of conference looking at mission shaped church in relation to youth ministry. The idea of a mission shaped church is in many ways problematic – we start talking about the church as the people and very soon drift into the church as institution which begs the question can an institution be mission shaped? Not sure whether I have the answer but one thing is for certain I believe some of the back ground thinking behind it needs challenging. One of the assumptions of MSC is that a very large proportion of the country has no contact with the church. Here is the problem do we mean the church as institution or the church as people – clearly if we mean institution then the basis for developing a mission shaped church and planting faith communities in the midst of where people are is valid. But if we mean the church as people then the statement is rubbish. Every day we have contact with literally thousands of people of these people many have no connection with the institutional church or could we say the gathered church – but they do have contact with Christians and through that the scattered church. I would estimate that if the theory of six degrees of separation is true then anyone in the world is potentially no more than six movements away from a Christian, and subsequently the CHURCH. While the church currently is trying to fish in an ever decreasing pond – there are other ponds connected to it – other ponds that many Christians are involved in – whether it is the work place, school, family or social connections. We can make contact – in fact we have a duty to if we are to call ourselves Christians.

What I think we need to do is to make use of every opportunity to spread the gospel – I am not suggesting taking a bible and beating everyone we meet over the head with it – what I am suggesting is that every contact we make is an opportunity to share something of the gospel – whether it be turning the other cheek when a car cuts you off, forgiving the person who jumps in front of you at the supermarket, modelling humility whatever – even a smile to a face that is looking down can be a way of spreading the good news. Praying and walking, asking God to bless people who walk this path way also, modelling a transformed life to a world that is full of selfishness. All ways of modelling the gospel, maybe we could target a petrol station as a faith community each way and rather than grumbling about the prices when we but fuel we could encourage the people behind the counter – just imagine if a church of 100 people targeted one petrol station for one week – we smiled at the people behind the counter, we thanked them for their hard work we were gracious – I suspect that after a few days the people working there would begin to ask question about who these people were.

I think the task of the church needs to be shaping people – not the institution – we need to be making mission shaped people not institutions. Can you imagine what a church would look like when it gathered Sunday morning and it not only worshipped but shared stories of how it had been CHRIST during that week. I reckon worship would go through the roof – I think you would be carried into the very throne room of God by the worship of a church people that were actively engaged in mission.

What is important? e tangata e tangata e tangata

An Undivided Life

2008-05-09T10:21:00.001+12:00

Over the past few weeks I have had some conversations that have inspired me. As I contemplate my ministry moves this year (I finish this current role this year) I have been wrecking my brain over what I have learnt, where I see the Church and in particular what needs to be expressed more or re-expressed.

Yesterday I met with Tim Hodges from TSCF yesterday – he was up in Nelson to encourage the Christian group at the local polytechnic – so had a chat over coffee. I had lost touch with pretty much anything studentish since coming to Nelson. Reaching students had unfortunately been way down the ministry priority list, so hearing about the changes in TSCF was great. A major thing for me has always been integration of faith and life (outside the church) – so to spend an hour taking about the undivided life (one of the core principles of TSCF) was great.

Also met with one of our new Vicars earlier in the week, again ministry philosophy was on the discussion – for him community facing and existing for those who don't belong were high on his priorities.

I have been chatting with a colleague about Church planting, something I have mixed feeling about after 2 years at Graceway, and seeing how tough it can be to establish a presence, but also recognising the need for what Archbishop Rowan calls "the mixed economy" in our approaches to ministry.

Finally I was part of diocesan planning group that was trying to establish direction in light of missiological and ministry needs. While I am not sure whether we got to the place we need to – we certainly were thinking along the same lines – mission as a priority – being missional as a way of being church. For such a diverse group to be thinking in these terms I think is a major indication that God's Spirit is moving and He isn't finished with us yet

It strikes me that although in general the church is struggling. Things are looking up, we recognise the mission opportunities and the need for costly discipleship – maybe the Church is not a bad place to be after all?

Is it that long????

2008-05-09T10:02:00.001+12:00

I can't believe how bust I have been lately and haven't posted since February – note to self find time to think

Slices of Heaven

2008-02-26T10:48:00.001+13:00

I am having a hard time with God at the moment, there seems to be a lot of pressure working against me and finding anything to be joyful about is a real pain. I feel very Lenty…

Last night though me and the whanau got invited out to dinner by some friends from Hawaii who own a farm in NZ that they come over to for holidays. They work pretty much 7 days a weeks so when they come over here they like to enjoy themselves and relax with people they enjoy – I guess they enjoy our company. In their family they have a tradition of sharing desert so rather than one person hogging there bowl you have several different deserts flying round the table and you take some as it comes pass it on and so on. After a few hard weeks this meal was also a great opportunity for us to relax and enjoy some people who have offered friendship to us and asked nothing in return. I think desert was a slice of heaven for me it tasted of community and felt very much like a feast on the road side, for a weary traveller.

Thanks Bill and Rebecca for inviting us in

We are made for Community

2008-02-19T12:01:00.001+13:00

I have been convinced for quite a few years that one of the fundamental gifts of the doctrine of the Trinity is it's assurance that we are made for community and that the image of God is more realised in a community context. But it's always interesting to see how it works itself out practically. Last year I rejoined a football team after several years of not playing, it's been a hard journey back to fitness but the adrenaline that comes from playing a team (community) sport has carried me. Training with others is so much easier…. We are made for community.

Late last year my wife began a weight watchers points counting diet, she struggled along and then 6 weeks ago I started too, we have both found the lifestyle change easier now two of us are doing it – we support encourage and lift each other, we remind each other of the points we are allowed – and we break the diet occasionally together…. We are made for community.

I have just been talking with friends about spiritual disciplines and mission orders, groups of people who combine and work together to fulfil a set of spiritual obligations that by themselves they would not be able to do, but together through supporting, encouraging and reminding each other they achieve things in God's name…. We are made for community.

What of the church? In the church calendar it is currently Lent, when I grew up in a Catholic school lent was a community observance the class and the school gave things up and used the extra income for child sponsorship, we challenged each other, we wanted to win, but we were in this together. Flip forward 30 odd years and Lent is a personal discipline – I give up this, you give up that and like New Year resolutions we all give up after two days…. We are made for Community.

Without the community observing these things it all seems pointless, empty and difficult, we need the inspiration of the sport team with a common goal – to win, the standing alongside each other to lose a target weight, the supporting each other as we rigorously try to follow God. The challenge of each other to be obedient…. We are made for community; it is in our DNA, through each other God breathes into life the image he has placed within us.

A full desk means ……

2008-02-18T09:30:00.001+13:00

My desk is somewhat full at the moment, I am processing questionnaires and writing a report, I have about 20 books that need to be looked at before I start handing them out to youth leaders – I always find if you give someone a book you think they should read it helps to have read it yourself. My diary is looking increasingly full, and I have lots of scraps of paper with silly notes on, my lunch and a mouse trap (don't ask!). I used to worry about mess not I just tolerate it – if a tidy desk is the sign of tidy mind then a full desk must be either the sign of a full mind or I suspect it's really the sign of an empty mind…. Now where did that mouse go to...?

A Golden Experience

2008-02-12T09:51:00.001+13:00

In my current role I can often find myself going literally months without spending two Sundays in the same Church. It's difficult then to engage with any church community so I find myself feeling very much like an outsider quite often. On Sunday morning I was asked with very short notice to come and speak at a church in Golden Bay. On my list of churches that are a priority in terms of youth work, it is very low on the list with a largely elderly congregation and having been a church that has had a few splits and bad experiences in the last few years. I said yes but felt immediately after that like I should have said no, but I went all the same, hoping that God would use me, that nothing would be thrown at me and I wouldn't be accused of heresy half way through my sermon (yes it has happened here).

I could not have been so far wrong, in terms of being part of a community they were so loving and welcoming I felt more at home there than I did in the church I semi regularly attend. The worship was 70's style but really up lifting – so much so that a holidaying couple who were walking past came in because it sounded like there were angles singing in the building. I think given what has gone on their maybe there were angels giving everyone a lift. As for my input I preached on Jesus' presentation at the temple (see below), for those who know me what I write in a sermon and what I actually say on the day can be different, this Sunday was no different – I really wanted to focus people back on Jesus and the price he paid for us, there were a few tears, there was also a room full of people inspired to keep moving on, to keep telling God's story to each other and to their local community. God came through, and I am humbled that he so often does that. The feedback was that it was a word in season for so many people – one women who was on holiday visiting from the largest church in our region said it was the best sermon she had ever heard (part of me said I should have handed over my business card and say I am available for a call in December).I am a very good preacher, with an ability to capture an audience, keep them entertained as well as challenging them, Mark Driscoll claims he learned about preaching from comedian Chris Rock, for me it was Billy Connolly, but unless the Spirit is moving then it's all fluff, comedy and words. It's humbles me how much God does use me when I speak – given I think so often I am a screw up. But then as Mike Riddell use to always say to me when he mentored me that if the light contained in a clay pot, it's going to need a few cracks to come out (I think he stole this off Paul!).

It was a Golden experience for me, one that reminded me of my call to ministry AGAIN. So as I reflect upon the year ahead (my last year in this current role) and wonder what opportunities God will place before me, I'm reminded that I still have a call to ministry, and in spite of the fact that I have felt many times over the last few years that I should "get a real job" that God still has work for me, and yes he still wants to use me.

Thanks people at Golden Bay, you have been a band of angels for me lifting this tired servant up again – may God's grace continue to stir you and lift you also

Encounter with hope

2008-02-11T09:57:00.001+13:00

A meeting with Hope – Luke 2:22-38

Physical and Spiritual lethargy

This week is my first real week back at work and like most people I seemed to have spent most of my time avoiding the inevitable – there is a new year ahead, the holidays are over and I have work to do.

I know I am not alone in this – I guess it's the post Christmas blues, something that I think we all struggle with to some degree or so.

Maybe it's lethargy, too much Christmas pudding and lying on the beach but somehow it's hard to get motivated.

We need a challenge to get us motivated, to kick start us into life again…

This morning we are exploring a story form the gospels which I think gives us that challenge, which I think should cause us to get back on track – to renew our passion for life – but also renew our passion for following Jesus…

It's the story of Jesus presentation at the temple.

Night prayer, the warm cup of Milo of the Anglican faith: In many ways it's kind of ironic that I say this story should contain a challenge because as many of you will probably know a huge proportion of this story is found in the Anglican Prayer book too, Read Nunc Dimittis PAGE 179.

– Words that someone compared to being the warm cup of Milo of the Anglican faith – Word before bed time to make you sleep comfortably…

I say it's Ironic then because while if you look at the surface of what is being said it all sounds like a nice Bedtime story, it's only when you dig beneath it you realise that it's not to put you to sleep – but it's actually to stir your faith – to give you a lift.

To wake you up…

This is not a nice sweet gooey gah ending to the Christmas story, but rather Simeon is spelling out the cost of salvation.

A Turning Point: This passage offer a turning point – while the Christmas story leads you to a quiet stable a matter of weeks later this story leads you on a journey to the cross.

It also offers a turning point in the sense that it signals a new era coming- Simeon is the last of the prophets in the traditional sense – Male, old, priestly While on the other hand Anna is the first I guess of the new breed, the People of God who Luke writes about in Act 2 – the people of God who were prophesised about in Joel "

Acts 2:17 "In the last days it will be, God Declares,

That I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy," Once upon a time it was only men who prophesised who the Spirit of God would fall upon – now the those that Luke writes about in Acts – when God pours out his Spirit on all people – not just the blokes.

But there is much more going on here too.

Look into the Traditions: It's a look into the world of Judaism too. A world that is very different from our own… We have the representation of Jewish traditions and Jesus being recognised by Simeon as being the fulfilment of the old traditions – something new is happening – God is fulfilling his promises – all the Jewish people had hoped for was bundled up in the arms of Simeon – wrapped in this cloth was all we could hope for and because of that all else should fail into insignificance

There is a world of difference between Christianity and Judaism and I think we can so often forget that, and then when we look at texts like this one and we realise how different our world is, in this story there are three Jewish ceremonies that mother and child were involved in–

The Circumcision of Christ,
The Purification of Mary in verse 24 it talks about offering a sacrifice that's what this is for – it's what poor women would offer for purification.
But the ceremony that we are more interested in is The Redemption of the Firstborn -

The basis for the ceremony was that, in the Old Testament, every firstborn son born to a Jewish woman was considered "consecrated for the service" of God. BUT and this is a big but in the book of Numbers we read:
"The Lord … said to Moses, 'I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.' "(Numbers 3:11-13)

What that means is the first born of all Jewish women are excused from service because the Levites will take care of that.

However, since the Levites performed all the Temple duties instead of the firstborn, the parents of the firstborn non-Levites were required to pay a redemption fee – to literally be bought back,

Which was set at five shekels or 20 silver pieces –?

In today's currency that's about $2 – so it's not a huge amount – but it is a symbolic amount – it's the amount that Joseph was sold into slavery for by his brothers.

So the Child would be handed over to the temple priest, a prayer and blessing said, you would hand over your 5 shekels and the child would be given back to you. - It was a type of tax if you like – a way of supporting the priesthood.

I can imagine it would be a quick ceremony, nothing flash hand over the baby, receive the blessing hand over the cash… They probably did lots of these ceremonies on a daily basis
So we have Jesus' parents presenting him paying their tax and probably wanting to go home and celebrate, to maybe throw an our "Baby Jesus has been redeemed party or something..".

We know that from what Simeon says there was a lot more to it than that.

As the Child is placed in Simeon's arms – God stirs him…

An Epiphany: What happens next though is that Simeon recognises this child – not in the way you would "agh that face is so familiar", but in a way that something stirs inside of him.

The Holy Spirit comes alive in Simeon and he recognises that the one who is being redeemed will become the redeemer for all.

This is not an ordinary child…

It's like suddenly this boring, ritual comes alive, takes on a different meaning – suddenly makes perfect sense.

When I was a theological student my lecturer used to talk about AHA moments – times when you are doing the most routine, the most boring the most mundane things and suddenly you're aware of a greater purpose. The lights come on – that is what is happening here.

Simeon gets revelation – he get to see beyond the surface.

This act he has done for countless babies faithfully year after year now has new meaning.

The hope he has had that one day he would see the messiah – and here is the messiah wrapped up in cloth lying in his arms

That has got to be the most amazing feeling.

When Simeon talks about being dismissed he is not just talking about his age – he is also talking about the ceremony he is involved in – it will because of this Baby become obsolete…

The Baby who is being redeemed or bought back – is the fulfilment of the whole thing…

This Baby will buy us all back; this baby will pay the cost to for us all… Simeon included, you included – me included….

But God turned this ceremony its head by proclaiming that this little child would REDEEM ALL HUMANKIND.

That is to say he would be the Saviour of the World.
Jesus goes from REDEEMED to REDEEMER.

But there is a cost…

Simeons words a blessing?

These words of Simeon that are meant to be a blessing to the proud parents but when you look at them they sound like a strange blessing,

If someone came up to me and said they wanted to bless me and then told me how my house would fall down, my legs fall off and the ground was coming to sallow me up I would think it pretty odd.

As odd as calling a 3 legged one eared half blind dog – lucky

The words of Simeon are a very strange blessing – in fact they probably felt more like a curse at the time than a blessing

I guess in one way they are also part curse I say that because they don't sound like a traditional sought of blessing you would give to a child – they don't offer comfort and hope to the parents – but it is precisely in this that we are offered comfort it is because of what this child will go through that we are blessed.

Simeon promises Mary that her soul will be pierced – while he doesn't say how why or when – I think it's pretty obvious that Mary's soul is pierced because of how Jesus was pierced-

There is a scene in the passion movie that haunts me as Jesus is dragged through the streets Mary lies on the pavement wailing uncontrollably – Mary's soul is pierced because the son she cared for was pierced. It's in this act that we are blessed…

Atonement: From the very beginning the Bible teaches that the price of sin is death. We have all sinned there is a price to pay.

Jesus has paid that price on our behalf…

This is how we are redeemed – how we are bought back.

Because Jesus died for us.

Mary is blessed because she has been chosen to be part of God's Big Plan – it may not look like a blessing from where she is standing, it may not have looked like a blessing form the foot of the cross – but from an eternal perspective it is a real blessing for us all.

On one hand this story is the cup of warm Milo for the Anglican faith, but on a deeper level it look towards to the cross, it wakes us from our slumber and reminds us of how much was paid for us,

"Not a couple of dollars, but the life of Jesus."

That's hard to get you head round and sometimes that hard for us to understand, sometimes we don't have the words to explain this. When word escape you sometimes pictures can say so much...

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER (explaining the painting previous Blogpost): Sometime around 1460 a Giovanni Bellini in his painting "The Presentation at the Temple" captures what I think is the spirit of the text – the blessing and curse of the words.

Firstly it framed almost as if we are looking into a window

I look at it and I almost feel like a peeping tom –

Younger Man on the right – the artist drawing you in – give s it that window effect

Notice the hands of Mary and Simeon

Mary – reluctance to hand over her son

Simeon – demanding "hand him over"

Two women – almost oblivious to what is happening

The child Jesus – prepared for burial or wrapped in cloth

And is the child even alive? The face is ruddy but lifeless too…

But for me it's Joseph hiding at the back that really speaks to me– string straight back at you – angry, confused – at what is happening – accusing us – This all because of you….. Do you not understand the price that my child, my little baby will pay for you…

In fact is it Joseph at all, or is it Jesus, Heavenly Father?

My son handed over to die for you….

Giovanni Bellini

2008-01-28T15:46:00.001+13:00

I am writing a sermon on Jesus' presentation at the temple and came across this amazingly rich piece of art work that I think draws down on the tension of the text from Luke 2: 22. It's a picture that certainly paints a 1000 words, redemption and sacrifice a baby born to die and the on looking accusing father staring deep into the watchers soul…

Alan Roxburgh

2008-01-21T10:30:00.001+13:00

Way back when I was a theological student at Carey Baptist College – I was introduced to a great book by Alan Roxburgh – Reaching a New Generation. As it quiet at in the office at the moment and before the rush start for the New Year I have been taking mini retreats to read – This morning I just finished reading the first four chapters of Roxburgh new work – Missional Mapmaking, which is available to download over at Alleleon. For me chapter four has helped me make sense of a lot of what I see going on in my head and in the average Church at the moment, Roxburgh want to encourage in light of the changes we are facing a re –evaluation of leadership. Many forms of so called leadership are mechanistic, and reduce people to figures to be manipulated. Pastoral leadership has in many cases lost any pastoral functions at all as people's needs are overlooked in the name of herding and organising. Roxburgh uses the image of herding cats as a more fruitful and missional approach to leadership, while this is problematic and difficult I wish more people in pastoral ministry would consider it. Last week I had a conversation with a person fresh out of the UK who has been checking out churches here in Nelson – they visited some and found herding and organising over the top – in the end they have settled on an Anglican Church that looks more like a colony of cats that and army or Japanese Business – they feel welcomed and will probably stay there. For these people Roxburgh's image makes much more sense.

Yay someone taking the ‘Mick’ out of Nooma

2008-01-14T15:49:00.001+13:00

I respect Rob Bell, he is a good writer, a decent speaker and seems to be an all round nice guy – but I cannot stand NOOMA, his sermon series with naff background music and touching images… Someone has decided to spoof it over on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQO-aXM1Lo0

And may the God of stolen pens and lost golf balls bless you as you reflect ponder and laugh at this video

The Convent

2008-01-14T11:24:00.001+13:00

A web site was set up by the Poor Claire Community about their experiences with The Convent Documentary

http://www.poorclaresarundel.org/Pages/CONVENTDefault.aspx

Reality TV and Spirituality

2008-01-14T11:07:00.001+13:00

On Sunday nights on the Living Channel here in NZ we have showing a reality TV show form the BBC, The Convent traces the experiences of four women who spend 40 days with a community of Poor Claire Nuns, in the UK. It's really refreshing to see a life of order and contemplation and spirituality painted in such a positive manner.

The four women who have been embraced by the community come with issues and the desire for insights but also form wildely different backgrounds. It's great viewing and very uplifting too.

Debi Ireland is 44 and lives in Scotland with her husband and their five-year-old son.

She works as a children's entertainer telling stories about overcoming fears, yet she has spent the past 39 years battling with the sense she is 'not good enough'.

Her parents split up when she was five. As she said goodbye to her mother in Australia to move to Britain with her father, her mother promised she would see her again in six weeks. She never appeared.

Debi assumed it was her own fault, and ever since has been haunted by guilt and low esteem.

She is hoping the convent will help her to overcome her fear that God will punish her and that she will return home as a new mum no longer wracked by rejection.

Iona Maclean is 25 and a singer/songwriter living in Chelsea, London. She is the only Christian in the group of volunteers.

A former 'party girl' she went through a phase of heavy drinking from which she believed she was saved by God.

Nevertheless, she still struggles with the temptations of the modern world, particularly her self-confessed weakness for the opposite sex.

She is seriously considering celibacy and thinks that the nuns might be able to advise her how to go about it.

Angela Dickson is 43, single, a former police officer, former pub landlord and a successful business development manager in Nottingham.

Her career has been her priority and she seems to have it all - a nice house, a second property abroad and a BMW convertible.

But recently she has come to ask what any of her material wealth is really worth. Twice divorced, she has no faith, no children, and feels time is running out.

She hopes that going into the convent will help her to discover if there is more to life – and more to her.

Victoria Bennett is 33. She lives and works as a poet in the Lake District.

Brought up an atheist, she completely rejects the idea of a patriarchal God and tries to live her life free of rules.

She has an open marriage and she feels everyone should be free to express their sensuality however they see fit.

But underneath it all Victoria struggles to reconcile her free spirit with a deep-rooted insecurity

Passion

2007-12-21T09:54:00.001+13:00

You don't have to go far in the blogging world to find people blogging about what is wrong with the church. Some say it is bad theology, others a lack of prayer, I tend to bang on about the need to be missional, while others comment that we need to take a marketing approach, some point to hypocrisy, the failure to deal with issues of justice, a lack of love for the poor, failure of community - too much community etc.

I think they are all right, they all point to failures, and as we might expect dealing with these issues may well help reverse the trends, while at the same time highlighting others. One thing is for certain in organisational dynamics whenever something begins to fall over - the knives often turn inward, we look at someone or something to blame.

Another institution which I have a great deal of interest in is my home Football Club, Middlesbrough FC, now when I was a kid living in the north east I was a Liverpool supporter, however when I came to NZ, MFC became a way of me connecting with the bigger picture of who I am, the team gave me sense of connectedness, roots. The Tees is my river, the riverside stadium is my mountain – this is how I know what home is. Middlesbrough like the Church in general has issues they are struggling, the fan base is faltering, they lose when they should win and make stupid mistakes constantly – I said they were like the average Church. They have some real issues, and the knives have turned inwards – it's the manager, it's the goal keeper, it's the lack of strikers, it's the weak midfield, and the heave handed defence, it's the lack of money at the club. While all these reasons for failure are right and dealing with them (like the Church) may reverses the trend I think they also highlight other inadequacies.

The solution the club has come up with I think is brilliant – rather then turning the knives inward they are calling for people to renew their passion for the club, to scream, yell and roar their support so that when teams come they are playing 11 men plus 30000 on the bench. They are encouraging people to be passionate – to do this they have put out a video with a young guy who embodies the club, he's a local lad made good and in that represents 1000 and 1000 of teenagers in and around Middlesbrough. He isn't the most eloquent speaker, nor is he a 'pretty picture' but he embodies passion. I watched it and got shivers down my spine, while it won't make me go out and buy a season ticket, it does make me proud to be part of something bigger.

Passion for the gospel – as good news for all seems to be one thing I see missing in the Church, I myself often find myself feeling ho-hum after attending Church, and I know that many feel that way – things aren't going that well and the passion seems to have gone. I still love Jesus more than ever but sometimes hanging around with his bride can be a little dull. I wonder whether we could reinstall some passion in each other through a similar approach to MFC and put the knives away…

Video link is here: David Wheater - Passion

Have yourself a Hallmark Christmas – NOT!

2007-12-20T10:05:00.001+13:00

I have some pet hates – but possibly the biggest is Hallmark sentimentality and it's bastard child the Hallmark Christmas and Hall mark Christianity – it's the sort of thing that comes out with stupid statements like -Jesus loves you because you are really special. What drivel.

Humbug to Hallmark Christmas greetings!

Christmas Pageants?

2007-12-19T16:27:00.001+13:00

I am not sure how many Christmas Pageants/nativity plays I have witnessed but some things always seem to stand out – Joseph is normally a good 30 plus years older than the 7 year old Virgin Mary (I always got the impression Joseph was older but surely not a paedophile). The angels look like they are queuing for a Spice Girls reunion concert. The kids looked board and the shepherds have tea towels on their heads (I wonder whether the average Pakeha has thought how culturally offensive that is to Maori). And this is the Church telling the world about the incarnation – God made Flesh, is suspect that we largely miss the plot. Its theology inspired by Christmas cards not the bible, and I sincerely hope that we can do better…

The Image with this post is an email card sent by a friend – it's a 'mick take' of my home town (it's called Nativity in Middlesbrough) which has one of the highest crime rates in Britain, but probably speaks more of the need for the Church to incarnate itself and come alive in our culture than a 1000 bad nativity plays.

Well Something’s Emerging (HOPE).

2007-12-14T09:49:00.001+13:00

About 13 years ago I attended Parachute Festival, along with copious amounts of Christian bands I ended up at several workshops and worship events that sparked a light in me. The speakers that really hit me were the Ozzie Biker Dude John Smith, Futurist Tom Sine and a worship event ran by some people from Cityside Church in Auckland – Parallel Universe. It opened me as a very young Christian up to a sea of possibilities, and a new slant on my faith journey – I was introduced to things like; being incarnational, community and taking the ordinary things of life and making them sacred – three themes that the scriptures are full off but I had not heard much of in Church… From there I have been challenged to think missionaly, to try and see where God is at work, etc.

Not only did I see passion for Jesus through this Trinity but possibilities for creating, embracing, and promoting a view of spirituality that made a lot more sense to me – at the time it filled me with hope, but over the last 13 years that hope has often tasted like despair. The journey took me through many experiments, good and bad till I have come to a place where – I think I can see God at work, and I think I understand more of how we get alongside that work.

Like maturing cheese it's taken a while but something good is emerging because not only does this make sense to me I have over the past few years helped others see s view of God's work in the world that is new to them and makes sense to them. I guess for me something has emerged and as I look around NZ I can see something emerging for others too. Dare I say it I believe the future looks promising for the Church, I am full of hope for what God is doing and for the ability of the Church to get on board with God's Work. I guess just like there is no resurrection without Good Friday so a journey of hope needs to come through and navigate a valley of despair…

What shape (youth) ministry?

2007-12-12T15:18:00.001+13:00

In my current role I get to reflect upon the shape that youth ministry can take in the life of a church – it can be exciting to dream possibilities but also frustrating to know that largely they remain dreams. I am hanging out to go back to pastoral ministry but not as a youth pastor. My hope is that I can help guide a Church into being mission focused, how will I do that? Well largely through many of the reflections I have made based on my practice and others of youth ministry… It seems to me that in order for a church to grapple effectively with mission it needs to 'see the waves coming' and then surf them… Youth ministry seems to feel the waves before the wider Church, it's the prophetic edge, the missional edge. I believe that a church that utilizes and embraces and builds an effective youth ministry can also reach the wider community more effectively. A church that learns how to disciple young people will effectively be able to disciple the wider community too…

Sometimes it's fun being a youth worker for Jesus J

PS my spell checker wants to change the word missional for fissional, interesting movement?

Toru leadership reflections

2007-12-11T10:14:00.001+13:00

When I think about leadership much of my understanding and approach is shaped by my understanding of scripture and theological themes. I come from a cultural background where leadership is and class are connected 'done by others, it is not done by us we merely take orders.' Leadership is what the foreman, the principle, the government did (class system) – there was no concept of leadership or expressions in my family – 'working class people are not leaders'. To come into the Christian faith then was to come into contact with a stream of thought that not only challenged the world I had grown up in but faith offered an opportunity to challenge and change my life direction. The role of leadership and the type of leadership that I gravitated to then was essentially shaped by my early life and what I read in the scriptures.

Leadership for me also comes with a high level of tension on one hand I don't want to be a leader, and on the other I realise that there is a call only life to lead others and that whether I like it or not people look to me for leadership. This entails I have no issue with being lead by others when the need and the situation arises. Leadership and the call to be a leader come then for me from a call to ministry, and an understanding of ministry. When I talk of leadership the word could just as easily be replaced by ministry or even discipleship – as at the end of the day one is a reflection of the other. Discipleship is the task, ministry is the context and leadership is the means necessary to disciple others. Leadership for me is about encouraging developing others to become leaders also

Theological themes:

Missio Dei - Incarnation: One of the earliest themes we are introduced to in the creation account of Genesis one is the God that broods over the water – A God that is present in this world, a God that has a mission. The incarnation is the New Testament realisation of this God has moved into the neighbourhood – in fact he has always been in the neighbourhood and continues to be at work creating recreating hiding in the whispers of this world. In terms of leadership this for me means that I am not alone – that God is with me and the leadership/ministry/discipleship task is to look for God's foot prints to make sense and give meaning to what is happening - God is at work – he calls the church to work alongside of Him in this task. Leadership then is about; interpreting, listening, visualizing for others, relationship

Imago Dei – Kingdom of God: A second theme is of God making humanity in His image, while this can be interpreted in many ways one that speaks to me is that of the image of the statue at the gates of the city, in ancient time a person would know whose city/village this was by the image of the founder at the city gates. That is what I believe it means to be an image bearer that the world should be able to look at us as image bearers and see whose 'city' this is. Jesus further strengthens this with his call to people to become part of the Kingdom of God, as I would understand it in Luke's Gospel, Jesus talks about the Kingdom being present when the, blind see, the lame walk etc... The role of the church then is as statues to the living God, and as activist in making this place God's place, the Kingdom of God, whenever God's work is being done then there is the kingdom we are signs of that reality and agents in making that reality happen. Leadership then is about; influence, activism, doing justice (which cannot be separated from judgement), pointing other towards the reality of God in their midst. A leader is a sign post/statue that point others to Jesus (the role of John the Baptist would be crucial in demonstrating the role of the church too).

Vision/Prophetic: As a person I have been gifted/cursed with long sightedness, both physically and spiritually – I tend to see what is far off but miss what is under my nose. It's the gift of vision being able to point out possibilities, to think of implications to dream possibilities for myself and God people. This is also coupled with a call to be prophetic – God's mouthpiece to the Church. As a minister I have realised very early the best way to mute a prophet is to make them a priest – it is difficult to challenge from within unless you are prepared to be part of the solution. I have a love hate relationship with the Church as an institution. Leadership is about, imagining possible futures, standing on the fringes, listening to God and making sense of the situation, it is looking for opportunities in crisis and not being able to risk it all or to admit failure, challenging, understanding the past (the context of others) in order to lead them to the future.

Staying sane/ staying rooted: As a person I have often found ministry stressful, a major reason being related to the Peter Principle – where a person is often promoted beyond their level of competence. For me I came into ministry though an ability to relate/share the gospel with those who did not hang around churches. As the prophet is muted by becoming a Priest the evangelist is also muted in the same way. This for me lead to a huge stress I was outside of my comfort zone. So for me to stay rooted in what God has called me to and to demonstrate leadership -to encourage others to become committed disciple I spend a lot of my energy in encouraging others to go into the world. But I need to put my time and energy into that too, being surrounded by no one else other than Christians wears me down it makes my leadership ineffective. I call others to get involved but also get involved in the world outside church doors as a spiritual discipline. To lead others I need to be an example, rooted and renewed.

Leadership

2007-12-11T10:11:00.001+13:00

Last week I was on a training course on leadership, as part of that course I was asked to reflect on my views of leadership, doing stuff like this I find interesting mainly because my journey into leadership has been an odd one – I come from a very working class family – and am proud of the fact that but part of that background recognises that leadership belongs to other classes. You are born into leadership by virtue of your class. So for me to have leadership thrust upon me is not something I aspire to or am ambitious for – it's just not my 'default' wiring…

However when I became a Christian I felt the call to make disciples and that is precisely where my leadership understanding and function comes from – the call of Christ not to be a leader but to make disciples – which by its very nature entails leadership.

All in all it was a worthwhile course – well done Toru..

Talk back radio... Big mouths domain

2007-11-28T14:29:00.000+13:00

I have got into the habit of listening to talk back radio - in particular sports talk back. It's great fun often but can largely be summed up as 'the domain of idiots with nothing to say, and no knowldege of what they are talking about...'
Last night while comming home from a meeting listening to a bunch of so called 'experts'talk about soceer. Needles to say I felt like calling them up and telling them what a bunch of idiots they were - I took the moral higher ground though and just switched it off, I resited, but it occured to me that isn't blogging the same thing -so called experts talking about stuff and (I include myself in this) often talking rubbish.
Maybe Blogging is for introverts and talk back is for extroverts...

Strengthening valuable contribution of youth work

2007-11-28T14:10:00.000+13:00

Here in NZ we have been really slow on developing a qualification standard for youth workers - I suspect it's part of our number 8 wire make do mentality but a few years abck I was part of a group that challenged then MP Steve Maharey to encourgae the government to 'look into it'.
The saga continues but there is promise ahead...

Wednesday, 6 June 2007, 12:35 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government
Strengthening the valuable contribution of youth workers
We are seeing the positive impact of youth workers especially with hard-to-reach young people.

---------------------------------

The government is looking at practical ways to support and strengthen the positive contribution made by youth workers including those who work with at-risk or very vulnerable young people says Youth Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

This follows a recent Ministry of Youth Development survey of the professional development and training needs of youth workers.

"I welcome the results of the survey which will be used to inform further work by both government and the private sector as to how they can continue to support youth workers," says Nanaia Mahuta.

"The findings show a high level of demand from youth workers for opportunities to increase their skills, effectiveness and qualifications, delivered in a way that meets their needs."

"We are committed to ensuring that youth workers receive access to high quality training opportunities, including making training a mandatory requirement with organisations employing youth workers, and signing up to the finalised national code of ethics," says Nanaia Mahuta.

The Ministry will drill further into the data from the survey to identify any regional differences in training needs, and will engage with regional providers to identify how these needs can best be met

To assist the further development of the youth worker workforce, the Youth Development Ministry has contracted the National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa to develop a national code of ethics for youth work and to develop and support regional networks.

The Minister also acknowledged the work of the National Youth Workers Network in contributing to the survey and for the work on their national research report project, "Real work".

"We are seeing the positive impact of youth workers especially with hard-to-reach young people, for example the contracting of youth workers in response to recent youth gang issues in South Auckland has been very effective. We need to strengthen and support their important work.

"The ongoing recognition of the important role of youth workers, increased emphasis on the need to invest in professional development and training of this workforce better enables youth workers to respond to the needs of young people and support them to make positive changes for the long term. This survey should be utilised by government and non-government agencies when they make investment decisions in the youth sector. Just like good teachers we need to invest in youth workers to ensure that we have quality professionals working with our young people" says Nanaia Mahuta.

Selling Jesus

2007-11-27T09:29:00.000+13:00

I am not sure why, but since I became a christian in my mid 20's people have always said that I am an evangelist. It's a 'gift' that has always felt uncomfortable on my shoulders, there are so many supposed evngelists outthere that just come across as car sales people for Jesus - i don't want to be tagged with that. But I am more than happy - in fact I really enjoy shrring my faith - not in a heavy manner but in a way that speaks of grace, forgiveness and the possiblity of change (thanks to the work of Jesus in that).
Yesterday i got invited to a a bible study with a christian guy and two Jehovahs Witnesses, i loved it being able to sit down and chat God stuff is great even if the people you are sharing with have some unusal views. i asked them some questions about the usual stuff and talked about Jesus being God, the way that God refers to himself as the I AM when he met Moses in the bush, and that way that Jesus uses that same I AM words in John - love it. Also talked a fare bit about Revelation in particular the point of the book and the development of the thought that worship is only for God, and since the focus of the book is about worshipping the lamb that was slain - Jesus - doesn't that mean Jesus is God. it's simple stuff but this is what really stumps JW's - they cannot get passed this - though they reckon that what is happening is not worship but submission to authority - though i'd say if it looks like worship, smells like worship and i guess to witness it it would sound like worship - then maybe it is worship.
I also threw them a bit with some thoughts on the Trinity - i talked about it as a faith statement rather than doctrine that is biblical - again this threw them - they know as well as i do that the trinity is not biblical (ie you won't find the words in the bible), but if you put the strands together from Genesis 1 all the way through to Revelation - I think it is as plain as the nose on my face (and i have quite a big nose). Which is why the creeds start of with the words I believe - they are faith statements - they are central to the christian belief but they are still faith statements.

It was a great time - hope to get the opportunity again at some stage...

Breaking rocks for Jesus...

2007-11-23T10:50:00.000+13:00

If I think we were to take an honest look at the Church in general many of us would say - "this isn't working, something is not right". But what do we do about it???
I have a theory about what we can do about it - I call it breaking rocks for Jesus.
Many years ago in the penal system to reform criminals they would give them a hammer and some big rocks and tell them to break them into small rocks. To an outside this looks like pointless and cruel punishment, so it was stopped - and now criminals get to do pretty much what they want in our penal systems - but when you think about it they were actualy doing soemthing constructive - they were keeping themselves physicaly fit, they were given time in the monotony of what they were doing to reflect on their crime and probably sweraing to themsleves that they would not get themseleves in this situation ever again.
I think breaking rocks for Jesus is a good image of what we should be doing, trying stuff no matter how meaningless, reflecting on what we have been doing and generaly keeping active - not rearanging the church seats but doing stuff in the community, anything that will keep us active, fit and focused on the task. When i look back at some of the ministry that God has blessed that i have been involved in it hasn't been dreamt up it has come from breaking rocks and keeping busy.
I am a rock breaker for Jesus - and proud of that fact

Christian TV

2007-11-23T09:52:00.000+13:00

Here in Nelson we are blessed/cursed with our own localy produced Christian TV program, I must admit I occasionaly watch it. Last night the host and failed mayoral candidate interviewd another TV host Lonnie Jenkins from Global Answers an end times Tv ministry. It was absolute drivel, firstly he was asked why they set up the show, his answer included the usual lack of good christian TV, a lack of sound biblical theology, and the fact that when the general public think of Christian TV they have images of TV evangelist asking for money so they can buy another Lear jet. That's fine with me but then the guy goes on to praise the TBN network and their shows saying how great they are and that they produce good Christian TV, unless I am mistaken 99% of the money hungry TV evangelists that feature are supported and shown by TBN - what is going on here. Lonnie your an idiot!
But what got me even more was this whole talk of good biblical theology and good bible teaching, by that he meant wacky interpretations of the book of Revelation, Daniel and all the rest of the Schofield flavoured stuff. I think it is time that Christian stood up and reclaimed the scriptures from these people - they have an image in their mind that flavours everything they read - but the way I see it it doesn't line up with the Bible - it isn't Biblical, and I am pretty sure that it borders on not being Christian too. For instance saying that God allowed the extermination of 6,000,000 Jews during WW2 so that the world would look with pitty upon the nation of Israel so they would be given their homeland - that just sound stupid -what does it say about God - that real estate is more important than people?
I grown when i hear anyone mention end times stuff becuase of people like this - and then we have the guy who wanted to stand for mayor (Host Gary Watson) talking about how the bible and Mayan (were this tribe even Christian) calendar point towards Jesus' return in 2012. If that's the case then why did you want to stand for mayor - you are an idiot.

why blogger.com sucks

2007-11-20T15:26:00.000+13:00

I used to be able to navigate my way around blogger.com really well, but lately it just sucks - i cannot insert pictures, i cannot spell check and the posts keep on blooming disapearing. I'd like to move any suggested cheap/free options?

I always cry at movies...

2007-11-09T14:10:00.000+13:00

a few weeks back I went to see the Movie Atonement - it is quite seriously one of the best told stories i have seen for quite some time. But also very moving - especialy for me..
Most people who have scene comment on how amazing the Dunkirk beach shots are and how they capture your emotions. For me they capture my emotions for a different reason - it was shot on the beach where I spent a lot of my childhood years. When the camera panned out to the troops singing on the band standa - I cried, not becuase of the song they were singing and the hope in their hearts as they waited for the ship to take them home, but becuase I used to play on the same spot as a child (thought it's not a band stand).
For me what captured me was the story underneath the story, I saw a different view of reality to those sitting around me in the cinema, I was captured by memory - "by the view on the other side of he tapestry" - so to speak. My emotional response was different.
For me the Book of Revelation has a simialr feel - it's a glimpse behind the story fo the day - the world as John the writer saw, a glimpse behinf the political turmoil into the world at the centre of the universe - to the throne room of God, it's a story behind the story of the day. Again it fills me with emotion, with fear and with Joy as the Lion who was slain overcomes.
I love that, I love seeing the stories behind the stories, the reality beyond what is presenting itself - seeing God at work beneath the surface

The Return Of...

2007-11-09T13:56:00.000+13:00

It has been quite a while since I last blogged, someone contacted me a few months back and said i must be feeling happier becuase i had not blogged for a while - that comment put me off and the busyness of life- but i have some space to unpack my thoughts and so blogging is back in business

Spring Camp 2007 Rego Form

2007-09-19T12:25:00.000+12:00

Click on this and you should get a bigger version to print off.

Why Al Qaeda Supports the Emergent Church?

2007-07-26T09:59:00.000+12:00

This is a really sad/hilarious piece of writting that was sent to me the other day - so I couldn't resist posting it. I don't know whether to laugh or cry or cry with laughter....
By Frank Pastore www.townhall.com http://tinyurl.com/2vrnbs
July 22, 2007
The greatest threat to world peace is radical Islam. If not for the United States, millions more would be suffering under the tyranny of sharia law all over the world. Our Muslim enemies know post-Christian Europe has already lost the will to fight. Africa, Asia, and South America seem to be already lost. Russia, China, and India would rather trade than fight...for now. And the United Nations continues to be irrelevant.Only the United States, and more specifically, only the conservative, evangelical Christians of America are who stand between radical Islam and their quest for global domination.If the world is to be saved from Muslim conquest, it will be America who does it. And if America is to be saved, only conservatism can do it. And if conservatism is to be saved, it will be those Bible-believing patriots who do it–those conservative, evangelical Christians who are the bedrock of the American way of life.Why? Because only Christianity has the intellectual and spiritual horsepower to defeat radical Islam and prevent the world from returning to the darkness of the 7th century. After all, the story of the birth and growth of Western Civilization is pretty much the story of the birth and growth of Christianity. The divide between East and West today, fundamentally, is the divide between Islam and Christianity. Christians and Muslims know this, it's the secularists who don't get it–or at least won't admit it.That's why anything that helps to further separate the West from its Biblical roots ultimately weakens the resolve of the West to fight. Anything that helps the ACLU to further de-Christianize America, to further silence the Christian voice like the current hate-crimes legislation or the fairness doctrine, and to further weaken the Church and devalue the Bible as the religious left has done for decades, are things that empower our enemies and weaken our allies.A post-Christian, post-modern, secular-socialist America will be no match for a radical Islam fueled by petro-dollars and threatening the use of nuclear weapons.But an America where the church is strong, resolute, and courageous? That's a different thing altogether.Which is why al Qaeda supports the emergent church.The emergent church is an ally in the war against radical Islam–al Qaeda's ally. Not in the sense they are supplying bullets and bombs to Osama, of course, but in the sense they are weakening our conviction to fight.If those in the emergent "we're-a-missional-not-an-institutional" church had their way, American church buildings would be just like European church buildings - empty. And the church, the people themselves, would be so intellectually, morally, emotionally, and spiritually lost, confused and uncertain, that they would be incapable of doing hardly anything more than inviting their Muslim oppressors in for a cappuccino and a good conversation about the sociology of knowledge, the absurdity of propositional truth, and the misplaced certitude of the Muslim metanarrative. All the while, no doubt, nodding in agreement that America probably deserved to die and mumbling something about carbon footprints.The term "emergent church" refers to a loose association of people who share common values and attitudes toward, well, everything. It's Christianity for postmoderns who don't like truth, knowledge, science, authority, doctrine, institutions, or religion. They claim absolute or objective truth is unknowable, that the only "truth" that can be known is rooted in communities of shared subjective experience–the infamous "it's my truth" of relativism. And if nothing is objectively true, if no text has a meaning independent of the reader, then the truth claims in the Bible are no more authoritative than the funny papers. Hence, there's no emphasis on core beliefs, essential doctrines, statements of faith or the institutions built to defend and propagate them–especially the institutional church and its Bible colleges and seminaries. Bottom line, it's feelings over thoughts, the heart over the head, experience over truth, deeds over creeds, narratives over propositions, the corporate over the individualistic, being inclusive rather than exclusive, with none of that offensive "in versus out" language, such as those who are "saved" and those who are "not saved," or even the most divisive of all referents–"Christian" and "non-Christian."The emergent church and its allies on the religious left are to Christianity what termites are to wood. They devour it from the inside out, little bit by little bit, and you don't notice it until it's too late–unless you look for the droppings.They're leaving lots of droppings if you only have eyes to see.The emergent church has rejected the "linear" and "modern" categories of true/false, good/evil, and right/wrong, and they recoil at the notion of applying these terms to Christianity or any other faith tradition–even radical Islam. To believe Christianity is true, good, and right is divisive, offensive, and well, rude and anti-conversational. It's time to call these people out from the shadows and expose them to the light of public scrutiny. Their unwillingness to distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, and good from evil leave them intellectually immobilized to resist the encroachment of false teaching and heresy, and even incapable of knowing the good guys from the bad guys in the war for the free world. The whole point of terrorism is to destroy the will of the enemy to fight.Whose side are they on, anyway?What Yogi Berra said about baseball is true of this war against radical Islam: "Half this game is 90% mental. "Yogi knew this. Osama knows this. I wonder if the "emergents" do?
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Creativity and Angst

2007-07-24T09:50:00.000+12:00

It never ceases to amaze me how the prophetic angst that can so much be part on my personality inspires creativity. At the moment I am feeling really good about so many things, which is great I am happier and more content with where God has placed me than i have been for years..... But at the same time my creative levels are at an all time low.
It's soemthing i have seen so many times in artist, musicians and the like - they sort their lives out (get of drugs, find religeon, self fulfilment) and there 'product' becomes crap - they loose a creative spark. that is how I feel at the moment, content and happy but also 'safe'. I am not praying for God to mess my life around, but I don want him to reignite the fire...

360 degree leader

2007-07-19T11:34:00.001+12:00

Just picked up a new book by John C Maxwell, If like me you have always enjoyed his thinking but find yourslef in the situation that says, "well that's great but I am not the leader," then this is for you. It's about developing influence from anywhere in the organization. In fact as I reflect on what he has written and soem personal experience I am starting to think that maybe standing at the top of an organisation is not the best place to provide influence.
I particuarly found the sections of leadership myth's helpful and encouraging:
Myth #1 The Position Myth: "I can't lead if I am not at the top."
Myth #2 The Destination Myth: "When I get to the top, then I'll learn to lead."
Myth #3 The Influence Myth: "If I were on top, then people would follow me."
Myth #4 The Inexperience Myth: "When I get to the top, I'll be in control."
Myth #5 The Freedom Myth: "When I get to the top, I'll no longer be limited."
Myth #6 The Potential Myth: "I can't reach my potential if I'm not the top leader."
Myth #7 The All-or-Nothing Myth: "If I can't get to the top, then I won't try to lead."

Spiritual Long Sightedness

2007-07-07T21:03:00.000+12:00

When I was 13 I had a year of my life where is seemed to get constant headaches, it meant it was hard to concentrate but more than that I also seemed to be looking into the distance, after many doctors visits they decided i had a problem with my eyes. Two days later I turned up at school with my new national health glasses - the prescription was odd though because I didn't need them for board work - I could see that fine but for things up close that was another story. The further away something was the easier it was to focus, things up close though seemed blurry.... While I no longer wear glasses, I have managed to cope without them I still have problems associated with it, like I don't like people standing too close, I often look as though I am staring into space. But the real irony is how that same condition haunts me to today not in terms of my eye sight but rather my 'spiritual eye' sight.

I struggle to see God at work around me, but can see him clearly working 'at a distance' or in others, and in other situations, it's like I have a pair of binoculars that I permanently look into. And it causes me to wander, to be restless, because i am always looking elsewhere....

I have a wonderful supervisor who has recognised this in me and asked to pray for me about it. So two weeks ago she prayed that the Spirit of wandering would be lifted....

As she prayed I could see an image of me sitting on a window seat (I love window seats!!!) I was looking through the glass at the world outside and it was an amazing site - very cool, behind me everything was dark because the light from outside seemed to drown out the light on the inside. As she prayed I saw someone close the curtains in front of me - which kind of sucked, but as they did I realised that behind me everything was light, there was a party going on and lots of cool things happening. All the time while I was staring out looking for something but unable to get to it because of the glass I had failed to realise everything I needed and wanted was under my nose. The physical problem of being able to focus on things close to me was also a spiritual one. I believe that God has done something in me and I feel a lot more complete, I still like staring out of windows, and I still believe I can see God at work in others, but I can also see God at work in me - close to me - around me, it is a cool feeling.

chocolate petiton online

2007-06-29T11:26:00.000+12:00

for those who would like to they can sign our chocolate petition on line at online petition

If you do decide to print of the petition then please send it to the following address:
60 Minutes
Private Bag 92624
Symonds Street,
Auckland

or you can fax it to:
09 366-5904

on August 23rd, 2007 which is UNESCO day for the remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

If you do not have clue what the petition is about then read this...

"We are doing this because the only guilt we want to feel about our chocolate consumption is that we have eaten far too much...”

tHEOBLOBY: Blood Chocolate

2007-06-27T09:13:00.000+12:00

tHEOBLOBY: Blood Chocolate

Blood Chocolate

2007-06-27T09:01:00.000+12:00

Here in our Region we are working on a petition that we want to send to the producers of 60 minutes in the hope that we can get them to investigate the source of the coco beans that are used in the manufacture of Chocolate here in NZ.
The reason we are doing this is because we want to do something that will (1) help people focus on the issue of modern slavery (2) we want people to be more ethical and thoughtful in what they consume (3) because we want to eat chocolate with a 'relatively clean' conscience knowing that it is slave free chocolate and the only guilt we feel is knowing we have eaten far too much.

If you're reading this we would love you to join us, and set up and distribute your own petition,
you can download the petition here
And if you want to read more or watch some video's as to why we might want Slave Free Chocolate then follow this link.

Hope you will join us in this, if you would like to post a link to the petition we would love you to do that too, just leave a comment to let us know.

Thanks

Evan Almighty...

2007-06-13T13:07:00.000+12:00

Just come across the web site to this new movie Evan Almighty, obviously a sequel to Bruce Almighty, but they are trying to also promote being carbon neutral, apparently the movie itself is the first one made with a zero carbon footprint, what they are also doing is encouraging people to do Random Acts of Kindness. It's the sort of thing you look at and think why isn't the Church doing this... Well it seems that behind it are quite a few Christians, the people Youth Specialties for one . From what i can gather Evan is called by God to build an ark to save people from the coming flood - sound familiar. Should be a great
Check out Ark Almighty too to see how the movie can be used in your church...

Evangelism? 3 B's and formation

2007-06-13T11:53:00.000+12:00

Just had an interesting conversation with a few colleagues about what works in evangelism. While we didn't come up with much that works we did a fair bit of discussion around the issues.
For my part I want to say that:

I think Evangelism has always got to be scene as part of the same continuum as discipleship
The churches understanding of Good News is often confused as Bad News, the idea that it is only good news because of God's judgment strikes me as stating the obvious. I think the majority of people are aware that there is something wrong - while they may not know what is they do no that they need a way out - Jesus - Good News.
Programs like Alpha work because they are about discipleship more than evangelism - in the fact that they help people who are fringe understand the faith.
Programs also work because they help the average Church person focus on others.
God is the supreme evangelist, too often we can run programs to evangelise and run them as if God does not exist. God is alive and well and at work in this world (hence my church sign, Jesus has left the building).
Too easily church people generationaly forget why the Church exists, and why we are there. We are the church of Acts and need to remind ourselves of that, We need to remember our story of why we exist and who for.

Another thing that has struck me late was how much our methods of evangelism do not reflect the current paradigm of the 3 B's (Belief, Behave and Belong). If as is suggested the old paradigm put Behave before Belief and Belong. then it stand to reason that we don't need to keep telling people the story of why we exist, why we do what we do in the church, because in taking part in it we will learn to understand it. But since we are living in an age where Belong and Belief will proceed Behave we need to look at ways in which we can help people to belong more, and to do something about this behave barrier since understanding a group is a key part of feeling as though you belong to the group. Of course in the last 15 years or so the Church has been doing that, seekers services being a prime example of making Church more comfortable - and easier place to belong too. But maybe rather than dumbing down we should be forming and shaping people more - a catechumanate type arrangement.

In terms of what we do in Church I think we need to 'educate' new people about why the Church is like it is, why we do what we do. Maybe Alpha needs a few Church culture sessions, that explain why a particular Church worships in this way.

Maybe Churches could offer programs (if we are to do programs) that unpack the mysteries of Church worship. It would have to be done with no strings attached but I suspect people are nosey about what goes on in the Church, I think that is one of the major reasons as to why the DaVinci Code was so popular, as it attempted to unpack the mystery.

A few years back I took a young adults group through a book I was reading "why bother with Church", by Simon Jones, over about 8 weeks we stripped the whole thing back to try and understand why we did, to recapture the Story - for me it was brilliant - i felt as though this was something I could more belong too and I suspect that the young people involved felt that too.

Church Signs....

2007-06-13T11:46:00.000+12:00

I have always loved church signs, and wanted to make one. The ususal approach is to put either some arrogant commnets on them, some irrelevant comments on them or soemthing that makes absolutely no sense to the average person on the street, such as the short lived sign that arose on one of our churches "we are biblical and evangelical", to which I wanted to add "and who cares".

Well thanks to the wonders of modern technology I get to make a sign - hope it makes you giggle .

To make your own click on the link

Transgender kids, the church and sexual theology

2007-06-08T09:48:00.000+12:00

Last night there was a really interesting doco on Transgender children, It told the story of three kids who all suffer from gender identity disorder. These are kids who believe they were 'born in the wrong body', and who have all gone through a process of dare I use the term being born again, into what they believe is there psychological gender. I have heard of adults who have done this and read the articles in the women's mags (purely for research...and gossip), and scene some of the scary photo's too, but never encountered it with Children. My first instinct then was to dismiss it as parents making the boy into the girl they always wanted, but to see the anguish on the faces of the parents of one six year old boy/girl and the mourning of their lost little boy, who finds themselves wanting and feeling that they are a girl certainly changed my opinion.
Though cases like this are rare they do exist and in Samoan culture they seem to be recognised in people referred to as fafafine. But what about the Church?
If ever there were families that need the love of God, a large dose of his grace and the transforming/accepting power of redemption in Christ it is these families but I suspect that if there peers reject them, then the Church would probably reject them more - I hope not. Why? because we seem to have an obsession with sex, and it's a reflection I think of our society's obsession with sex too. I would suggest that a major reason that this disorder made the doc because of society's sexual obsession, the same obsession labels people like this as outcasts and freaks.

It brings me back to Genesis, and the words of Moses, that when they had eaten of the tree of knowledge of they realised they were naked and were ashamed. I wonder if we could strip back and overcome this shame whether it would alter our understanding of sex and sexual identity, I suspect it won't happen this side of eternity, but in the mean time we need to be praying for kids like this, not that they come right, but rather that they become whole, and that people can whole heartedly accept them for who they are.

As a youth worker who works with kids who are forming and understanding who they are, I cannot be too quick to judge, but need to be able to demonstrate compassion, and stickability, that what ever strange, unsual or even normal behaviour a young person goes through they may or may not decide that is who they are, but in eternity we will be whole, we will be transformed, we will loose our obsession.