Reforming communities

a Jesus thought...
Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard; that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Luke 7:22-23)

a Godly thought...
Church is the result of mission, not the aim of mission. (p149 Barker)

a leading thought...
Once he saw where the Father was working, Jesus immediately knew the agenda for his ministry. Likewise, he trained his disciples to watch for God's activity rather than to set their own agendas. (p28 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
It is interesting that we aim to plant churches more than we aim to reform communities. If our aim is to plant churches we will invest in the most afluent suburbs as that is where Churches flourish, but if our aim is to reform communities we will invest in poor neighbourhoods as light has the most effect in the darkest places. So let us make sure our aim is to reform communities and hopefully new churches will be the result of these pursuits.

Just a thought.

Father Abraham or Father Damien?

a Jesus thought...
Out of the abundance of the heart your mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

a Godly thought...
The mainstream church can make following Jesus boring and irrelevant, sidelining itself to the entertainment industry rather than creating profound social change. (p133 Barker)

a leading thought...
Jesus did not develop a plan nor did he cast a vision. He sought his Father's will. Jesus had a vision for himself and for his disciples, but the vision came from his Father. (p24 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
In the late 19th Century, Father Damien, a Belgian priest from the Order of the Sacred Heart, sensed a call to go to the poor. He ended up living and serving among the sick on an isolated Hawaiian leper colony. At first Father D would visit the colony, which was blocked off from the rest of society by a huge cliff face. He would arrive by boat, go from house to house providing medicines and then go back to the broader society. This was a huge risk, as the Hawaiians thought the disease of leprosy was so contagious and dangerous it might wipe out their society altogether.

Yet Father D did not stop at service provision. He eventually set up his home in the leper colony and ate with them. He too was banned from wider society. One day in the chapel he helped build, he began to preach, "We lepers." Not long after this he caught leprosy himself. Rather than go back to Europe where he could have had access to a cure, he stayed, because "None of the other lepers had that choice." Father D ended up dying on that isolated island, far from his native Belgium, of a leprosy-related disease.

Now that is what I call incarnational living! I grew up in church singing the song "Father Abraham" just curious if we need to introduce the new hit "Father Damien."

Just a thought.

Food

Todays thoughts are being blogged from Horsham (3.5 hours north-west of Melbourne) where I ministering with Box Hill Citadel Band for the weekend...


a Jesus thought...
It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:31)

a Godly thought...
Jesus entrusted this apostolic community "to proclaim the message". This was not a therapy group but a community tackling the status quo with a message that could cost its members their lives. (p131 Barker)

a leading thought...
The spiritual leader's task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be. (p20 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
Food got Jesus into trouble more than anything else, not so much what he ate or when he ate it, but rather who he ate with. Last night I got to eat with some strangers in Horsham and really enjoyed it, but I didn't get in trouble for it.
We all have 3 opportunites a day to get into trouble by eating with the wrong crowd, make the most of it!

Just a thought.

Allowances

a Jesus thought...
I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent. (Luke 4:43)

a Godly thought...
Jesus did not come simply to proclaim a message. He built a community that could sustain his discipleship movement as a message. Jesus called people to leave family and friends to join a new set of family and friends and demonstrated that it takes a community to reach a community. (p128 Barker)

a leading thought...
Leaders who make no difference in their followers lives are not actually leaders. (p18 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
It has taken me a while to realise some of the great ways the salvos are set up. Like allowances, I believe it is a brilliant idea that we all get the same allowance regardless of our position or title. To understand that a lieutenant looking after a small ministry is receiving the same allowance as the commissioner who has this huge responsibility does not make any worldly sense, but when you understand the way Jesus sets things up it makes perfect sense.

Just a thought.

Apostles

I am starting a new leadership book today - Spiritual Leadership by Henry & Richard Blackaby. I read it a few years ago, but as it was significant influence on my life back then I thought it was worth a revisit.

a Jesus thought...
Jesus was baptised too, and as he was praying heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. (Luke 3:21-22)

a Godly thought...
Disciples of Jesus, seeking their neighbourhoods to be transformed, need continued identity clarification, inspiration and support if they are to be true to God's reign. This is the primary role of the church. (p124 Barker)

a leading thought...
While many theological seminaries are enjoying healthy enrollments, denominational leaders are bemoaning the fact that their schools are graduating so few leaders. Although the leadership shortage is universally acknowledged, there is little consensus on how to discover and develop leaders. Seminary professors are bewildered that so few successful leaders are emerging from their graduating classes. (p9 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
I am a real believer in Ephesians 4 - APEPT and believe that all believers are strong in at least one of these areas, but it does not say in scripture we are all to be leaders. Most bible colleges attract some evangelists but mainly pastors and teachers. Most apostles and prophets are not attracted to this sit down and listen style of learning. But when we need rebirthing and growth that is when the apostles and prophets need to be encouraged and empowered.

When the salvos began we had hundreds of apostles and prophets being released quickly into ministry and that is how we spread so quickly around the world.

So at this time of decline of Christendom in the western world we again need the apostles & prophets to stand up. All five offices are equally important to build the body but now is the time for us to identify, train and empower apostles and prophets.

Just a thought.

Commuter or Community?

a Jesus thought...
They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were astonished at His understanding and answers. (Luke 2:46-47)

a Godly thought...
"Every ten minutes of commuting reduces social capital by 10 per cent." (Sociologist Robert Putman) The re-discovery of neighbourhood is the essential application to discovering a common place. It is really the only option. Why? Because it's the only way we can attain the characteristics that produce authentic community, such as spontaneity, availability and frequency. (Randy Freeze)

a leading thought...
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. (Samuel Johnson)

a Dave thought...
It has been said that the average Australian will drive up to 40 minutes to attend a church that meets their needs. This move from community churches in the 60's - 70's to todays commuter churches has changed our attractional church facilities. Instead of worrying about seating capacity as we used to, many of churches are now half full but our carparks are overflowing. So as the number of churches decrease in our culture the carparks increase and community is no longer benefiting from the presence of the real church - us. As we drive in for our 1 hour community church experience I sometimes wonder if my local community will ever experience God without his people present?

So my suggestion is that we no longer build car parks attached to our churches, because if we can't walk to it, it is probably not where God would prefer us to meet.

Just a thought.

Obsessions

a Jesus thought...
And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:33)

a Godly thought...
Emptying ourselves, rather than being full of our own ideas, words, plans and selves, is a tough ask for most non-poor. If we are to be true neighbours however, we have to let go of our own power and empower others, becoming servants to the poor, not their new masters. (p98 Barker)

a leading thought...
A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others, but someone who carries water for his people so they can get on with their jobs. (Robert Townsend)

a Dave thought...
I have a dream, but it is really pretty selfish. Back in November 2003 I competed in a half ironman event along with 900 other nutters. This event involves a 1.9km swim, 90.1km bike, and 21.1km run. It took me 6 hours and 40 minutes. The cut off time is 7 hours so this is the bottom 10% of times so I am no athlete but I am pretty fit and determined. So this year I am nearly 100 days out from my next pursuit on November 11 Port Macquarie half ironman my dream is to complete it in sub 6 hours.

But what I struggle with is all my hobbies become obsessions, eg golf, the football, and now my once go for a little jog around the block routine. Surely this is not great to turn hobbies into obsessions? Or is it when they start getting in the way of following Jesus that they become more than a hobby?

Just wondering what Jesus did in his spare time? I'm sure whatever he did he would have done pretty well, but maybe not obsessive?

Just a thought.

Relocating

a Jesus thought...
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. (Mark 16:20)

a Godly thought...
Becoming true neighbours is about relocating our home to where most people and especially those in need live. This is the most glorious life a human can live. With all the risks and inconveniences associated with such love, humans can touch the divine desire and be made alive. (p91 Barker)

a leading thought...
Leaders are pioneers. They are people who venture into unexplored territory. They guide us to new and often unfamiliar destinations. People who take the lead are foot soldiers in the campaigns for change. The unique reason for having leaders is to move us forward. Leaders get us going someplace. (Kouzes & Posner)

a Dave thought...
I am often accused of having favourites. When people make that comment I take it that I treat a few more preferable rather than all, I spend more time with a few rather than all, and I invest more time into a few rather than all. Well yeah then I am guilty as accused, but didn't JC himself have favourites?
Jesus had his 12 disciples who he invested into on a regular basis and then his 3 favourites, Peter, James & John who he spent the most time with. I often wonder if this was the best use of his time, but somehow it worked as there are still Jesus followers today! So if anyone accuses you of having favourites just take it as a compliment - you're living like Jesus did.

Just a thought.

Be present

a Jesus thought...
Truly this man was the son of God! (Mark 15:39)

a Godly thought...
Professional services are essential, especially in the human services field. Yet, they are inadequate of themselves. We need to be present, to respond to our neighbours as people, and help them with the immense task of reconstructing a once ideal, now shattered existence, with Christ's help. (Jon Owen)

a leading thought...
Greatness is largely due to bravery - courage in escaping from old ideas and old standards and respectable ways of doing things. (James Harvey Robinson)

a Dave thought...
Do you use the word Christian or disciple? I know they are just words but when we say we are a Christian it sounds like we have made it and have arrived at our final destination. I prefer the word disciple because I want to continue the journey and get to know God and his thoughts more everyday. We must encourage people to continue the search for God rather than arrive at a destination. Discipleship is a journey not an event, so lets continue to travel together.

Just a thought.

Did Jesus blog?

a Jesus thought...
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38)

a Godly thought...
By taking a stand along the marginalised, the kingdom of God radically challenges the values that the powerful have used thus far to exclude the poor. (Jayakumar Christian)

a leading thought...
A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives. (Jackie Robinson)

a Dave thought...
Since joining the blogosphere, it has been fascinating the amount of conversations I have had about why I started to blog. I have explained numerous times that I am not trying to take over the cyber world (I will leave that to Stephen Court) but rather just sharing what I am reading and praying about on a daily basis. I am more and more realising that the faith journey needs to be taken with others, I am not sure who invented the daily personal devotion, but sometimes I think God would rather me doing my devos - praying, reading and sharing with others than just by myself every morning.
Jesus used to sit around in the temple courts with scholars and learned people sharing their thoughts and sometimes debating in small groups, that is how they learnt through conversation. So somehow I don't think the concept is really different to 2000 years ago but now we just do it on line rather than face to face. Sad in a way but at least we are having the conversations.

PS The only other option is to meet at my house at 6am every morning, but it will be real bummer for the NY bloggers!

Just a thought.

Be innovative

a Jesus thought...
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Mark 13:31)

a Godly thought...
Praxis is to engage in ongoing cycles of action and reflection to seek transformation. Our actions inform our belief systems, more than our belief systems inform our actions. (p50 Barker)

a leading thought...
We set young leaders up for a fall if we encourage them to envision what they can do before they consider the kind of person they should be. (R. Ruth Barton)

a Dave thought...
The other morning I was listening to SEN - a Melbourne sports radio station as they conducted an interview with Mark Williams, one of the elite coaches in Australian football circles. When asked the question what are the two essentials required to make it in the cut thoat coaching environment, he answered "an ability to work at least 70 hours per week and you must be innovative". When I heard this I thought surely this would apply to ministry as well, especially officers & youth pastors. Unless we are willing to be sold out to God and make it part of our lifestyle rather than the hours we get paid for it is just a job. Also if we unwilling to help change the way we do ministry and be the Salvos in this 21st century postmodern culture, we are not letting God use us to shape the future. Please be innovative, it is our only hope!

Just a thought.

Scriptures & Power

a Jesus thought...
Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? (Mark 12:24)

a Godly thought...
Jesus keeps letting us know that how we make and spend our resources is a litmus test of what we most value. (p33 Barker)

a leading thought...
It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

a Dave thought...
I love this scripture from Mark - 12:24, because Jesus makes it really simple what we need to know - 1. the Scriptures and 2. the power of God. The reason this is one of the greatest statements Jesus said is if we focus on one without the other we will never become the disciples Jesus had in mind. Some of us at times just quote scripture and make the gospel very legalistic and lose the sense that God can actually show up at all, while others dwell on the whole pentecostal phenonema but would not know what the scriptures actually say. So I encourage you in your journey to go places you have never had the courage to go before. For some it may be to read His word deeper and for others it may be to pray willingly and to see God do miracles today.

YP Halls

a Jesus thought...
Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11:24)

a Godly thought...
The Spirit enables us to do what Jesus did when he went out into the wilderness "full of the Spirit" and resisted the temptations of the Devil's false offers of power - rather than authority, the spectacular - rather than God's will, and relevance - rather than faithfulness. (p28 Barker)

a leading thought...
Power is the opposite of love for one can't love and seek to control others at the same time. (Campolo)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday I did a drive by. That is I drove around Collingwood and checked out their YP hall. I am intrigued by The Salvation Army YP Hall. Here is an extract which sums up how and why they were erected...

1928 January 13 - Corps opened at Avondale.First Corps Officers Lieutenants Stella Vance and Gladys Hoare.Band formed and commenced under Bandmaster Henry Ashton.

February 27 - Hall opened.

1952 June - Plans were made for an additional room at back of Hall to be built for Y.P. work, extra room being urgently needed. Sanction being granted & permit obtained, the work commenced late in month. Comrades supplying the labour. A youth club for the elder Y.P. started also about end of month. A number of young folk who frequent the street corners being attracted to that and also to the Sunday night’s open airs.

So 24 years after a corps begins they build a new facility at the back of the main building to cater for the growing demands of ministry. This was a typical growth pattern in most Salvation Army Halls in the early to mid 1900's.This would have been a significant layout of finances and a great sign of how committed a corps was to reaching the local youth. Fast forward to today and if we want to show commitment we employ a full time Youth Pastor and invest into people more than facilities. Our youth work is less effective now we reach less local youth and put less finances into youth work in general. Times have changed but somehow I think it would be great to bring back the YP hall as our sign of commitment to the youth of this generation.

Ironically the corps at Collingwood is now closed, the main hall has been demolished but the YP Hall remains strong and local youth still use it.

Just a thought.

Thoughtful & Committed

Thanks again for the suggestions, my new leadership book is Right to Lead by John Maxwell a study in character and courage.

a Jesus thought...
One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. (Mark 10:21)

a Godly thought...
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead)

Too much contemporary Christianity is more like magic than true faith. With consumer-driven magic on the increase, it is no wonder community worship songs such as ''I surrender All" and "Trust and Obey" have been replaced by "All Things are Possible" and "All that I want". These are not about surrendering all to Jesus so that God can do through us what God wants. They are consumers'attempts to get what they want. (p24 Barker)

a leading thought...
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end requires some of the same
courage which a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave people to win them. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

a Dave thought...
Prayer is something we take for granted far too often. Yesterday as I prayed a rather selfish prayer about selling our car, which has been at a car yard for the last 3 months, God was again working behind the scenes. I rang Peter the car salesman in the morning to be told that he had found a buyer - a lady who I would really like! I asked him to explain and he went on to tell me that "she has two young children and is living in a poor suburb helping street kids, isn't that what you do?" Not quite - I was thinking. Did Peter (an unbeliever) know too that I have been praying about living a more incarnational lifestyle and didn't need to be further disturbed by him!? He & Peter have got something going on! So even through our selfish prayers God often speaks to us.

Just a thought.

Disturbances

Thanks for the book suggestions I have chosen SUURENDER ALL a call to sub-merge with Christ by Ash Barker (UNOH) I am now after a new leadership book so feel free to make a suggestion.

a Jesus thought...
If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. (Mark 9:35)

a Godly thought...
A call to sub-merge is a call to
RELEASE ALL - a surrendering of everything we have to Jesus
REORIENT our whole life so God is our guide
RELOCATE our homes and lives to be neighbours with the poor
RE-CREATION so the distinction between non-poor and poor become a "Çhristian community"

a leading thought...
Decentralised organisations appear at first glance to be messy and chaotic. But when we begin to appreciate their full potential, what initially looked like entropy turns out to be one of the most powerful forces the world has seen. (p208 Brafman)

a Dave thought...
My images of Soweto continue to stay with me and disturb me, which is a good thing, I believe that Jesus came to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. To see young children the same age as my son playing and and enjoying life so much with absolutely nothing, in terms of possessions, just goes to show how important community is and how unimportant consumerism is.

Just a thought.

Time to get personal

Due to popular demand from many of the leading worlds blogging opinionists I am now adding 'a Dave thought' to my daily blog, it may offend on occasions but often that is the best way to learn so enjoy!

Also I finished McLaren this morning so if anyone has a recommendation for my daily theology reading I am happy to explore:)

a Jesus thought...
For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. (Matt 8:33)

a Godly thought...
McClendon says... the practices of humility, compassion, spirituality, and love - which develop only in a community - are more essential to a good and healthy theology, more primal and important than scholarship, logic, and intellect. (p330 McLaren)

a leading thought...
If you have an objective in life, then you want to concentrate on that and not engage in infighting with your enemies. You want to create an atmosphere where you can move everybody towards the goal you have set for yourself. (Nelson Mandela)

a Dave thought...
I have some powerful images still in my mind from visiting Soweto last week. Seeing incredible poverty and need really messes up your world which is a good thing for me, as life is comfortable. But I know many go on mission trips and are exposed to great need and do nothing. Phil Wall, a friend and mentor, thankfully though was not one of those and was so impacted by a young South African girls life that he returned ''to adopt all AIDS orphans' and began HopeHIV (http://www.hopehiv.org/). To see Phil so emtotional as he revisited the site where God had moved him and stirred his heart to action and build this childrens home was moving in itself, but to meet these beautiful children who are AIDS orphans will be a lasting image which will continue to dwell in me.

Lord, continue to move me to action.

Just a thought.

Freedom and Control

a Jesus thought...
He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. (Matt 7:37)

a Godly thought...
A generous orthodoxy is an emerging orthodoxy, never complete until we arrive at our final home in God. (p323 McLaren)

a leading thought...
When leading it is often hard to find the sweet spot between freedom and control. Without freedom there will be limited creativity but without control consistency will suffer. So we need enough decentralisation for creativity, but sufficient structure and controls to ensure consistency. (p191 Brafman)

Just a thought.

An image of God

From Saturday July 14...

a Jesus thought...
"Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." (Matt 6:31)

a Godly thought...
God is the air that surrounds the tree, the soil in which it is rooted, the sunlight and rainfall that beckon it to grow and become, season by seaon, ring by ring. In God we live and grow and have our being. In God's wind we sway and our leaves dance. (p321 McLaren)

a leading thought...
EBay is an organisation that has managed to find the sweetspot between a spider and a starfish organisation. It allows anyone to sell but does not rely on trust alone. User ratings on eBay create a combination of trust and security.

Just a thought.

Thoughts in Jo'burg

I am currently sitting in the Jo'burg airport with Geoff Ryan (Canada) & Kelly Pope (USA)and have finally got a secure internet connection for the first time in 6 days!

So here is my thoughts from the last five days...

Friday July 13
Go and tell

a Jesus thought...
“Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)

a Godly thought...
If enough of us can bear the truth of our failures as Christians, if we can let that truth humble us and bring us from denial to sincere and profound repentance, if our hearts are made soft and responsive to the Holy Spirit through this painful but needed process, then there truly is hope in the midst of depression. (p310 McLaren)

a leading thought...
Decentralising an organisation is as simple as conducting an appreciative inquiry. This is when all people connected or working for the organisation are given the opportunity to dream and brainstorm about its future. During the exercise all ideas are considered equally regardless of how far down the hierarchical system they have come. (p178 Brafman)

Thursday July 12
Who is our neighbour?

a Jesus thought...
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)

a Godly thought...
If through Christ, God risks all for us, then we must do the same for people of other religions. They are our neighbours, and everything Jesus said about neighbours applies to them. (p296 McLaren)

a leading thought...
Many organisations introduce decentralised elements by giving customers a role: eBay turned over the policing of the site to its users; and Amazon encouraged any reader – however well educated – to review book titles. You see everyone wants to contribute, and everyone has something to contribute somewhere. (p170 Brafman)

Wednesday July 11
Be with him

a Jesus thought...
He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him (Mark 3:14)

a Godly thought...
Never accept and be content with unanalysed assumptions about the work, about the people, about the church or Christianity. Never be afraid to ask questions about the work we have inherited or the work we are doing. There is no question that should not be asked or that is outlawed. The day we are completely satisfied with what we have been doing; the day we have found the perfect, unchangeable system of work, the perfect answer, never in need of being corrected again, on that day we will know that we are wrong, that we have made the greatest mistake of all (Christianity Rediscovered, 146).

a leading thought...
Ebay is a great example of a hybrid organisation as it is a centralised company that decentralises the customer experience. As it has empowered the community, the burden of policing from the company to its users has resulted in knowledge and power being distributed throughout the network. (p164 Brafman)

Tuesday July 10
Would you follow yourself?

a Jesus thought...
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

a Godly thought...
To show love and acceptance toward people, is not to approve all they believe or do, as any parent knows. To show disapproval of divergent beliefs by withholding love and acceptance may be orthodox Phariseeism, and it may even be orthodox modern, Western, colonial Christianity, but it is not the generous orthodoxy of Jesus Christ. It is rather a betrayal of our Lord and his way. (p290 McLaren)

a leading thought...
If you really want to lead the people above you, you need to lead yourself exceptionally well. If you will not follow yourself why would anyone else follow you? (Maxwell - maximum impact podcast)

Monday July 9
Jesus got up

a Jesus thought...
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

a Godly thought...
The gospel, the story of God’s becoming “one of us” through incarnation, propels Paul on an incarnational ministry to become “one of them,” whoever “they” are. (p283 McLaren)

a leading thought...
An organisation will turn from a starfish to a spider when a catalyst becomes responsible for the distribution of resources. With this given power the catalyst turns into a CEO as the circles around him become competitive. (p154 Brafman)

Just some thoughts.

A threatening Jesus

I am currently in South Africa and God has really opened my eyes to a different world here. On Monday we visited Soweto where 6 million black South Africans live and where there is incredible need. The salvos are doing some fantstic work here but there is always more that can be done. I will post some pictures when I get to a decent tech setup.

Sunday July 8

a Jesus thought...
He has risen just as he said. (Matt 28:6)

a Godly thought...
Jesus threatened people with inclusion; if they were to be excluded, it would be because they refused to accept their acceptance. (p279 McLaren)

a leading thought...
When a starfish ideology can be successfully changed, the results are powerful, so theoretically, trying to change an ideology makes sense. But the process is difficult. (p151 Brafman)

Just a thought.

Are you an ideas man?

a Jesus thought...
So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matt 27:54)

a Godly thought...
Whatever we own is really entrusted to us by God, borrowed and reverently used by us for a time, after which we must let go one way or another - either through giving and sharing or through dying and releasing our former possessions to others. (p271 McLaren)

a leading thought...
We need to get people into a conversation and get them to be innovative and creative. People in positions of power need to understand that great ideas come from people who are closest to the ideas. (p131 Brafman)

Just a thought.

I'm heading off to South Africa tonight for their first ROOTS conference followed by the ROOTS roundtable, should be inspirng & fun, hope to blog while I'm away but not sure of web accessibility otherwise I'll be back in 7 days!

Doctrines or Actions?

a Jesus thought...
But Jesus kept silent. (Matt 26:63)

a Godly thought...
As Christian discipleship is training for mission we should place less emphasis on whose lineage, rites, doctrines, structures, and terminology are right and more emphasis on whose actions, service, outreach, kindness, and effectiveness are good. (p251 McLaren)

a leading thought...
People are like walking novels. If you find someone boring it's only because you the listener, haven't asked the right questions or found that person's true passions. (p120 Brafman)

Just a thought.

Is Jesus a catalyst?

a Jesus thought...
Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matt 25:23)

a Godly thought...
Discipleship is the process of reaching ahead with one hand to find the hand of a mentor a few steps up the hill, while reaching back with the other to help the next person in line who is also on the upward path of discipleship. (p247 McLaren)

a leading thought...
A catalyst is someone who every time they have a conversation with someone they're thinking. How can I help this person? Who can I introduce this person to? I just want to help this person, I just want to make this person better. (p118 Brafman)

Just a thought.

REST

a Jesus thought...
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Matt 24:35)

a Godly thought...
How come some Christians seem to let Jesus be Saviour, but promote Paul to lord and teacher, surely we must interpret Paul through Jesus, and not the reverse. (p231 McLaren)

Reason, Experience, Scripture, Tradition -REST (sorry i remember alot by acronyms even though it is 90's)are all gifts from God and no part should be rejected. (p235)

a leading thought...
"Champions are inherently hyperactive. Like catalysts, they operate well in nonhierarchical environments, but they tend to be more like salesmen than organisers or connectors." (p100 Brafman)


Just a thought.

Maybe I should start blogging?

Well I am finally joining the blog world! Yeah I have been resisting the temptation for over 12 months but after contemplating again this morning a bizarre thing happened..
I went over for my 6am swim just to be told by a whole group of fustrated gym junkies, fitness freaks & swimmers that there was a gas leak and centre would not open until 9am!! I would normally jog instead but I have a calf injury -so my whole morning routine has been messed up. So instead of being frustrated (which I am) I took it as a sign to start a blog.

A few preambles...
I failed year 12 english.
As I am new to this subculture I may offend some but I will be a 5.55am blogger.
I have an obsessive morning routine which involves reading
1. a chapter of scripture (currently Matthew)
2. a chapter of a religious book (A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren)
3. a chapter of a leadership book (The Starfish & The Spider)

So I am now adding no. 4 - blog. I am already reading, thinking and praying about these thoughts so I might as well share them to the viewing public.

It may be too routine for some but it will help me get into the blog world so I will share what God got me thinking about this morning via a Jesus thought, a Godly thought, and a leading thought. So here goes...


a Jesus thought...
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matt 23:12)

a Godly thought...
"The way to know God is by following Jesus on that adventure. One doesn't learn what God is like in a library or pew and then begin to love God in real life. One begins to love God and others in real life. In the process one learns what God is like- and one might be driven to the library and pew to learn more." (p207 McLaren)

a leading thought...
The difference between traditional leaders and catalysts is illustrated through Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music & Mary Poppins. Both times she goes into a dysfunctional family and brings order, as Maria she sticks around and runs the show , she is boss, but as Mary when the family can thrive on its own she rides her umbrella into the sunset. (p93 Brafman)

So instead of asking whether we are Mary or Martha maybe we should be asking are we Maria or Mary??

Just a thought.