Knowledge & Power

a Jesus thought...
Woe to you! For you pay tithe but have neglected the weightier matter of the law: justice and mercy and faith. (Matthew 23:23)

a Godly thought...
Like Jonah, we are glad to be one of his people, willing to do his work, able to recite our creeds, happy to sing his praises, but too often reluctant to allow him to minister outside of the boundaries of our limited understanding and our inherited traditions. (p139 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Like an air traffic controller, we need to learn to land one plane at a time - to do fewer things with excellence rather than many with mediocrity. (p283 Covey)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday I quoted for my Jesus thought the verse from Matthew 22 when Jesus says, "You are in error for you do not know the scriptures or the power of God." I believe this a powerful warning to us all as one without the other is dangerous. I have been in situations where people ministering are so content to reveal the power of God that they fail to open the scriptures and faith becomes all about experience and they lack the biblical foundation to go alongside it. On the other hand I have seen and at times and have operated myself with great knowledge of scripture but have not welcomed the power of God. So we become intellectual Christians with little experience.
If you are unsure where your bias is ask yourself if you get more excited in the worship or the preach? If you love the worship time you maybe a power player, if you can't wait for it to finish so you can hear the word you are probably in the knowledge camp. Both are needed, so let the theologians and the Pentecostals join together and lets bring the best out of each other with knowledge and power.

Just a thought.

Social Justice Innovations

a Jesus thought...
You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)

a Godly thought...
When we accept Gods grace and mercy the focus of our lives shift from doing our religious duty to allowing God to be God. (p128 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Managing people like things reduces human beings to their lowest instincts. (p265 Covey)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday morning I led the Hour of Power at 6am in the boiler room as part of the 24/7 prayer week at Box Hill Salvos. It was somewhat of a challenge as the youth had just had a sleep over at the hall and they were coming off anywhere from 0 to 3 hours sleep.
The theme I was given was social justice so I got the 20+ youth present to look at Isaiah 58 and to pray through this scripture. At the end of this I asked the guys to pray to God & discuss in groups about what we can do to fight injustice in Melbourne. Here are four ideas that they came up with...
1. As well as 'sponsor children' we should have 'sponsor people' and we should give monthly to a homeless person in our community.
2. After our community tea every Sunday we should give everyone a packaged nutrient supplement to ensure they can get another healthy meal into them if they are stuck out on the streets.
3. We should conduct free music lessons and form groups to help develop the creative gifts of the marginalised in our community.
4. Buy a huge double decker bus and deck it out with 30 beds and instead of the homeless coming to us every night lining up to get a bed we go to them and they can jump on board for the night and get a comfortable, safe & warm nights free accommodation.

I found these ideas very encouraging and confirmed in my mind once again that the future of the Salvos is in great hands we just need to pass the baton of innovation on to our young guys and believe in them.

Just a thought.

Coaching styles

a Jesus thought...
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. (Matthew 21:22)

a Godly thought...
Human choices are real and significant and they will result either in our willing cooperation with God's plan or in our stubborn resistance to his purposes. (p123 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Leadership is creating an environment in which people want to be part of the organisation and not just work for the organisation. (p217 Covey)

a Dave thought...
In the Age newspaper this morning it reads...
HIGHLY organised, strong-willed, methodical and possessing a fun side he doesn't reveal to just anybody — that's how Matthew Knights was described yesterday by the people who know and have worked with him.
He is Kevin Sheedy's replacement in the top job at Essendon but will be nothing like him.
"It's a complete change of direction," said Robert Walls, who made Knights captain of Richmond in 1997. "I think from day one, no one will compare him to, or say he's like or is trying to be like Sheedy.
"From the most experienced, publicised coach who had a quote and a story from every press conference, you'll be going to a guy who is young, inexperienced and will certainly not be giving headlines at any of his press conferences.
"He wouldn't be overawed by the Sheedy factor. He's been at the club for a few years and would have a very good understanding of where they're at.
"He's his own man and I think that's really good that there's this strong contrast."
AFL players' union boss Brendon Gale, who used to room with his one-time Tiger teammate when the side hit the road, said Knights had contrasting on-field and off-field personalities.
"There's an old saying — still waters run deep. I think he's one of those guys," Gale said.
"He was a very extravagant, flamboyant and creative player on the field, but off the field, he was a quieter family man. He was married young.
"He's a very reserved guy. He's pretty quiet, but very strong in his principles and values and beliefs.
"He's not going to be a hot gospel-type coach. He won't be a ranter and raver. He'll be pretty careful and considered and measured in his approach."

I find it fascinating how we all have an opinion on the type of leader that takes over a club or organisation and in hindsight many of us try and guess the outcomes and get it wrong. Let us come at this from the biblical viewpoint and judge everyone on the fruit they produce. Coaching is like ministry in the fact that there is many and varied ways to go about it and a certain personality style does not mean fruit. But rather a 100% reliance on God and a willingness to do what He is asking of us regardless the cost is the best style to go with.

Just a thought.

24/7 Prayer

a Jesus thought...
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

a Godly thought...
An extraordinary message of grace always needs to be delivered by ordinary men and women who are themselves living examples of that grace at work in slowly transforming human lives. (p109 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Leaders do not avoid, repress, or deny conflict, but rather see it as an opportunity. (p186 Covey)

a Dave thought...
Above is a picture from the 24/7 prayer room at Box Hill. We are currently in the middle of this intense time of prayer and our cell group spent 3 hours in the boiler room last night. It is an awesome space & Kirsten Gourd & here team have done an outstanding job getting 26 stations happening in the room. If you are in Melbourne for ACC next week you can check it out as we are leaving the boiler room as is.

I must admit prayer does not come naturally for me but I know that when I pray God moves and things happen. So creating spaces and opportunities to pray is so important as many of us need encouragement to experience communicating with God in varied ways. The challenge is for us to create those same moments away from the room as God is everywhere and He is always willing to have a chat we just need to make the time.

Just a thought.

Spiritual Economy

a Jesus thought...
If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. (Matthew 19:21)

a Godly thought...
In the church today improvement and invitation still have a place, but they should be secondary to incarnation and involvement. (p96 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Leadership in the church was often expressed as being about matching, hatching and dispatching now we must be managers of change, missiologists, masters of strategy, and merchants of spiritual commerce. (p99 Yuill)

a Dave thought...
In the Age today http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/spend-spend-spend-its-no-way-to-happiness/2007/09/25/1190486307021.html

People are in debt up to their eyebrows and they tell me it's good for the economy. But it's destroying our spiritual economy. Is this the spiritual recession we had to have? Kids want to lie on the grass watching the clouds roll by with chilled-out parents. Not be dragged through shopping centres by harassed mums and dads trying to anaesthetise their existential pain by purchasing more stuff to plug in and more stuff to store.
On any perfect 25-degree windless Sunday you will find Chadstone, Northland, DFO and all those soul-destroying cathedrals of emptiness chockers with people attempting to sedate. Take two transactions and call me in the morning. They'd be better off spending a few hours sitting in a church. And that's coming from an atheist. Greed and consumption addict people and they spend weekends trawling shopping centres chasing the next hit.
Happy is the man who is content with what he has. And the woman who needs only one pair of good shoes and a library card. Maybe I should follow the advice of the graffiti I read last week: SHUT UP AND SHOP.

You know our world is in trouble when you have a journalist and self confessed atheist from our major newspaper telling people they are better off sitting in church than shopping. Consumerism has peaked in Australia and many of us are caught in the trap without even realising it. But society is not only to blame as unless we model a different lifestyle or tell an alternative story things will never change.

The challenge for us is that we don't just push the 'market-driven church' and expect that the people will give up the shops on Sunday and come to us because we do church so well, but rather we must go to the people with an alternative story that is real and engaging. I suggest we plant Chadstone Temple, and do our church service on Sunday in the shopping centre at least then when the service is over we don't have as far to travel to the shops for the after service.

Just a thought.

Positive Dave

a Jesus thought...
Unless you are converted and become like a little child, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

a Godly thought...
When imperfect people tell their story of God's plan in their lives, things begin to change! (p48 Yuill)

a leading thought...
When you develop both strong character and competence, the fruit is wisdom and judgement - the foundation of all great and lasting achievement and trust. (p149 Covey)

a Dave thought...
It has been interesting how different people have perceived my blog over the last 4 months. Some think that I have way too much time, others think it is good to stir the pot and get people debating SA issues, and a few suggest it is too negative and part of my role should be to increase optimism in the movement and not to be so critical. Well I do believe the Salvation Army has been raised up by God and is an amazing denomination, I love the fact that we have a bias to the poor, we are missional at heart and have the DNA that makes us relevant through every culture and class. If I didn't believe it I wouldn't be a part of it.
One of the reasons I started my blog was to encourage people to think so we can make wiser decisions going forward, and by purely telling nice positive stories everyday was not going to engage critical thinkers. I have observed in my own life over the years it is not until I have been disturbed, that I alter my thinking and then in turn my actions.
Although Jesus was no blogger I believe he came to comfort the disturbed but also to disturb the comfortable, I'm here to join him.

Just a thought.

Emotions

a Jesus thought...
If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

a Godly thought...
People have an instinctive sense that faith in a loving God should make us loving people who take the lead in any initiative to alleviate human suffering and need. (p41 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway. (Mother Teresa)

a Dave thought...
This interesting commentary in the Age this morning got my attention...

The federal election will be won or lost on less rational grounds than good arguments or policies.
HERE'S my prediction. The Coalition will lose the next federal election. Not because Labor offers better arguments or more appealing policies. Not because the electorate is impressed by Kevin Rudd's intellect or wit. Not because "It's Time" or because John Howard is seen as yesterday's man. The Coalition will lose because of the way the human brain works.
Backed by research in neuroscience, political psychologists argue that the thought processes behind decision-making — including how we vote at elections — are fundamentally emotional, not rational.

Unfortunately most decisions around the church are also made emotionally rather than rationally. I have sat on numerous boards and in many committee meetings and a decision has been made wrapped up in far more emotion than logic. Even our modern church services usually begin with the first half for the emotionals (singing) and the second half for the intellectuals (preaching).
God created us as emotional beings but he also gave us a brain. I believe the church attracts far more emotional people than it does rational, so as we continue to love God & others there will always be a bias for emotional leaders as they are best at showing love in a public way. So the challenge is to not to suppress emotion in the church but rather lets make sure it does not get in the way of our decision making so we can grow God's kingdom effectively.

Just a thought.

2Love

a Jesus thought...
What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Matthew 16:26)

a Godly thought...
Faithfulness to received truth and recognised doctrine must always be tested against and authenticated by the willingness to reach out inclusively to all who need God's grace. (p8 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Ultimately a good leadership team is a complementary team where people's strengths are made productive and their weaknesses made irrelevant by the strength of others. (p123 Covey)

a Dave thought...
The other day I was asked how I came up with the name 2Love which has replaced what was formerly known as the Territorial Youth Department. This sub-brand was an idea I came up with while sitting through a conference back in May 2006. As the speaker was simplifying the gospel to the two things that really count in life I came up with 2Love. (see logo to the right)http://www.2love.salvationarmy.org.au/

The reason I believed it was worth putting out there is that it is...
1. Biblical - Jesus commands us to engage in 2Loves-2Love God & 2Love Others
2. Salvo - Saved to Serve, Holiness & Salvation, Heart to God & Hand to Man
3. Simple - Short succinct and summarises our mission in a cool way, number/word

I also wanted to have a strong link to ALOVE which I believe is the most progressive Salvo youth ministry in the world. So we don't always have to pay professional branding and marketing agents as I believe it is our own people that really know what we are about and in time will shape the future.

Just a thought.

Others

This morning I began reading "Others" by Chick Yuill for my Godly thought.

a Jesus thought...
Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. (Matthew 15:18)

a Godly thought...
Don't think of the book of Jonah as a historical record of something that happened to one man in a distant age in a far-off country; read it, rather, as the divine revelation of what God is saying to his people in every age and in every culture. (p4 Yuill)

a leading thought...
Any individual who has had a profound influence on others possessed three common attributes: vision, discipline and passion. (p68 Covey)

a Dave thought...
When William Booth was asked what word he wanted to send around the world on a telegram, he chose OTHERS. This six letter word was a very clever choice as he made a statement on who we should be focusing our attention on. The greatest commandment is to Love God the second is to Love others. So William chose the second best thing. If he had chosen the word GOD or LOVE
would it have done the job?
Anyway maybe the troops back then were God focused already and William was reminding them on who they were here to serve. So sure we need to Love God and He should be our motivation but our attention is others. The problem arises if one of these actions becomes too obsessive as we must always strive to Love God but not that alone as it is in loving others that confirms our first love.

Just a thought.

Herbert

a Jesus thought...
When Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. (John 14:14)

a Godly thought...
It's very hard to have a prophetic ministry to the group that provides your salary. (p217 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Leaders aren't made or born, they are self-made - leadership is a function of choices. (p62 Covey)

a Dave thought...
John Cleary states in Boundless Salvation that in 1901, the year of Federation of Australia, The Army was represented as 0.81% of the population.
If we had just kept that stat in line with population growth 170,100 Salvationists would be present in Australia today, but currently we have 19,000 of 21 million Australians willing to be labelled a Salvo.
It seems after 21 years we were at our peak and Herbert Booth was going rampant as he was a risk taker and apostle who at the age of 34 to 39 had led the Salvation Amy in Australasia through an amazing era of growth.
Thomas McKie then followed aged 42 -49, then James Hay who led the Country from age 44 till age 56.
Risk taking and age seem to go hand in hand and so maybe to get back to .81% we somehow need to engage younger leaders in our decision making and leadership. I propose we scout the land for a few more Herberts and put them in major positions of responsibility, as we either continue the decline or engage in some risks worth taking.


Just a thought.

Boring

a Jesus thought...
A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house. (Matthew 13:57)

a Godly thought...
We believe that churches that fail to reproduce organically actually fail the intention of the gospel implicit in the very gospel itself. (p216 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
All of us can consciously decide to leave behind a life of mediocrity and to live a life of greatness - at home, at work and in the community. (p29 Covey)

a Dave thought...
When unchurched Australian men were surveyed about church, they discovered that the two things they hate doing - singing feminine songs and listening to long boring talks made up 90% of the services they attended. Currently in Australia we have far more women now over 65% in our churches compared to men. As we have shifted from the industrial age to the knowledge work age (as Covey defines) the church has failed to move with these times. I believe we still value the body more than the mind. We measure and value attendance and a person being present not their thinking, creativity and ability to ask questions which should shape the church itself.
Therefore most people who attend our services are not really taught how to think but rather are bodies who are acknowledged when they turn up but their minds are not engaged or questioned.
So as we end up with a smaller but more obedient church, we continue to value our songs, talks and bums on seats, but maybe the minds who will create the future have left us?

Just a thought.

Will any bus do?

a Jesus thought...
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)

a Godly thought...
For genuine Christian community to develop and be maintained, it requires a gentle rhythm and a certain social ecology, an element of serendipity that simply cannot be planned or programmed. (p212 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
We live in a Knowledge Worker Age but operate our organisations in a controlling Industrial Age model that absolutely suppresses the release of human potential. This is shown by the fact that we want a person's body in the workplace, but don't really want their mind. (p15 Covey)
a Dave thought...
If you don't know where you're coming from, and if you don't know where you're going, then any bus will do. This Latin American proverb is unfortunately very true for many in church leadership today. We tend to take the latest model of discipleship, growth or planting and try and implement it in our church without even thinking. Many of our churches have ended up with a whole range of imported models and programs some of which work against each other but because they worked somewhere they will do for us.
Í believe that certain models and programs suit certain leadership styles and giftings and what works for one leader may not work for another. So why don't we look at our leaders first and educate them to think rather than obey. If we have thinking leaders operating churches then they will know where they are going and will be able to use the best people and ideas to help them rather than using international imports from any denomination.

Just a thought.

Insanity

The new leadership book I'm reading is the 8th Habit from effectiveness to greatness by Stephen Covey.

a Jesus thought...
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

a Godly thought...
The church must allow its connection with Jesus and the responsibility that this brings to determine how it will be and do church. (p208 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
In no way is this pain more clearly or practically manifest in organisations than in their inability to focus on and execute their highest priorities. (p2 Covey)

a Dave thought...
In this mornings age newspaper it reads...
Philip Hughes, of the Christian Research Association, says the latest census figures show that despite small pockets of growth in the church - the Pentecostals have increased by 11 per cent - "the overall percentage of people who identify as Christian has gone down from 68 per cent to 64 per cent". "I think the whole idea of being part of a Sunday-morning congregation doesn't appeal to many people," says Hughes, "but they are very happy to explore spirituality in a whole range of ways."
These figures would be in line where we are as a movement as our Sunday morning attendance has been decreasing now for a number of years in this territory, and has now just platued. So to reverse the decline we have two options we either try and make Sunday mornings better or look for new ways and opportunities for people to gather as a faith community. As insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results, I do not believe it is an option to just continue to deliver the same model, without admitting that we are planning to do die soon in the coming years.
So let us be innovative and creative as God is not the problem here, it is our inability to package the gospel in a way that reaches out to others. The Salvation Army 100 years ago was always brilliant at engaging people with a powerful message that was packaged with relevant music, dress, and format for its day but unfortunatley many of us still think this is still working.

Just a thought.

Now that's commitment!

a Jesus thought...
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

a Godly thought...
Mission involves risk, but risk involves wonderful new learning for you or your organisation. (p196 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
It is those with no recognised formal leadership status in the church that often lead renewal movements. (p204 Frost & Hirsch)

a Dave thought...
Last night at Box Hill was all about commitment as not only did we see with our own eyes the large tattooed crest on Heathers foot, but 190 of us also witnessed the enrollment of 6 new senior soldiers. It was great to have journeyed with Ryan, Kirsten, Kat, Naomi, Rachel, & Andy over the last couple of months as they completed their classes and signed up to be soldiers.
Although older generations have doubts about the commitment levels of the Gen Y's, I have utmost respect for these guys as they think a lot more about what is involved before going through with major decisions. Over the last few months I have had many deep questions about the intricacies of soldiership with these guys and know that it is a commitment that has been thought through and prayed about by all involved.
Heather's decision to get a full blown crest tattoo is also a sign of life time commitment, and demonstrates in new way how we can be scarred for life by the decisions we make. I encourage you all to do something radical that shows you are in this for life, and from now on we make the crest tattoo compulsory for all soldiers. Is anyone in?

Just a thought.

Stress

a Jesus thought...
I desire mercy not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)

a Godly thought...
Christendom is always associated with buildings, Sundays, and clergy! Always and everywhere. Yet the New Testament church had none of these. (p193 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
One of the great weapons in the revolutionary leader's arsenal is to cultivate a sense of holy dissatisfaction - to provoke a basic discontent with what is and so awaken a desire to move toward what could be. (p192 Frost & Hirsch)

a Dave thought...
Stress affects us all. No officer can expect to be exempted. Levels of stress will come and go.
These words are from The General - Shaw Clifton in the Sep/Oct Officer magazine. It then goes on to state that of the 274 officers that resigned in 2006 (which is 1.69% of all officers around the world) the major cause was dissatisfaction.
As I am in my fifth year of lieutenancy and I must admit to enjoying officership (even though uncommissioned) far more than many thought I would! But one area that I believe we need to improve on is giving authority along with responsibility. As we are all given appointments and many with huge responsibilities and budgets we also need to be given the permission to make decisions to go along with it so positive change can occur.
In an organisation that has so many positives if we were able to give not only responsibility but alongside it authority do what God is asking us to, then I believe the stress levels would decrease. Maybe its time to look at the causes of stress that come out of the structure of our organisation as well the effects.

Just a thought.

Limelight

a Jesus thought...
Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? (Matthew 8:27)

a Godly thought...
Every authentic missional church will experiment like mad in order to find new and accessible ways of doing and being the people of God. (p189 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
The task of a leader is to so articulate the vision that others are willing to embed their sense of purpose within the common vision of the community. (p188 Frost & Hirsch)

a Dave thought...
Australians will spend twice as much this year on digital technology as they did four years ago, a consumer electronics survey predicts. The latest Canon Digital Lifestyle Index, conducted by GfK Marketing, shows spending for the first half of 2007 exceeded $2 billion.
The index predicts this will hit $5 billion by the end of the year, as Christmas spending and end-of-year sales stimulate further buying.















I believe we must be able to point people towards God through digital technology as more people entertain themselves at home through the Internet, TV, and home movies. Back in 1899 we were responsible for the first motion picture in Australia...
The Limelight Department was one of the world's first film studios, operated by The Salvation Army in Melbourne, Australia, between 1891 and 1910. The Limelight Department produced evangelistic material for use by the Salvation Army, as well as private and government contracts. In its 19 years of operation, the Limelight Department produced about 300 films of various lengths, making it the largest film producer of its time.
We were an incredibly innovative movement and used the latest gadgets to present the gospel to the people. Today we need to start dreaming again as even though the message never changes our methods must.

Just a thought.

The genius of Ebden

a Jesus thought...
Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:20)

a Godly thought...
Imagination must be embraced as a priceless resource for mission; if it is not, the Christian cause will be lost. (p184 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
When a leader rules justly, each person under her leadership becomes a shelter.























a Dave thought...
In 1878, when The Christian Mission became The Salvation Army, Captain William Ebden submitted his design for a Salvation Army Crest that was the forerunner of today's Crest. He explained his design thus:-The centre point in the Cross, the universal symbol of the Christian faith.Twined around it is the 'S' for the Salvation which Christ has given by his death on that cross.The swords are those of the war against sin. The roundels are the shots which represent the truth of the Gospel.The crown is that of Glory and is the reward for faithfulness. The surrounding rays are those of the Sun of Righteousness and they also remind us of the fire and the light of the Holy Spirit. 'Blood and Fire', the Army's motto, refers yet again to Christ's sacrifice and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.


I recently acquired a DVD on the theme others from ROOTS UK. It was in this DVD that the young funky presenter was wearing a black and white baseball shirt with the crest emblazoned on the front. As I have been showing this DVD around the place as a part of our promotion for ACC07 http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/acc/, many young guys have asked where can they get one of these tops from. So after a growing demand and the co-operation of SA supplies they will be on sale in the coming weeks. This growing interest in the crest is evident in one of the guys on our 2Love team getting the crest tattooed on their foot!
I have been a big fan of the shield in recent years as it is highly recognised and always gets nice press, but the symbolism and theology behind the shield is far more detailed and fascinating for those we come in contact with. So maybe next time you are about to throw Salvo shirt on ask yourself if you want to get more money in the coffers or point people towards God.


Just a thought.

Pedals

a Jesus thought...
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

a Godly thought...
Pioneers find new ground, and settlers build on it. Without the pioneers there would be no place to settle, and without the settlers the pioneers would never see their work bear fruit. (p180 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
A leader who speaks for the poor may well speak for God. (p153 Harris)

a Dave thought...
The APEPT (Apostles, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher) system is like a motor vehicle. There are two pedals on the floor and we need both to drive effectively. Healthy leadership teams do contain both. Accelerators are your APE-leadership types, while PT types are your brakes. We need to ensure that we keep our teams balanced at every level of our organisations. I have been on teams when we have had vision flying everywhere but no accountability or maturity and also on the opposite when trying to implement something new was never going to get through the 100 policies written by brake type people. So we do need each other but maybe boards and committees attract more brakes than accelerators?

Lets make an effort to get some accelerators engaged in making decisions, after all if we designed cars with only brakes we would never actually go anywhere.

Just a thought.

Unwalked tracks

Its my birthday today:)

a Jesus thought...
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. (Matthew 5:40)

a Godly thought...
The missional-apostolic church must operate as a body at all levels and perhaps especially at the leadership level because it is leaders who model ministry to others. There is no room for the loner or the one-hand band in the New Testament model. (p173 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
People need to feel that their leader knows their stuff and even in the heat of the moment is able to judge what is the best course to take. (p145 Harris)

a Dave thought...
I came across this quote the other day by Beau Waters (an AFL footballer) who when questioned about the challenges that lie ahead in the season he responded by saying...
we love to walk the unwalked track.
I am one who loves the new, some may call me an entrepreneur, others may say an apostle, I'm not fussed on the label but that is who I am. Unfortunately we have managed over the years to lose many like me from the Salvos, as those who like to take fresh steps often get criticised or are misunderstood. There is a need in a declining organisation to reinstate and pursue those like to walk on unwalked tracks, so lets relax a little, maybe even side step a few policies if it is going to help grow the kingdom, and take some risks.
So my suggestion is we need look back over the last 10 years and find everyone who tried to start something new and were stopped or stifled and lets get them engaged once again. As unless we walk some unwalked tracks in the coming years there may be very few walking.

Just a thought.

Compliments department

a Jesus thought...
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. (Matthew 4:24)

a Godly thought...
No matter how seeker friendly one might wish to make the service, it still communicates dualism. In the end God is experienced as a church god and not the God of all of life, including church. (p158 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world: and that is an idea whose time has come. (Victor Hugo)
a Dave thought...

In follow up to the Chasers security breach I have been fascinated by the response of our citizens. A report this morning reads...

THE ABC has received 266 complaints about the Chaser team's breaching of security at the APEC forum in Sydney last week. The national broadcaster has also had 177 phone calls, emails or letters of "appreciation" for the stunt in which the Chaser team were charged by police with entering a restricted zone after driving a mock motorcade bearing Canadian flags through two security checkpoints. (If you want to make your own opinion it is being viewed tomorrow night 9pm on ABC.)
I was told that one official complaint made to the media may represent 100 people but there is normally only one in a 100 that has the courage or the time to follow through on a given issue. The figure I would like know is how many are represented when a compliment is issued. My suggestion it is more likely to be around 200.

We live in a society that looks for opportunity to knock something or complain about an issue but when we are happy with things we rarely give our feedback. I'd like to hope it is different in the church, but experience tells me it probably isn't. I was once taught to change a culture look for those doing things well and encourage them, rather than always pointing out the problems. I encourage you all to look for people doing things well and let them know, who knows you maybe 1 in 200.

Just a thought.

Uniform

a Jesus thought...
He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

a Godly thought...
We must embody our visions and our values in such a way that people can see the vision in and through our existence. (p156 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
You cannot lead where you will not go; you cannot teach what you do not know. (p156 Frost & Hirsch)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday at our YP anniversary all our leaders were wearing the latest 2Love t-shirts (available through our web page - $22). But what got my attention more was the fact that so many people want one, yes people want to be be badged with the shield and I was asked on several occasions how they could obtain the latest t.
It was 5 years ago when I was sitting at ACC (Aggressive Christianity Conference) that John Cleary spoke on the reason we have a uniform. He said that there was 3 essentials to the uniform -
1. distinguishable
2. practical
3. affordable.
It was at the conclusion of this conference that I produced white t-shirts for our youth with a massive red shield on them at a cost of $20 each. They were sold out within weeks and ever since then I have been amazed at the popularity of various forms of Salvation Army affordable clothing.
I believe young people are happy to be badged but not uniformed. Our current formal uniform which I wear most days of the week is often mistaken for other professions. I have been mistaken as a pilot , a security guard and again just the other day as a policeman at the local Primary School. It also very formal, maybe designed for indoor use or sitting in offices and is over $400 to buy so keeps many out of the market. It is interesting when we go back to the original purposes of our movement we discover how to make our essentials work once again.
The shield is a symbol people are proud of and happy to wear but lets continue to make it distinguishable, practical and affordable.

Just a thought.

YP education

a Jesus thought...
When they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. (Matthew 2:11)

a Godly thought...
Our mission and our context must determine the selection and the nature of our tools, not the other way around. (p153 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
If our dream is big enough it will have room for other people in it and consulting them may make good sense. (p121 Harris)

a Dave thought...
Last night I attended a cabaret performance at our YP anniversary where my 5 year old son sang, 'sing, shout, clap your hands, give praise unto your maker' with much enthusiasm. He was so proud to let me know that he was one of the loudest singers and loved being on stage. This is in stark contrast to 2006 which was his first effort in staging and resulted in several bribes prior to the event from his dad and a decent vocal mime while picking his nose.

In contrast to the great teaching Noah receives in primary I also like to take him to the community tea where 80 men and women, many from local boarding houses come for a weekly meal at our church. Here is also a great way to teach values that are important in our children's development. Some have asked whether it is a safe place to bring children to, but I believe it is essential to expose my son to some settings where hurt and lonely people in our community are doing life together.

I love the fact that our children get to learn about God and have a wide range of experiences at church that will continue to shape their journeys. I pray that we will make sure they are not only about performance and the stage but also about life and people. So the YP anniversary is good but YP education is best.

Just a thought.

Spiritual Disciplines

a Jesus thought...
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

a Godly thought...
What postmodern people are crying out for is not better doctrine or clearer theology, but simply kindness in a chaotic and haphazard world. (p145 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Leaders can only give out what they have taken in. If their leadership is to be like a channel of water, they must know how to receive resources of faith and courage for themselves. (p113 Harris)

a Dave thought...
Here is a piece from what is one of the most popular emerging church blogs in the world http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/

Blogging is a spiritual discipline because to blog is to find oneself in a place of:
1. Praise (public acknowledgement) - "publish glad tidings daily"
2. Accountability. (Eph. 5: 21 "Submit yourselves to one another", quote from Athanasias)
3. Vulnerability (Daniel's window)
4, Given-ness (Freely you have received, gift economy, Prov 11:24)
5. Creative Naming (Adam, Neighbors in Ruth)
6. Repentance (editing/deleting/changing our mind in new media)
7. Fellowship (hypertext linking, Koinonia)
8. Evangelism (storytelling, blogging from our lives)
9. Integrity (writing matches our speaking, design reflects reality)
10. Posterity. (store/guard what has been entrusted, writing history)
There was also another one: Watchfulness ("watch and pray").

Now seeing blogging as a spiritual discipline is not something I would have considered 6 months ago but personal experience certainly changes your views. I see a spiritual discipline as something that keeps you spiritually fit, so believe it or not for me, blogging has improved my spiritual fitness. I have found that blogging has enabled me to consolidate biblical thoughts and has opened up very valuable spiritual conversations both online and face to face. It is often through the debates and conversations that God speaks to you and you really discover what are the essentials of the gospel rather than just personally feeding your soul with material you already believe in. So for those that are considering adding another spiritual discipline into their lives, I would like to recommend blogging.

Just a thought.

Salvos War on Everything

a Jesus thought...
If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. (John 21:22)

a Godly thought...
We are not saved by our actions, but we are known by them. (p140 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Leadership is a journey, not a destination, and there are always new discoveries to be made. (p103 Harris)

a Dave thought...
I am not a big TV watcher but one show I will do my best to view every week is ''Chasers War on Everything'' (for any yet to experience TV at its greatest do yourself a favour and do a search on youtube.com). Well yesterday my Chaser friends happened to get through the $150m APEC security operation...The much-vaunted protection for the APEC summit was peeled away with embarrassing ease yesterday by satirists armed with hire cars flying Canadian flags.
Nine men and two women were charged last night with breaching APEC security zones after the fake motorcade sailed past police checkpoints to drive within metres of President George Bush's hotel, the InterContinental. The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months' jail.
The reason I love this show so much is that these guys are happy to expose or mock anything in society that is over the top or unjust and make people actually accountable for their actions.

It was the Salvos back in the mid 1880's who were

also incredibly daring and engaged in civil disobedience to make a point in society. The maiden tribute campaign resulted in Salvationists ending up in jail because they bought an under-age girl. But through this clever campaign and the provocative journalist W.T. Stead they were able to get the age of consent lifted from 13 to 16.

I propose we start The Salvos War on Everything and lets start getting in the press for reasons beyond raising funds, as the song suggests we're all in this together, aren't we?

Just a thought.

Scissors Susi

a Jesus thought...
Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. (John 20:21)

a Godly thought...
When a good deed is performed it pulls that person away from his own self-involved concerns and directs him missionally toward other human beings in such a way that they, the persons acted upon and the person acting, find God in a new way. (p137 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
A Biblical understanding of discipleship epitomises the wise leader who chooses quality over quantity. (p97 Court)

a Dave thought...
On Tuesday September I made one of the biggest moves of my life. Yes after attending the same barber since 1995 my son and I went and got our haircuts at Susihairko. Even though there is a certain guilt in not going back to my old stomping ground in Blackburn North after 12 and a half years there was a certain freedom attached with moving across to Wattle Park.
I really felt God wants me to connect with Susi more as she has such a great heart and her story intrigues me. I met Susi the owner and hairdresser at a Box Hill Community Tea almost 12 months ago as she was there serving meals, she had some Salvo customers invite her along and obliged. I remember the night well as she had discovered my involvement in setting up Cafe Salvo at Box Hill and asked whether I could set one up near her saloon in Wattle Park. Well the vacant cafe still lies there and she is still keen and brought up the topic again as she cut my hair. She also told me how she now does free haircuts up at the Salvos regularly for many who can't afford it and loves serving others less fortunate than herself.
Susi is one of many who find our attraction is our mission and our focus on others not our church service and our focus on ourselves. Many like Susi are willing to come along and serve others and find through administering grace that they feel closer to God. After chatting with Susi and hearing her story it makes me think that Susi's worship through cutting hair on a Sunday maybe one of the greatest songs God ever hears at our church.

Just a thought.

Rock stars wanted

a Jesus thought...
You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. (John 19:11)

a Godly thought...
Our evangelism in the emerging global culture needs to offer a real encounter with Jesus, and not merely a doctrine of Jesus. (p133 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
The God portrayed in the Bible is all-knowing anyway so that lying to him is an exercise in futility. (p94 Harris)

a Dave thought...
One area of the attractional church model that continues to concern me is our reliance on rock stars. As more of our churches head towards a worship then preach model of church we need to have 2 rock stars at our church in order for it to work well. The churches that have profile or are seen as successful in our country all have 2 rock stars, such as Hillsong with Darlene Zschech and Brian Houston or Planetshakers with Henry Sealey and Russell Evans. There is no doubt attending these churches personally that a talented worship leader and gifted preacher certainly help you connect with God through the corporate worship experience.
Currently in this territory we have 164 corps, and as the stage focused model of church is one we measure and value, to make these corps work well we therefore need 328 rock stars. Our rock star academy over recent years although has produced some stars, but generally not all who attend training college desire to become famous and end up on stage.
I still appreciate a good church service with inspiring worship and dynamic preaching but unless we get some rock stars on stage we must remember nothing turns people off corporate worship more than attractional church done badly.

Just a thought.

SMB Festival

Sorry readers I did blog earlier but Mr Blogspot didn't post it so here goes again...

a Jesus thought...
For this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. (John 18:37)

a Godly thought...
One day we will all stand before God and he will judge us for all the possible pleasures he gave us to enjoy, but we failed to enjoy. (p125, Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Seize the day may be our cue for action, but timing and tactics will call for divine wisdom. (p82 Harris)

a Dave thought...
Over the years Body, Mind & soul events and books have flourished all over the world. Well this year I have been conducting my own event, which I call my Soul, Mind and Body morning routine. Firstly as I am a routine sort of person (ESTJ) I realise that this will already put off many readers who like to live a lot freer than myself, notably the annoying ENFPs many of whom I work with or are youth leaders :) but this morning ritual that I have been conducting has been incredibly valuable for me.

The Soul for me is reading scripture and praying, Mind is about reading books that stretch your thinking and blogging to consolidate those thoughts, and Body looks like jogging, swimming and cycling.

Over the years I have had different parts of this trilogy absent and it has effected my well being as a person and have noticed that when all three are present I am far more healthy - spiritually, mentally, and physically.

So maybe the new agers got it right with finding this balance in life. I encourage you to do a SMB evaluation and see where your strengths and weaknesses are, or if you are finding life sucks at the moment try a little Soul, Mind and Body festival, it works for me.

Just a thought.

The 10th fruit

a Jesus thought...
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

a Godly thought...
The embracing of a balance between orthodoxy and orthopraxy is one of the correctives we must take in order to become more truly biblical, where the focus is definitely on right acting rather than merely on right thinking. (p121 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
It is important for us to surround ourselves with people who love us enough to be honest, even when it hurts. (p79 Court)

a Dave thought...
I have noticed how often it is for us all to be honest with each other in the church. It seems the people and relationships I have not connected to the institution are often more real than those immersed in it. Sometimes I think it is because we are always taught from age 3 in primary to display the 9 fruits of the Spirit and be incredibly nice to each other, but rarely taught to speak truth to each other.
We need to care enough to confront as it is only through honest conversation with each other that real character growth occurs. This is even evident in anonymous comments on blogs where people are often too ashamed to put their name next to their thoughts as they may lose relationship with someone.
So how about we grow up and let each other know what we really think in love and speak truth on all occasions. Finally I'd like to suggest an amendment to the Scriptures. In Galatians 5 I propose that we reinstate the tenth fruit that Paul omitted on legal advice - honesty.

Just a thought.

Labyrinth

a Jesus thought...
Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (John 16:23)

a Godly thought...
In contrast with today, when so much of our Christianity is being with the right people in the right places, at the right times, Jesus was always in the wrong places, with the wrong people, at the wrong times, according to the religious establishment. (p114 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Although followers will have gifts that the leader doesn't possess, the leader cannot expect character in followers that is lacking in themselves. (p64 Court)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday I dropped in to Footscray where there was a group of youth leaders gathering for a few days to share ideas and set up a Salvation Army Youth Workers Network.

What grabbed my attention, as my son Noah & I filled in some time until lunch, was the labyrinth that had been mapped out (100 points to Heather Power) - pictured left.

The labyrinth is a universal symbol for the world, with its complications and difficulties, which we experience on our journey through life. The entry to the labyrinth is birth; the center is death and eternal life. In Christian terms, the thread that leads us through life is divine grace. Like any pilgrimage, the labyrinth represents the inner pilgrimage we are called to make to take us to the center of our being. It is but one example of how early Christians adapted pre-Christian allegories to Christian doctrine.

I was first introduced to this concept of reflection this year when I visited Sydney and attended an emerging church gathering at Mars Hill Cafe with good friend Aaron Mills. I must admit although it was extremely foreign to me that day to walk the labyrinth it did help me reflect on my spiritual journey.

It is essential that we all continue to expand the ways we interact and talk to God and never dismiss what is valuable to another. Many of our worship tools are also looked at with bewilderment as visitors come to join us, but remember that even through sometimes bizarre experiences God speaks to us on our journeys.

Just a thought.

21 hours of dekingdoming

a Jesus thought...
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

a Godly thought...
Jesus teaching style was definitely nonacademic: he discipled his followers into a lifestyle rather than send them to an academy to learn about God divorced from the context of life and mission. (p107 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Seeing is believing, and what people observe in a leader may be more influential than anything he or she may say. (p56 Harris)

a Dave thought...
This was reported yesterday... http://www.theage.com.au/news/diet/teenage-tv-obesity-link/2007/08/30/1188067332628.html

A survey of more than 18,000 students aged between 12 and 17, published in the journal Health Promotion International, found that 55 per cent of teenagers who watched more than three hours of television each day reported drinking high-energy drinks more than four times a week and 61 per cent were eating snack foods more than four times a week, compared with 38 per cent and 46 per cent for those watching less than two hours a day.

I have always had the belief that the people you spend the most time with you become like, and the hobbies you pursue the most have the biggest impact on your life. So when I read that most Australian teenagers are watching over 3 hours of TV a day I realise we are heading in a dangerous direction as most TV shows are about pursuing your own agendas, looking unbelievably good, and getting as many things as possible in the years we are around. It is no coincidence that teenagers living out kingdom values are declining. In my local setting most of the Box Hill teenagers at our corps are around the church 2-3 hours per week, so I have no doubt TV is having a bigger impact on their lifestyle and decision making than God. So do we attempt to change this culture where 21 hours of consumerism is taken in weekly, or do we just expect the church and others to deal with the after effects and try and teach them an alternative way to live?

Just a thought.