Want to buy a Redeemer Church Planting Manual?

Hey Australian Planters, check on this: THE GENEVA PUSH. Great work.

Also -- I spent a great lunch this week in NYC with my friend Mark Reynolds from the Redeemer Church Planting Center. Great guy, with a heart for God. While I was visiting, I asked Redeemer about getting their Church Planting Manual sent to Australia. I know that some of you have wanted a manual, but have been prohibited because of costs. I spoke to the guy there who is willing to help us with shipping the manual at a good price.

It is a great Church Planting Manuel, and we are using it to help in planting our New Evening Congregation in February.

UPSHOT: If you want to buy the Manual, let me know by commenting below. You can send me an email if you like too. We haven't figured out costs, but it should be around $A40-45 (more or less). That is with the Shipping. We'll work out that later.

I'll be ordering them on Tuesday. So indicate by then that you wish to purchase.

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Handle with Prayer

What do you think of this?

It's a new UK Sitcome about an Anglican Clergyman.

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A Five Year Old discusses Work

We are going on a break for a few weeks. I will continue to post here, but sporadically. York Street is in good hands. Dr Laurel is already in San Francisco at the wedding of her friend Marlene. We will join her tomorrow, and go onto the folk's place in Atlanta.

One of the things I will be doing is having 9 days in London on a Study Leave. I will be looking closely and learning from London City Churches like St Helen's Bishopsgate.

In the meantime, that is one cute kid! 

:)

US Passport

We are going to take a break in November. I will be posting, but not as often. In the meantime, this is the Little Man and the Little Lady on the way to the US Consulate this morning to pick up his Little US Passport.

When we visit the US Consulate, the Little Man says: "We going to see the Government."

Nice.

For Points:

1. Where taken?

2. What movie?

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Cult Classic

Tasker on Christmas - I just ordered 10

Nathan Tasker has just released a Christmas album. I just ordered 10 to give away. And I'll get my church to order 20 to sell on our new bookstall.

Nathan says:

I love Christmas. I love Christmas music. I have always wanted to record some songs that should be listened to at Christmas time, helping us to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and preparing our hearts to hear the story of the coming of Jesus.

Admittedly, it felt a little strange singing Christmas songs in July and August! But then again, it was summer time in Nashville, and I am used to Christmas occurring in the summer (back in Sydney), so it was a little familiar too.

I found that reflecting on the Christmas story, months before the Christmas season, allowed me to step back and see the beauty and wonder of the Christmas message. The promise that God would save His people finally comes to pass in the birth of a baby boy, His Son, Jesus. The angels can’t help but sing! The shepherds can’t help but leave their flocks to find Him (the one who would soon call Himself the Good Shepherd)! The wise kings can’t help but bow down before this child King.

God is with us.

Stop. Now. Get out your Credit Card.

And buy them -- 1 for $12. You can buy 5 for $50.

It's a no-brainer.

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When did you first join a CULT?

I know it sound serious (cults are evil), but this post is *totally* fluff.

I want to know what cult classic you first followed. (Even if you didn't know it was a cult in the first place.)

I think that my first cult was a TV Show re-run through the 80s called: 'Monkey'. It was a Japanese show, dubbed in English, Kung-Fu fighting, quasi-religious...

It began each show with these words:

In the worlds before Monkey, primal chaos reigned. Heaven sought order. But the phoenix can fly only when its feathers are grown. The four worlds formed again and yet again, as endless aeons wheeled and passed. Time and the pure essences of Heaven, the moisture of the Earth, the powers of the Sun and the Moon all worked upon a certain rock, old as creation. And it became magically fertile. That first egg was named "Thought". Tathagata Buddha, the Father Buddha, said, "With our thoughts, we make the World". Elemental forces caused the egg to hatch. From it then came a stone monkey. The nature of Monkey was irrepressible!

Remember that?

What was your first cult classic: TV Show? Band? Movie?

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Are Youth the Canary in the Coal Mine?

I'm preparing for the TWIST Conference in 2 weeks. Enjoying the prep. So I asked of of my early mentors, David Miles (he was actually my MTS Trainer), for some sermons he has done.

In one of them called 'The Call to Passion', he reflects on many passages of Scripture, not least of which is Philippians 3:10-11. David reflects on suffering, passion, and young peeps:

Young people are theological canaries [in a coal mine]. If they’re keeling over and dropping out. That’s an early warning signal that poison is in the air. The poison of passionless/sold out faith. It means we adults have lost our first love – and so we’ve stopped suffering…

I forget how important David has been in my life.

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Pic by Flickr on Floridapfd.

ACL Links: How do they choose what to link?

Keep reading Dr Laurel's Post on why you need to read the Bible to understand Shakespeare. She is one smart cookie.

In the meantime: I'm right now making sure I'm a paid up and contributing member of the Anglican Church League. I've been back in Sydney a few months, and now its time! I'm looking forward to it. We've got Synod in a few weeks.

But I do have a comment about the ACL external links on their front page -- they have a kind of Blog. But its interesting what they choose to link. I understand why they link all the Anglican stuff -- Bob Duncan, GAFCON, Global South etc.

But it's interesting then that most other links are to US Reformed Baptists -- Dever, Carson, Piper etc. And very little links to our own local guys. I've seen links to Moore Lecturers: Mike Jensen, Andrew Shead, Mark Thompson, Con Campbell. But not a lot from them.

Would love to understand that. Will ask as I get involved.

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Dr Laurel on Shakespeare and the Bible

In case anyone was wondering if Dr Laurel is a medical doctor, let me lay that to rest. She dissects words, not bodies. She has her PhD in Shakespeare, and we have pics to prove it.

Over at CPX, John Dickson, Greg Clarke and Simon Smart asked her to write on Shakespeare and Christianity. This is her first article, click on this:

'Take Up and Read'—the importance of the Bible in understanding the works of Shakespeare.

It's great -- and worth a read (and maybe even a link to your Blog!)

Here is a taste:

It is one thing to know that Shakespeare knew the Scriptures well; it is quite another to know the Scriptures and understand Shakespeare’s works in light of the references and themes that he uses. I agree with Shakespeare’s friends that we should read Shakespeare, ‘and again and again.’ But, in order to get under the skin of his plays and truly enjoy and understand what we’re reading, it would help us to also read the Scriptures that Shakespeare obviously knew so well. Reading the Scriptures, if only as literature, gives a contemporary reader knowledge shared by Shakespeare and his original audience, a group of people who, like Shakespeare, would have known the Bible and the Anglican Book of Common Prayer if not through their own private reading, then through their mandatory attendance at church services.

Love that Dr.

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#9 Being Australian (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

BEING AUSTRALIAN:

Sydneysiders belong to 'multiple, highly-motivated global tribes which exert influence, not control'. Like most Australians, they are passionate about being Aussie, without any substantial understanding of what constitutes the national identity (unlike many Americans). Sydneysiders don’t know Australian history; they only know some Australian stories. Traveling brings out some sort of essential Aussie-ness, and so young people travel often and regularly, with families often holidaying overseas.

This one is my favourite.

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Pic on Flickr audi_insperation.

#8 Morals (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

MORALS:

Sydneysiders are generous, and younger generation of Sydneysiders are getting more passionate (or at least interested) in issues of justice. They want to serve and they appreciate service. However, there is no overarching moral vision of life, and most determine their own versions of right and wrong, and are quite defensive of their own beliefs and opinions.

Yes?

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Pic on Flickr by psd.

#7 Family (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

FAMILY:

Sydneysiders are rarely interested in marriage until around 28. They regularly live together before marriage. And before then, they couldn’t imagine having a baby, but when they do they can’t imagine anything else. (Babies are burdens before marriage and accessories after marriage). As they get older, the men in particular are hurting, and they are sensitive to the possibility that they have not been close enough to their sons and daughters as they imagined they would.

That accessories bit is kind of harsh, but someone said it in our brainstorm session, and I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

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Pic of St Philip's on Flickr by Ian.Climacus.

Boba Fett, Bounty Hunting and Yoda

Conversation today in the car about Star Wars:

Daddy, who is 'Boba Fett'?
Me: He's a Bounty Hunter.

Daddy, what is a Bounty Hunter?
Me: A person who chases people for cashola.

Daddy, who is cashola?
Me: Cashola is green, and lots of people like it.

Daddy, so is Yoda cashola?

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#6 Relationships (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

RELATIONSHIPS:

Sydneysiders pride themselves in community spirit, helping fellow Aussies when in need. They value time to socialise, and they like crowded summer events (e.g. Cricket, NYE, and Australia Day). They have numerous social connections but often few deep friends. They are often sexually active, with the assumption that something is not right if they are not.

No?

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Pic on Flickr by inail1972.

#5 Tastes (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

TASTES:

Sydneysiders love to taste and experience. They like a superior beer and good food, preferring quality over quantity. They love good coffee (and are generally repulsed by the instant variety) and they eat out frequently. They use their eyes, rather than their minds.

No?

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Pic on Flickr by d_web.

#4 Lifestyle (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

LIFESTYLE:

Sydneysiders choose pleasure over pain; beauty over ugliness; simple over complicated. They are comfortable and maybe even indulgent. They love the weekends over weekdays, knowing that Sydney is its own heaven. They have unusually good water skills, and they are into personal time, sport, sun, socialising, weather, concerts, movies, and the SMH. They care deeply *where* they live. They are green, but only when convenient.

Yes?

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Pic on Flickr by NSW Ocean Baths.

#3 Money and Career (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

MONEY AND CAREER:

Sydneysiders are hard-working, straight-talking and even addicted to work. They invest in clothes, fashion, weekends, food and real estate. They identify themselves by their jobs, and this dictates their perceived importance or status in life. But they will often take less money to make life more enjoyable.

True or False?

Discuss.

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Pic on Flickr by Brianapa.

#2 Education (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

EDUCATION:

Sydneysiders are highly educated and professional, although not given to self-reflection. They are not driven politically. They are happy to talk about important things briefly, but not deeply.

True or False?

Discuss.

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Pic on Flickr by Convexstyle.

#1 Religion (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

RELIGION:

Sydneysiders are interested, tolerant and polite about ‘religion’, (having engaged with Scripture in Schools), but skeptical that any one version is the only true version, and rarely motivated to change. They hate confrontation, but are open to Jesus.

Discuss.

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Pic on Flickr by Assaf F.

'Sydneysiders' is code for the people we are trying to reach: People in or near Postcode (Zip) 2000. Again, I stress that this list does not capture everyone (not least of which is the incredible amount of Asian people in our area of Sydney). It is simply meant to ring true of many Sydneysiders. See the original post HERE. And all posts in the Series HERE.