lovemarks quote 1

The book is mine (see next blog) and already I'm fired up, I'm inspired, and I'm ready to explode.
I agree wholeheartedly, and even more than that with Kurt Vonnegut when he says ... "I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center." (p19)
Kevin Roberts says ... "I believe 'edge cultures' will have even higher value in this millenium. Great ideas can come from anywhere, but most of them turn up on the edge. The places that are restless and resourceful. The place that don't understand 'can't be done.'" (p.18)
I wrote this only yesterday when emailing a friend ... "Somehow I think it is both/and not either/or. I think the traditional forms of church done well and can provide the resources and support to spin off innovative groups that will push the boundaries. The new groups need to be given free reign along with resources if that is to happen. A lot of it comes down to whether people/churches are willing to resource things that might not work and to keep their hands off it as it experiments."
This is reinforced by one more quote ... "When species change, it almost always occurs first at the fringes. Here the population is most sparse and the orthodoxies of the centre are weakest. Here you can flourish isolated from formula and rules, free from the corrosive belief that everything great has already been done." (p.19)

lovemarks

The following quote is from an interview of Kevin Roberts about his book "Lovemarks" which I'm going out to buy this afternoon.
"So what are you seeing? You're seeing people hungry for relationships, hungry for intimacy. They've lost trust in all our institutions. Does anybody trust the Church anymore? You gotta be kidding me, right? Does anybody trust government? You sure as hell don't trust the company you work for, right? Because that's going to be Enron, or they're going to lay you off anyway next week and outsource you, etc., etc. So there's no trust. You can't trust the family unit because you probably haven't seen your father. People are looking for relationships, they're looking for intimacy, they're looking for bonding. They're not interested in transactions.
They're frightened s**tless by the fact that we're at war, by terrorism and brutality, and who knows what's going to happen next. They are looking for a relationship, whether that's with an author, an idea, a brand, a product. If you don't give them that, you're certainly never going to be able to charge a premium. You've got to remember, brands are only invented to charge a premium. That was the purpose of a brand; it didn't have any other. "Recognize me, desire me, have faith in me, trust me, pay more for me."

You would think he's talking about something important, but he's only talking about business transactions. Come on followers of Jesus, we need to think about this stuff and how it impacts on the truly important issues in life.

conspiracy of kindness

"Conspiracy of Kindness" by Steve Sjogren is a book that will get under your skin. It is a challenge to do acts of love for people simply because God loves them more than we ever can.
"An outbreak of kindness is about the only thing that can make the gospel credible in a world that thinks it has already heard it. Let's show the world, frozen with fear and resentment, what First Corinthians 13 love can accomplish. Real kindness is a supernatural reality of the cross and the resurrection. It breaks the grip of evil wherever it goes."
I've given away about 20 copies of this book and am planning to buy more to give away. This book has the potential to help us get up and truly love others.

how unequal is our world?

While you read this page, around 400 babies will take their first breaths. And every proud parent will wish the same thing for them – that they get a decent chance at being healthy and happy. But where these babies are born will dramatically affect how their lives will unfold.
The chances of today’s newborns surviving the birth or even childhood will vary widely. In fact, 90 percent of children due to be born today in Ethiopia will not be delivered by anyone with any medical training.
If they are born in one of ten countries including Australia, they can expect to live for more than eighty years. If they are born elsewhere, their life may be as short as only 34 years. Over ten million children every year – a staggering 30,000 children a day – will die of causes that are either preventable or can be easily cured.
The chances of the new arrivals being born into a family who can adequately provide for them will be slim for most, whilst others will have more wealth than they need. Two thirds will be born to parents who have less than A$3 a day to live on.But those born to parents with the income of an average Australian family, will be in the richest 6 percent of the world.
To find out more go to the link and read on.

books that change your life

I'm wondering what books have been most powerful in my life? What about yours? This is something I will ponder and get back to you about.
Oh well here is one to start off with. Newsell by Dr Michael Hewitt-Glesson. It totally changed my view in regard to sales. Check out his website for a his School of Thinking which is free. (You can register at the home page.)
Some of his thinking is pretty scary at times, but what's the point of only reading what you agree with, might as well just get out a video and blob on the couch.

learn to dance the soul salsa

The introduction of "Soul Salsa" by Leonard Sweet begins like this ...
"Faith in God is dangerous thinking. Even more, faith in God is dangerous living."
The challenge for me is whether or not my faith journey is in any way 'dangerous living?'
Leonard continues ...
"This book enrolls you in a lifestyle seminary where you can get a life degree in artful, soulful living. Soulsalsa hopes to make you an artist in being."
Cool! Get the book and begin to dance the salsa of life.

truth

"If God held all truth in the right hand, and in the left hand held the lifelong pursuit of it, God would choose the left hand." - Soren Kierkegaard

e.p.i.c.

Leonard Sweet one of my favourite author suggests that if we who follow Jesus want to help people connect into the journey of walking with Jesus then we need to do things that are E.P.I.C. That is does it allow someone to EXPERIENCE something, PARTICIPATE in, communicate via IMAGES, and CONNECT people into community?
Frankly we in the church are pretty hopeless at this. We have the greatest product the world has ever known and yet we market it as though it were trash. Now that is something worth getting upset about.

poverty

I read this interesting quote this morning.
"It should have become clear that the right response to the good news is not merely about giving money to the poor. The theology of wealth is about true discipleship - one that embraces the poor like Jesus. It is about identifying with those in humber circumstances by giving up one's own priviledges, power and status."
As I read the article I realised that though I give to the poor, what I give is the easy part, money. It's so so much hard to 'identify' to 'give up one's own priviledges'.
As part of the white middle class it is really easy to help from a distance because getting involved is time consuming, is costly, is painful.
The quote is from an article in Grid (see http://www.worldvision.com.au/getinvolved/churchpartnerships/).

should I cry or should I dance

A few weeks ago I was privileged to meet one of those people that you know right away is gifted and Godly ... (Click on the link for more of the article.)

psalm 2

To read Psalm 2 click on the link

Prayer: "Lord why do we keep on trying to go our own way? Help me today to walk hand in hand with you."

the challenge

One of the most challenging statements I've ever heard is found in the words "And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that." (Luke 6:33)
Oh how easy it is to be kind and generous and patient and kind to those whom I like and love. But to be kind to the person who continues to treat me rudely. To give to the person who receives without appreciation. To listen with compassion to the person who never listens to me. These things are hard, but it is precisely these things that show that God is truly alive in me.
I have found that when I do act in this way, not as often as I would like, that it is because I have been aware of the fact that "God loved me while I was still an enemy of God", that is God's love for me begins with his grace, and so my love for others must do the same.
This living of faith is so much harder than being orthodox, but it is the journey Jesus calls us to walk when he said "take up your cross and follow me".
Often I yearn for an easier path, but I'm glad God continually provokes me to walk the narrow path that leads to him.
Prayer: "God it is really hard to love people who do not love me. Grant me your strength to show love despite my feelings, to be your hands and your feet to those who need it most, those unable to reciprocate and therefore of most need of your touch of grace."

am I a closest sexist?

I went to a presentation last week and was surprised when a young women (around 25 or so) got up to lead the presentation. For some bizarre reason I was expecting an older male. My reaction really surprised me. It made me realise how much I have to learn.
"Lord forgive me for viewing people through the lens of male superiority."

my second confession of the week

Okay here's another confession. I'm a control freak. But the redeeming fact is that I'm slowly discovering the bizarre truth that the more control you exercise the less you actually have.
One of the reasons the economies of the West have done better than the controlling economies of communism is that control has been released. (Yes that's simplistic.)
At the moment I'm involved in a very uncontrolled discussion about faith issues called the 'post alpha discussion group', and I'm discovering (slowly) that when you release people to explore issues then you don't have to be so concerned about controlling the outcome.
The secret I think is to make less dogmatic statements and ask more exploring questions.
I'm still learning but this is my prayer.
"Lord help me become a master question asker."

a quote

"Yesterday a drop of semen… tomorrow a handful of ashes." Marcus Aurelius

moral obligation

Lately I keep on hearing the term 'moral obligation'. For example "James Hardie has a moral obligation to pay asbestos victims."
My question is this. What is the basis for talking about a moral obligation?
Does it mean 'the majority'? In that case moral obligation changes depending on the feeling and knowledge of the electorate.
Does it mean 'feeling'? That is I feel they have an obligation.
Or is it based on something more substantial?
One of the reasons I am a follower of Jesus is precisely because I then have a rationale for life decisions. Respect others because God created them and loves them, not because I have a 'moral obligation'.
Francis Schaeffer once said something like this. (I paraphase in my words.) "All we need to do is to push people to the logical conclusion of their belief system and they will discover either despair or embark on a seeking journey towards God."

a quesy feeling

Check out this illusion. Is it moving?

an interview with Ravi

My favourite communicator is the apologist Ravi Zacharius. An interview with him can be found by going to the link. He shakes me from my lazy thinking so that I begin to really think. Boy does that hurt!
His website is http://www.rzim.org/
My second favourite communicator is Barry, he can be found at http://www.crossroadschurch.com/media/

psalm 1

Go to link to read Psalm 1

One of my favourite Psalms is Psalm 1. Why not spend some time in quiet reflection and contemplate how God might be wanting to communicate with you today through this marvelous Psalm.
Lord, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (Ps 119:18)

self-reflection

David, in Psalms, prays "Lord search me and see if there be any wicked way in me". Self-reflection is a key to growth so I thought this would be a good starting point. [From Aish.com] This Jewish approach examines where our sins may lurk.....add to it the wonder of the cross and one has a powerful combination.
"A prime feature of the Yom Kippur service is recitation of the 44 mistakes known as "Al Chet." That's a long list. What does it all really mean?"
(Stolen from www.philbaker.net)

answered?

I've got back into the habit of writing down all my prayers and keeping a record of how they are answered. Funnily enough I'm rediscovering the fact that God answers my prayers in inconvenient ways.
Usually when I ask God to use me he doesn't send the nice people of this world into my life, mostly they are the irritating and socially inept ones. I guess God knows that my greatest need is to learn to love more unconditionally. That I guess is the core of being a true follower of Jesus.

imagine

I have a confession to make. Every few years I buy a lotto ticket and dream of winning the big one. I buy the ticket and then usually that night I write a plan about what I would do if I won the 19 (or whatever it is) million dollar prize. The plan normally involves who I would seek advice from and how I would go about investing and distributing the funds.
The funny thing is that I don't think winning the big dollars would necessarily make me happier or change my mind about what I love to do with my life. Sure it would open some opportunities but would it necessarily mean I'd be a better person, love people more, be kinder, be more joyful?
What would you do if you won the big prize?
Guess what, the biggest prize is actually available for free, by grace, for those who seek God and willing to acknowledge their inability to be good enough to make it in their own strength.
In the end I'm glad I haven't won the big prize, but I guess in another year or so I'll pay my $5 and try again.

new beginnings

One thing I love about life is that every day is a new beginning. This is particularly true for the person who walks with Jesus.
I love the idea found in the bible that there is only one thing God forgets - he forgets the sins we have repented of.
Someone put it this way. God takes our sin and throws it into the deepest ocean and then puts up a sign that says "NO FISHING!". Now that is cool.

under the water

Today I'm going to do some meditation - the kind of meditation that can only be done under the water. I'm a scuba diver and so shall enjoy the quietness from the city that can be found 10 metres under the sea. Life is tough sometimes, but I guess someone has to say hi to the fish.

spiritual bi-polar

Here's a confession, I wonder if anyone can relate. I sometimes feel I have a problem I call spiritual bi-polar. I seem to have highs of absolute certainty of faith followed often rapidly by lows of uncertainty. The highs are great but the lows are a real challenge.
I guess from a biblical perspective that's not an unusual thing. But so often speakers in church make it sound as if its all about the highs - I'm not so sure about that.
I once remember hearing someone say that we should never make major life decisions when we are either on a high or a low. I think that's pretty good advice. I can't wait to experience a day in the middle. Bless ya and have an interesting day. :)

your image

The images we use to describe or talk about the faith experience have a huge effect on how we live and how communicate it with others.
Do we think and communicate in terms of a line we must cross? That is the idea we are on one cliff, and we need to go over the cross of Christ to the other cliff. (Known to some as the four spiritual laws.) In some ways this is a useful idea, but it falls down when we seek to enter true dialogue with others as we tend to insist they get all the facts right so they can cross the line from unfaith to faith. We can easily become the theological immigration officer checking peoples passport to make sure they have all the correct visas to enter.
I submit a more useful image is the combination of two images. The circle and the compass.
I think the circle represents the biblical concept that there is a time we enter into the circle of relationship with Jesus, that is there are some truth boundaries, such as the answer to Jesus question, "who do you say I am?"
The compass respresents the direction of our lives, is it pointed towards Jesus?
Imagine this image. A circle with dots inside and outside the circle representing where various people are in their journey. Each dot has an arrow representing there focus.
In this image it is possible to be in the circle but pointing outward, or be on the outside of the circle pointing inward, or in the circle pointing inward, or outside the circle pointing outward. or other variations.
The dot that is inside the circle pointing outward represents a person who has committed to the truths but is now walking away from journeying with Christ. The dot outside the circle pointing in, is the person who is considering the claims of Jesus and giving them serious consideration.
Where are you? What does this mean? What is the next step for you?

a grammatical apology

This is my general apology for the sometimes shocking grammar I display in my blogs. The fact is I can never work out where comma's or apotrophies go! Please excuse me and don't hesitate to correct as it is appreciated and will be followed up. Bless ya.

expectation

I'm discovering more and more that the problem with consumerism is the expectation of getting happy. Let me unpack that a little.
It seems to me that when something good happens that I don't expect I experience joy more than when I get something I was expecting. Somehow my expectation deminishes the joy I end up experiencing. So the more expectations I have, the less I enjoy anything.
Now the killer is this. If I have an expectation that is not met then I'm really crushed. But I'm not affected when I don't get what I don't expect.
Think about this in terms of relationships. When someone does something for me that I wasn't expecting I get a real buzz. But when they do something I expected from them then I'm just as likely to wonder why they didn't do it better, sooner or greater.
Well my head hurts from too much deep thinking. But what did you expect!

reimagining

Reimagining Spiritual Formation: A Week in the Life of an Experimental ChurchDoug Pagitt, Zondervan 2004
"To say that we are a missional community is to say that we are not the end-users of the gospel, our belief in God and our living in the way of Jesus are not for our benefit alone. Rather we receive these so that we may be equipped and sent into the world to love our neighbours and serve 'the least of these'. In this sense, Solomon's Porch doesn't have a mission - it is missional."
For more of this article go to the link.

my manifesto

Have you worked out why you are here? Here's my personal mission and a list of my six core principles, use them as a springboard for developing your own unique core principles.
I seek to honour God by developing passionate, vibrant and holy disciples, cells and churches. To do this by practicing and helping those I have the priviledge of sharing life with to practice the principles of ...
1) ENGAGING: to engage deeply, lovingly and significantly with God and with others, particularly those who have yet to discover the journey of faith. (Matthew 22:37-39)
2) EXPLAINING: to be ready to give the reason for the hope that I have to anyone who asks. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
3) ENCOURAGING: to encourage others in every way I can. (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
4) EQUIPPING: to help other develop the skills they need to achieve their life purpose to glorify God. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
5) EMPOWERING: to release others to do great things for Jesus. (Luke 10:1-17)
6) ENLARGING: to create room that others can join in the journey of faith (Isaiah 54:2-3)

don't look back

"Don't look back" by Phillipa Tyndale is the story of David Bussau who abandoned as a child became a champion of the poor.
This man, whom I'm priviledged to know, is a man who has been used by God to impact millions of the world's poor. If you have a concern for the poor, or a desire to do something significant with your life, then this book is a great read.
I found my copy at Dymocks, but its available in lots of book stores. I believe its about $18 at Big W while about $30 at Dymocks.

perfect world

I reckon it must be depressing when you think politics will bring about a world worth living in. When will we get it through our think heads that perfect politics will never get us a perfect world because its made up of us imperfect people. (The bible calls that being a sinner.) But so often we expect politics to solve the problems of the world.
When will we realise that even if the whole budget were given to health, we would still have health problems and waiting lists. When will we realise that if we gave our whole budget to education, we would still have gaps in the education system.
Jesus said it in these words, "you will always have the poor among you". Not meaning we are uninvolved or unconcerned, but instead challenging us to get our thinking right.
The answer of Jesus is that though we can have glimpses of the kingdom of God now, it will not happen in its fullness until he returns.

mother to many

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours,no hands but yours,no feet but yours,Yours are the eyes through which He 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."
~Mother Teresa

photo of jesus

What does Jesus look like? Check the link to see some interpretations. I think laughing liberator is my favourite.

biker

I reckon there are alot of people out their doing tough ministry and towards the top of that lot must be the God Squad. Check out the link to find out more about this bikie ministry where the message of the love of God is taken into the heart of the bikie culture.

shit

A famous Tony Campolo line goes like this ... "Thirty thousand children will die today because of preventable diseases and hunger, and you don't give a shit. You know what's worse? You are more concerned that I said shit than about the 30,000 children who will die!"
Now that makes me think about where my priorities are. More information is available at the link for "Urban Neighbours of Hope".

orgasmic pleasure

I was a conference last week put on by Forge. We were discussing the theme of being a community of God's people in the 21st century. One of the guys used the term 'orgasmic pleasure' to describe what the people of God should be for the communities in which they live. That's not a term I normally associate with church but I sense it really should be. The followers of Jesus are called to be the 'salt and the light' in a dark world. In the language of the 21st century consumerist society, Jesus just might have said ... "you are to be the orgasmic pleasure of the world", the one's who show the world what it really means to live life, and live it to the full.

safeeyes

For anyone out there who has travelled to or been tempted to travel to the darker side of the net then the internet filter found at safeeyes.com is essential. If an alcoholic shouldn't keep a beer in the fridge, then a porn junkie needs an internet filter. Also really valueable for keeping your kids safe from the excesses of the net.

answered prayer

I keep on asking God for a sign and he keeps on speaking quietly into my soul. This aspect of God I find disturbing but ultimately it refreshes me in ways I don't understand.

grace

I haven't been in the greatest space with God in recent days and its made me contemplate what the nature of grace is. Here's my attempt at a definition. Let me know what you think about grace. Grace is ... when I deserve nothing, but receive something.
In my relationship with God this means that though I don't deserve his mercy he has freely given it to me in Jesus. For me that is an awesome and life changing truth.
In my relationships with others it means that I need to treat others not as they deserve, but in the same way God has treated me, with mercy and compassion. Now that is tough.
"Lord help me my heart to grasp what your grace to me is so that I might treat others with grace."

random act of kindness

Pizza boy given $820 tip 02.08.2004By JULIET ROWAN
An Auckland pizza deliverer is thanking God for a very big tip.
Hong Fei Li, a part-time worker at Pizza Hut, delivered two pizzas to a Mt Eden church last night. Thanks to a generous congregation, he walked away with more than $800.
Mr Li, a pizza delivery worker for only two months, had no idea he was going to the Christian Life Centre.
Nor did he know that the presiding pastor had asked the congregation to dig deep to make the pizza delivery boy's night.
Associate pastor Phil Camden placed the order during evening service.
He ordered the pizzas and some garlic bread for the three sons of the head pastor, who is away overseas.
He made the call with the phone on "speaker" function so the congregation could hear, telling them, "Let's give the guy the biggest tip he's ever had".
While the pizzas baked, he passed the collection bags round the church.
The 900 members of the congregation handed over everything from 10c and 20c pieces to $10 notes.
The collection was still going on when Mr Li, a hospitality student at the New Zealand Management Academy, arrived at the church.
The 21-year-old was invited in and directed to the pastor's sons.
He gave them the food and was asked to wait a few minutes.
Despite the large number of people in the room, he still did not know where he was.
"I thought it was a meeting," he said.
A short time later, he was handed two heavy bags full of money.
Mr Li couldn't believe his luck.
"I think God gave me the money," he said from his home on the North Shore last night.
He still had not had time to count his blessings, believing the bags probably contained about $500 to $600.
But congregation member Terry Koumakis said the tip was $820.
He said Pastor Camden had concocted the idea as a "random act of kindness".
He had told the congregation that pizza workers were often robbed so it would be nice to do something for one of them.
Mr Li, who came to New Zealand from China three years ago, said he was very grateful for the money.
As a student he could do with the cash, he said. "I'm very lucky."
The windfall had made him believe in God. If he had time, he said he might even go to church.

a joke stolen from phil baker

A new mother went to the psychiatrist worried. "Doctor," she said, "Since I had the baby I can't sleep at night. When I'm in the next room, I have this dreadful fear that I won't hear the baby if he falls out of the crib at night. What should I do?" "Easy," said the doctor. "Just take the carpet off the floor."

stolen from phil baker

Prov 30 v19 roughly says..."Three things are to wonderful for me...no four. The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea and the way of a man with a maid...."
What the first three have in common is that they leave no tracks. The following verse extends this to adultery, [she wipes her lips and says I have done no wrong]
Like Oscar Wilde's Dorian Grey often how we live morally is not visible on the inside yet leaves indelible marks on the inside. The eagle, ship, snake all have gone somewhere you just cannot see how they got there.
[ I am not sure what I am saying but it is deep people, deep!]

somedays

Somedays I wake up and just can't wait to see what the day will bring. Somedays, like this morning, I wonder about the meaning of it all. But as the saying goes, "Every day you wake up is a good day!"
In the end I guess it doesn't matter how you feel as you wake, but what you choose to make the day to be. Will it be a day of selfish indulgence like self pity, or will it be of making it a better place to live by smiling and joyfully serving each person you meet today?
I wonder what kind of day it will be for me today? I guess in the end the choice is mine, and mine alone.