Monthly Archives: December 2006

Hamo the Centrefold…

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Today NCLS‘s Novus magazine came to our place full of stories of innovation and experimentation in church life.

Our story was in it as was Geoff’s at Banksia Grove, Gareth’s and Steve’s at Lockridge.

Danelle was particularly chuffed that her photo (the one of me at the top of this blog) was used and I was even more wrapt that the magazine staples went right thru it making me the centrefold!

Woohoo! At 42…

Small things…

It looks like a fantastic publication and there are many stories in there that are new to me, so if you would like a copy then email Ruth Powell at NCLS and let her know.

You can read the Upstream story here courtesy of NCLS

Are Blogs Toxic? II

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Following on from the first post below I found this article thru Rodney.

time.jpg

Here’s a quote:

But look at 2006 through a different lens and you’ll see another story, one that isn’t about conflict or great men. It’s a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. It’s about the cosmic compendium of knowledge Wikipedia and the million-channel people’s network YouTube and the online metropolis MySpace. It’s about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes.

It helps you understand why some get nervous. Of course elsewhere in the article you read this:

Sure, it’s a mistake to romanticize all this any more than is strictly necessary. Web 2.0 harnesses the stupidity of crowds as well as its wisdom. Some of the comments on YouTube make you weep for the future of humanity just for the spelling alone, never mind the obscenity and the naked hatred.

So there is toxicity online as in the real world.

But… there is also wisdom that will go unheard by those who only view the world thru one set of lenses, so my challenge to those who view blogs as toxic because they don’t conform is to ask ‘what are you afraid might happen?’

So far its been mostly bloggers who have responded to my previous post, but I know there are plenty out there reading (ironically) who view blogs as toxic.

So why don’t we open up the issues that concern you and get down to business?

Anyone?…

Are Blogs Toxic?

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I rarely have people say this to my face, but I seem to hear it around the place a little more often than I’d like.

It seems that in some folk’s estimation it isn‘t ok to ask questions of current church practices or to express an opinion that is non-conformist. The phrase that I seem to hear most often is ‘blogs are toxic’, as if to suggest the expression of an alternative point of view is somehow dangerous… or poisonous…

I’m happy to hear the arguments on both sides of this coin, so if you’d like to contribute then I am all ears. By having a blog its obvious where I sit – but if you are a covert critic then maybe you should swallow a few courage pills and express an opinion… (publicly where you will be held accountable)

Are blogs toxic and divisive? Or are they a way for people (who may often not be heard) to express their view?

What makes a blog toxic?

What is the problem with having a minority view?…

What are you worried might happen?…

FWIW I believe blogs are one of the most open, vulnerable and transparent forms of communication available today. If you don’t like what is said then you are welcome to comment and influence the conversation. The blogger allows for comments and disagreement and sometimes needs to adjust their own position in light of comment.

Seems pretty fair to me…

Its Out Now!

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Alan Hirsch’s new book The Forgotten Ways is out now (and its $19.95 from Koorong download code conspiracy the dvd download grudge 2 the in Oz – not $49.95)

If you want to stay in touch with some of the best thinking in the world on mission and movements then you must read this book. I count Alan as a close mate on the road and one of the best thinkers and articulators of missional concepts I have come across.

Well done mate!

Excrement

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Well – life is back to usual here on the blog.

It seems that the database file was badly corrupted, hence the weird look and inability to comment. Justin has fixed it but unfortunately all comments are lost. Its a bit of a bummer but maybe a reminder that there are many bigger things in life than a blog.

I don’t know about you, but I rarely read back over comments. Its a shame those who join a conversation late don’t get to see what others have said, but… that’s life sometimes!

Excrement occurs.

Smashing Machine

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Did anyone else stay up and watch the SBS doco entitled Smashing Machine, about the Ultimate fighting guys?

It was on last night and was quite a depiction of the lives of those involved in the sport. The bit that struck me most was how little these guys get paid.

The world championship bout in Japan netted the winner only $200000.00! If he were a boxer he’d be getting 50 million, but somehow these guys beat the crap out of each other for what I reckon is a pittance!!

I dunno Rev… Might stick to surfing…

Those Old Mishos!

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I have just spent the last two days in Moore River hanging out with Danelle and the kids and doing some reading. (Moore River is a tiny beachside town of 80 people where Danelle’s folks have just built a their retirement home)

Danelle’s mum Val has a stash of books about missionaries of all sorts, but the one I picked up yesterday grabbed me because it was a little unusual. It was entitled Reluctant Missionary and was written by Edith Buxton, the daughter of the much better known CT Studd who was an English cricketer (not that you want to admit to that!) and early pioneer missionary to the Belgian Congo and later Ethiopia.

It was her story of how she reluctantly followed the call of God to Africa, struggled most of the way and for much of the time resented what God had called her to. While she shared some of the victories they experienced she was also very honest (especially for her era) with regard to the difficulties of being pioneers in a tough land.

Her father, while something of a hero, also sounded like quite a difficult man to get on with and missionaries were regulalry shooting off to join other mission societies because he was so hardline.

She made some incredible sacrifices to do what she did and her story is inspiring in its raw honesty. If you get a chance then you should dig it up somewhere and have a read!

The Difference

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What is the difference for you between people you connect with and want to be around and those who you ‘can take or leave’ when it comes to hanging out and spending time.

I have noticed time and time again that for me the people I enjoy being around are not always the ones I have the most in common with, but they are the one’s who genuinely inquire into my world and my life – who want to know what’s going on. In a sense its because they make me feel valued and significant.

Because much of my ‘work’ involves enquiring into other’s lives I do it quite automatically now, but it has also enhanced me noticing when it is not reciprocated.

I grow very tired very quickly when I find myself in a conversation where I am doing all the asking and all the listening. I find myself in screensaver mode very quickly and looking for escape routes.

I believe its a basic skill of friendship (if friendship has ‘skills’) to be interested in another person’s life and to listen well. I imagine if we each genuinely inquired more of the people we live around we would have much better relationships because we would show our valuing of each other.

Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it.

Try noticing how many people do it and how many just vomit their information on you!

How about you – what makes a difference for you?

Forge WA Sponsors Internships for Mission Among Backpackers

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On January 24th we will be hosting a gathering

to discuss how we may engage in mission among the backpacker community. These are a group of people who are often on a spiritual journey as well as a physical one and it would be great to connect with them and share the good news of Jesus in some way.

If that kind of mission opportunity lights your fire then read on!

Given the touristy nature of our city and the opportunities that exist to get involved with travellers, we at Forge would like to sponsor up to 2 people to get involved in this significant area of ministry.

This group are largely 18-35’s and in many ways are an ‘un-reached people group’. If you reckon you’d like to take a year to learn how to be a missionary to the backpacking community then we’d love to hear from you.

As part of commitment to incarnational mission we are wiling to allow up to 2 people who wish to focus on the backpacking community to complete the Forge internship at our expense. We will give you access to all the Forge intensives, personal coaching and development in mission as part of your internship. We will support you and help you think thru what may be appropriate ways to connect with backpackers.

You would be responsible for taking the initiative and making the connections.

We are keen to make sure these sponsorships go to the right people, so if you are inspired by this kind of mission then either drop me an email or leave a comment and we can talk some more.

If you live overseas and would like to spend a year in Perth in this kind of mission then we are happy to explore that too. We can help you connect with a local Christian community that will see this as valuable mission and who will support you in the journey.

While no financial commitment is involved there would be a significant investment of time to do this properly. We will be speaking with people over the January holiday period and will run the seminar on Jan 24th as an introduction to the possibilities.

We are excited about the potential of supporting people in this vital area of mission!

So… don’t be shy.