I'm ramblin' again

Richard Johnson on ABC Website

2011-09-06T10:55:00.003+10:00

An Invitation to hear Redeemer City to City Next Thursday

2010-11-30T12:26:00.008+11:00

You can get all this information off of the FACEBOOK Event Page. And RSVP there too.

Redeemer City to City (Terry Gyger, Stephen Um and Jay Kyle) will be here in Sydney primarily to learn from those of us in Sydney, but are also happy to share what the Lord has been doing at Redeemer in NYC (as a case study) and what they are learning in large cities around the world.

So York Street Anglican, together with Vine Church, are gathering friends and partners to the heart of the city next Thursday December 9th from 7:30PM to 9:30PM.

Two presentations, followed by Q&A:

Terry Gyger, (Executive Director, Church Planting)
‘Redeemer, A Case Study in Church Planting’

A Biblical Case Study: Philippi
A Missional Church: DNA
A Compelling Vision: For the whole city
A Workable Plan: Context and Cooperation
Training is the Key: Equipping is More than Telling
Keeping our Eyes on Outcomes

Stephen Um (Associate Training Director, Asia/Australia)

Jay Kyle (International Director, Asia)
‘Global Cities Strategy, City To City - Church Planting’

The Goal is to create new movements of gospel-driven, urban-center church planting
Four Underlying Guiding Principles
Eight elements entailed in our strategic approach to any given city
Best Practices

_______________

Vine Church is now meeting...

2010-11-24T12:19:00.001+11:00

Haven't Blogged for a while, but HAVE to Blog this:

VINE CHURCH from jason perini on Vimeo.

A psychic gave three Australians in NYC $20 to buy a Bible

2010-09-29T16:50:00.003+10:00

From a dear friend in New York City:

I was just sitting in a Borders bookstore--in the religion section--to kill some time this afternoon. Three twenty-something girls came in and started looking for an "easy-to-read" Bible, so I asked them what they were doing.

They said a psychic had just given one of them $20 and told them to go buy a Bible! They picked up an NIV, so I told them that'd be a good one, and it was exactly $20.

They had accents so I asked them where they were from. They said, Australia! I said, Sydney? They said, yes! They said they're leaving NYC tomorrow.

So I said, listen, you must find my friend Justin Moffatt back in Sydney. I gave them your website and your name, and told them you were at York Street. One of the girls said she worked a block away.

They were walking away saying, "Wow, that was totally meant to be. You know, we have to go now."

And, opinions on psychics aside, I must agree! I'll pray that they do indeed show up.

How about that?

Great Story! Haven't seen them yet! But we shall see...

_______________________

Pic on Flickr by Serhio.

The Key to Artist Success is Persistence and Passion

2010-08-26T16:02:00.003+10:00

Now I know where the noise comes from...

2010-08-06T00:39:00.006+10:00

We can hear the rumble of trains underneath our home. It's not noisy. But you can feel it. If I'm up, I can tell the first train coming into the city at the crack of dawn. We live just above (and to the north) of Wynyard Station in the heart of the City. We live in the end of town that Miranda Divine from the Sydney Morning Herald calls "The Manhattan end of George Street."

But thanks to my friend Jasper Lee, I can now see how close to my home the trains actually are. The photos above are from the State Archives. The Train line was opened in 1932. The building of the church I pastor is in each of the photos.

_____________________________

Today's Hymns and Songs

2010-08-01T22:34:00.006+10:00

OK, Craig blogged the songs they sung at Annandale today. I thought I might blog ours, just for fun:

8:30AM Book of Common Prayer: (Mark 12:41-44)

O Worship the King
I know that my Redeemer Lives
Thank you, O Lord of Heaven and Earth.

10:15AM City Church: (Mark 12:41-44)

Put a New Song in my Heart
Worthy of all Praise
Take my Life and Let it be
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

6PM Evening Church (Text: Jonah 3)

God of Wonders
Come Thou Fount
The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate.

Let Glory be Given to God alone, right?

_______________________

Picture by our Staff Member Jenny Ihn.

$30,000 to announce that you already live together?

2010-05-25T12:55:00.004+10:00

Just read this on Sam Brett's Blog. The quote below is in the comments section of the Blog, by a guy called Steve. It's worth reading:

Honestly? I think a lot of women just want to have a "wedding"; a day for the world to truly revolve around them. I see this all the time. It just seems to me that in my gen (gen Y) the girls have all bought the fairy tale package hook line and sinker. Even smarter women.

I have a mate who's getting married soon, and although he technically asked her, she more or less coached him into the position. She's a modern, capable and smart progressive woman, but she's totally bought all the wedding crap and wants to have this big fancy do.

It all sounds pretty stupid to me... the two have been living together for 6 years, so the wedding really just seems like an overblown birthday party with an expensive fancy-dress theme. Think about it - they're about to spend about 30K to basically announce they're going to be together. Well... we kinda already knew that.

And while I appreciate the sentiment, a smart couple who were confident in the depth of their love for each other would have just gone to the registry and then put that money on a house.

Harsh? But Fair on modern marriage?

I'm marrying young people here at York Street all the time. I like being involved in their lives. More couples are living together than are not. The third paragraph in the comment above is what gets me: the couple have been living together for 6 years, and then they decide to get married in a $30,000 party. Often, the groom will leave their home the night before getting married, to almost simulate what used to happen! That does seem odd. I'm very happy that couples get married, but we have things upside down now.

In the Bible, the movement is: Commit covenantally (vows), then commit domestically and sexually (the last two being in the one act of 'leaving mother and father' - Genesis 2:24).

But today, its reversed: Couples commit sexually, then domestically, then covenantally (if at all).

Does any of this ring true? You got thoughts on modern marriage?

________________________

Pic on Flickr by Janelle Madalone.

Make sure your acts of righteousness are seen.

2010-05-19T12:45:00.003+10:00

We made a discovery in Staff Meeting yesterday. We read Jesus' words in Matthew 6:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

It assumes one thing: That it is fundamentally right and good to practice your acts of righteousness in order to be seen and rewarded.

Have a careful read.

In fact, only when we get this right can we be truly freed of the sin of hypocrisy, and of our thirst to be recognised by 'other peeps'.

Get it?

I can feel a C.S. Lewis quote coming...

_____________

Pic on Flickr by Steve Wampler.

City. Contemporary. Bold. Kind

2010-05-13T12:11:00.013+10:00

We've had this huge sign on our city deck for a few months now. It says of our New Evening Congregation: 'City. Contemporary. Bold. Kind.'

We like the word 'Kind'. Mostly because that's what people who are caught up in the story of Jesus Christ are meant to be: 'Therefore, as God's chosen people, wholly and dearly loved, clothe ourselves in kindness.'

But also becasue it is actually countercultural to be kind here in the city.

An example: I received this email from person at our New Evening Congregation this afternoon:

Kathryn (not her real name) was sick on Tuesday, and I emailed her to ask if there was anything we could do for her .. she's ok now, back at work, but she said it was the first time in a decade since coming to Sydney that anyone's ever offered her help. It made me think of the evening church word of being 'kind' - Sydney can be quite an uncaring place, Sydney needs Jesus!

Love hearing that.

_________________

I'm Back, I Hope

2010-05-13T12:11:00.002+10:00

Been thinking of getting back into regular Blog posting.

Said that before.

_________________

LAND and ISRAEL in the Jewish Scriptures

2010-05-12T15:22:00.009+10:00

I wrote this a number of years ago in answer to someone who asked about the fairness of the Conquest of Canaan. There is more to say about this. But here are three things about the LAND in ISRAEL and the promises of God in the New Testament:

1. God always intended his people to inhabit a PLACE.

We know from the Story of the Garden of Eden that God always intended his people to live in an environment. A ‘place’. A ‘good’ one. We were never intended for an existence outside of an environment (if that were possible). But it is only ‘good’ when God’s people live in that place under his rule (as God wills it). In the Garden, Adam and Eve did not live that way, and so the whole world is now subject to frustration. (Romans 8:19-20)

The Story of Abraham (Genesis 12) begins a new chapter in God’s redemption of the universe. God said that he would give a particular land (called Canaan) to Abraham's descendants. And in that land, by one of Abraham's descendants, God would bless the whole world (not just that particular land). The New Testament claims that Abraham’s descendant (seed) was Jesus, and in that land, God forgave sin, and provided new blessing to the world, in anticipation of a New Heaven and a New Earth.

So what is the progression from a nomadic Abraham pitching his tents in Canaan to the promise of a New Heaven and a New earth?

As you read the Old Testament, you begin to realize that God is always lifting the sights of the people higher and higher. Better and better. More and more glorious. There would be a land where justice and righteousness always reigned. And you begin to realize that even the land of Israel in the Old Testament was an image, a metaphor, a picture of what God promised to do with the whole world!

The fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham is in Jesus, who by his death and resurrection, invites us to the ‘New Heavens and the New Earth’, in which sin is dealt with and God’s people live in a land flowing with more than milk and honey!! You can read about it both Isaiah 65:17-25 as well as in Revelation 21-22.

2. God always intended to remove SIN and INJUSTICE.

The second thing about the land is this: That God’s intention was not just positive, but negative (although negative is the wrong word). God needs to remove sin and injustice. He needs to remove opposition to him. He is a just God, who cannot stand evil in any form.

So we learn as we read the Scriptures, that God asks Israel to rid the land of all opposition to him. And he asks them to never adopt the practices of the nations around them. That is what is going on in these verses. You can see in Deuteronomy 7:4-5 that the 7 nations who occupied the land were in opposition to the one true God. That is, in part, what the Conquest of Canaan was all about.

‘It’s still unfair’, we say.

But not if the wages of every sin for every person is death (Romans 6:20-23). Take a quick read of Genesis 15:16. There, Abraham is told he cannot have the land yet because the sin of one of the nations living there had not ‘reached its full measure.’ In other words, the conquest that you read about in Deuteronomy is not simply over innocent people and it’s not framed as simply one aggressive nation conquering an innocent one in the name of God. It is, in part, about God’s hand of justice.

The ‘conquest’ also just an image, a metaphor, a picture of what God promised to do with the Devil, with all sin and opposition to him. This is what Christ conquered on the cross. (Revelation 18).

3. God has always been free to GOVERN the world as he pleases.

The last thing to say about the Conquest is this: That God is free to govern people and nations as he pleases. In the OT, God chooses 'little Israel' to display his Glory to the world. In Romans 9-11, God displays his Glory back to Israel by having Gentiles believe the Gospel of Jesus. In other words, these Israelites, the Canaanites and all people are guilty of sin, and God will be glorified!

God’s Grace is the only possible salvation for anyone to enter the fulfilled ‘land flowing with milk and honey’.

Thoughts?

______________________

Pic on Flickr by Karen_Horton

Help me with Divorce (and Marriage and Remarriage)

2010-05-10T12:43:00.004+10:00

My Text for Sunday Evening at St Philips: Matthew 5:31-32:

"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

So...

Is this the final word on divorce?
How does divorce cause her to become an adulterer?
Is there room in Scripture for a person to get remarried after divorce?
Historical situation?
Pastoral Implications?
Best things to read? Sermon to listen to?
Anyone I should call?

I want to get this one right.

And it is not easy.

_______________

Pic taken from my iPhone of Evening Congregation out for dinner last night. A local city restaurant opened for us, and about 75% of the congregation came. It was fun. They had to find more seats and make more food!

New Sermon Series in the Morning

2010-04-23T14:11:00.003+10:00

In addition to our EVENING CHURCH Preaching Program (below), we are working our way through Romans in the mornings at St Philips. Martin Luther famously wrote in his Preface to Romans:

It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word, but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.

Here is the Series:

ROMANS: Making Sense.

11 April (R 1:1-17)

Making Sense of Romans

18 April: (R 1-2)

Making Sense of Wrath and Judgement

25 April: (R 3:9-31)

Making Sense of Justice and Grace

2 May: (Speaker: Toby Neal on Matt 13:44)

Finding Happiness

9 May: (R 4:1-3, 16-25)

Making Sense of the Old Covenant

16 May: (R 5:1-11)

Making Sense of Love

23 May: (R 5:4) Pentecost Sunday

Making Sense of The Holy Spirit

30 May: (M 6:5-18) Trinity Sunday

The Ethical Implications of the Trinity

________

Pic is a page from Paul's letter to the Romans from the Chester Beatty museum.

Sermon Series in Evening: Sermon on the Mount

2010-04-23T13:41:00.003+10:00

A Friend of mine became a Christian by reading Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He said that "Finally, someone wasn't changing the goal posts!" He said: "Reading Jesus is like looking into the eyes of God and falling in." So we are going to spend a fair amount of time just really meditating on each part of it. What do you think?

11 April: (M 5:1-12)

Looking into the Eyes of God

18 April: (M 5:13-17)

Salt of the Earth

25 April: (M 5:20-26, 43-48)

Surpassing Anger and Enemies

2 May: Speaker: Huw Jones

The Reason for Music

9 May: (M 5:27-30, 33-37)

Surpassing Lust and Lies

16 May: (M 5:31-32)

Surpassing Divorce

23 May: (M 6:1-4)

Taking Care: Poverty

30 May: (M 6:5-18)

Taking Care: Prayer

6 June: (M 6:19-24)

Taking Care: Money

13 June: (M 6:25-34)

Taking Care: Anxiety

20 June: (M 7:1-6)

Taking Care: Judgmentalism

27 June: (M 7:7-14)

Two Paths: Finding the Right One

4 July: (M 7:15-20)

Two Trees: Discovering the Nourishing One

11 July: (M 7:21-23)

Tough Words and Authenticity

18 July: (M 7:24-27)

Two Foundations: Building a Confident Foundation

________________

I think you need to read this Psalm...

2010-04-20T17:11:00.003+10:00

Call me Moffatt the Prophet, but I think you need to read this Psalm:

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

Am I wrong?

____________________

Pic on Flickr by Mark H (aka Bart the Gaul.)

Those African Americans know how to preach

2010-04-16T10:39:00.009+10:00

The cleaner -- a top guy -- and I just watched this in my office -- Little Hogwarts.

Keep watching to the end.

Man -- they don't preach like this any more.

Pity.

_________________

We are all Theologians

2010-04-13T16:40:00.000+10:00

DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

H/T Nat Smith on FB.

____________________

C.S. Lewis on Church Music

2010-04-10T11:10:00.003+10:00

C. S. Lewis from his essay entitled ON CHURCH MUSIC:

When it (music in the church) succeeds, I think the performers are the most enviable of men; privileged while mortals to honour God like angels and, for a few golden moments, to see spirit and flesh, delight and labor, skill and worship, the natural and the supernatural, all fused into that unity they would have had before the Fall.

But I must insist that no degree of excellence in the music, simply as music, can assure us that this paradisal state has been achieved. The excellence proves 'keenness'; but men can be 'keen' for natural, or even wicked, motives.

The absence of keenness would prove that they lacked the right spirit; its presence does not prove that they have it. We must beware of the naive idea that our music can 'please' God as it would please a cultivated human hearer. That is like thinking, under the old Law, that He really needed the blood of bulls and goats.

To which an answer came, 'Mine are the cattle upon a thousand hills', and 'if I am hungry, I will not tell thee.' If God (in that sense) wanted music, He would not tell us. For all our offerings, whether of music or martyrdom, are like the intrinsically worthless present of a child, which a father values indeed, but values only for the intention.

Nice.

Thoughts?

______________________

Pic taken by Jenny Ihn!

New Website for York Street Anglican

2010-03-26T12:33:00.005+11:00

I present to you: The NEW WEBSITE of York Street Anglican.

Take a look.

Comments, corrections and suggestions are always welcome.

Those Moore College students made us work this week (not that we don't every week!). And on the the things that tumbled out this week is a new website. It has been a few months in the making. And, of course, we've got somethings to work out next week (sermons online, for example). Bonnie is our Executive Administrator has been brilliant throughout this process. Give us feedback.

(You can also follow us on TWITTER and find us on FACEBOOK.)

___________________
Pic is by Bonnie Rozorio.

Evening Service Starts in 10 Days

2010-03-25T21:01:00.003+11:00

We've been having a Moore College Mission here this week. Some of them put up this sign outside the church. Have you seen it? Can you tell me if anyone graffiti's it!?

Pray that we begin well, with hope in God, proclaiming Christ in love.

____________________

Listening to Sydneysiders (Moore Mission)

2010-03-22T20:33:00.002+11:00

(Totally H/T Michael Nhieu)

"This afternoon the St Philips York Street Moore Mission team was sent out to observe the city with 'spiritually sensitive eyes' and to meet and listen to Sydneysiders to gather information about the people St Philips is trying to serve.

"Armed with a clipboard and friendly smile we surveyed and listened to a variety of people on the streets of Sydney. Here are some of the interesting and insightful responses we’ve been able to gather:

Words that people have chosen to describe Sydney:

Beautiful, Expensive, Opera House, Habour, Fresh, Lovely, Beaches, Oz, Fresh, Sun, Water, Money, Big, Mardi Gras, Food and Wine, Sunshine, Ambience, Wonder of the World, Busy, Sunny, Somewhat friendly, Holiday, Young people

Things that Sydneysiders would like to get out of life, hopes and aspirations:

Happiness, Financial Independence, Freedom, Money, Marriage, Family, Good Health, Friendships, House, Peace, Satisfaction, Fun, Comfortable life, Long life, Health, Good education, Lack of terrorism, Ability to get on, Excel in work and life, Success, Relaxation.

Things Sydneysiders found difficult or dislike about working in the city:

Public transport sucks, Job security, Being bothered by charity workers, Invasion of personal space, Medical care, Education for children, Better salary, Rent and food prices going up, Loneliness, Finding peace of mind, People not content with life, Difficult employers.

Quotes from people in the city:

“There is no hope or aspiration for Sydney city workers because they are too busy paying off their mortgages”
“Love Sydney, love the people, hate the violence”
“I’m having too much fun to look at the bible”
“Sydney is too noisy, there is too much traffic and the climate is bad”
“Want to die at the age of 90 walking out of a brothel with a heart attack”
“Sydney is difficult to live here and find a job”
“Can’t raise a kid in a unit in the city”
“All paths lead to God”

“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.” – Acts 17:16-17 (ESV)

_______________

We went to the Winter Olympics

2010-02-26T07:21:00.001+11:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

____________________________

A Sense of York Street Anglican

2010-02-22T22:38:00.005+11:00

This pic (taken from an iPhone) is of a model of part the Central Business District of Sydney (like Wall Street in NYC). The model is under a glass walkway in Custom's House near the Opera House. York Street Anglican is represented in the middle of the picture -- once towering above Sydney, now dwarfed by her.

You can compare this picture to Google Maps if you like.

The Road to the left of the Freeway crossing the Harbour Bridge. The Opera House is to the right of the picture.

Some perspective for my American Friends.

_________________

Love this Pic

2010-02-21T04:59:00.003+11:00

Profound, and just a little bit sad.

Or a lot sad.

_____________

H/T Beliefnet.

Dinner Tonight

2010-02-20T21:04:00.000+11:00

Guess where?

______________

New Evening Congregation brainstorm...

2010-02-19T16:32:00.004+11:00

Our Evening Service met last week.

We gathered in the front of our church. The lights were dimmed. We sat in the round. Lots of anticipation. Good Gandevia coffee and fruit and chocolate. (see my iPhone pic)

And we then spent about an hour discussing how we could be sensitive to the newcomer. We brainstormed, and prayed, and discussed what we thought may work for someone who does not know God, especially for someone who lives within 15 minutes walk, drive or public transport from POSTCODE 2000.

This is the upshot of our discussion:

Lighting

People felt the current lighting was adequate, but would prefer spotlights on main areas – on preacher and band, less yellow light, and other mood lighting. A few commented that the lighting was potentially too dim. One comment was to have mood lighting illuminating the bell ringing area.

Food

Our people identified food as hospitality, either inside or outside the church. The thought is that we should have food where possible served before and after service, but it needs to be good, otherwise not worth doing at all. Universal support for good coffee to be served, either by a barista or good quality plunger.

Food after church was broken down to those wanting to share a meal in church as a witness of community, and those wanting more casual but open welcoming to going elsewhere for food after the service. It was felt that cost, accessibility from the church (no more than 5-10 minutes), ability to cater for large groups, noise and variety of food options were most important. Some felt like they would like a venue where they could opt of either a full meal, or just a drink.

Venues for food after church included Jacksons on George, The Glenmore, The Australian, Cargo Bar and the two Japanese places on York St opposite the church.

Positioning

People felt like the Chancel (front of Church) worked for the short term, and preferred the orientation as it was set up. They suggested maybe that the band stand in the middle, but were soon at risk of overcrowding the area. Others wanted the musicians to the side, and the preacher facing the main area of the church as to not make latecomers feel embarrassed. Most people did not like the use of the communion table in the middle. They felt it was either ritualistic (high church) or cultish.

If using the existing pew setup, people were universally against the use of the pulpit (seen as high church). Suggestion then for greater visibility of the musicians and preacher was that the chancel should get a raised platform of about 1 foot, but needed to be done tastefully.

Money

Universal support for direct debit and credit card giving. Felt that plate passing was uncomfortable to seekers and new people. Felt there needs to be a box in the back to give, but (naturally) it needed the accountability of how that money was to be handled.

Other

One point that was raised: we should be potentially more thoughtful about where our church sits relative to our culture. Should it match or be different to our cumulative backgrounds? Thought needs to be given on how the space can let us anticipate an encounter with God, with silent spaces, and not being too formal, ordered or predictable.

It's the right discussion to be having.

Has your church thought through all this?

We have a long way to go, but I'm keen to see where God takes us.

_________________________

Pic of the food on Sunday taken on an iPhone

Where I used to live in New York City

2010-02-13T14:35:00.003+11:00

My Friend Ben Jonker sent me this article from the Sydney Morning Herald this morning. It is about the set of apartments we lived in while in New York. It is called Stuyvesant Town, and it's sale a few years back was the largest property deal in US history. But a few year on, they are in big trouble. From the article:

Stuy Town is...

...a complex built immediately after Word War II and so vast that its 110 connected apartment blocks have their own newspaper. The lenders to the deal included the world's savviest property speculators, such as the Singapore government and the Church of England. They watched in horror as the asset crashed to a value of less than $2 billion. Last last month the humiliated owners - they had borrowed $4.4 billion - handed back the keys to their banks and walked off.

Its incredible how much was lost.

Take a read.

Imagine just handing over the keys...

___________________

The First Pic is outside our old apartment.

Lent Preaching Program at York Street

2010-02-12T14:08:00.004+11:00

Sunday Mornings 10:15AM in Lent:

PASSION.

(Lent Series on Mark 10-16):

Passion - Joel 2:12-17 (Feb 21: Lent 1)
Passion's CHALLENGE - Mark 10:17-34 (Feb 28: Lent 2)
Passion's LEADER - Mark 12:1-44 (Mar 7: Lent 3)
Passion's WARNING - Mark 13:1-37 (Mar 14: Lent 4)
Passion's PATH - Mark 14:1-72 (Mar 21: Lent 5)
Passion's PROBLEM - Mark 11:1-25 (Mar 28: Palm Sunday)
Passion's SUFFERING - Mark 15:1-39 (April 2: Good Friday)
Passion's HOPE - Mark 16:1-8 (Apr 4: Easter Sunday)

Sunday Evenings 6PM in Lent:
ORTHODOXY, ORTHOPRAXIS, ORTHOKARDIA.

(Lent Series on 1 Peter 4:7-11)

Learning to PRAY - 1 Peter 4:7 (Feb 21: Lent 1)
Learning to LOVE - 1 Peter 4:8 (Feb 28: Lent 2)
Learning to offer HOSPITALITY - 1 Peter 4:9 (Mar 7: Lent 3)
Learning to use GIFTS - 1 Peter 4:10 (Mar 14: Lent 4)
Learning to SPEAK - 1 Peter 4:11a (Mar 21: Lent 5)
Learning to SERVE - 1 Peter 4:11b (Mar 28: Palm Sunday)
Opening to the City of Sydney (Apr 4: Easter Sunday)

For your prayers.

_______________________

Pic on Flickr by patchworkgandolf.

Report: New Evening Service

2010-02-09T15:47:00.004+11:00

Just thought I'd report in on how God is showing his kindness among us at York Street with the New Evening Congregation:

32 People met on Sunday at our city apartment
Another 6 couldn't be here, but are keen
Matt Straw played tunes on his classic record player
We ate and met each other with joy
Three musicians, including one banjo player, led us to sing with joy
We took communion with 200 year old communion silver
Our text from Jesus was Matthew 9:9-16:

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Last person left 5 ours after we began.
Next week, we gather again, asking God what is good and perfect will is ...

So many possibilities.

We have only prayers.

_________________________

Pics by Jenny Ihn.

New Evening Congregation starts this Sunday...

2010-02-03T15:31:00.004+11:00

I am still haunted by Frederich Nietzsche's observation that he would 'believe in a redeemer' if the 'redeemed looked redeemed'.

I wonder if you feel the same.

I am haunted, because I most certainly *do believe* in a redeemer. I believe in the redemption he brings, and I enjoy the redeemed community he creates: Jesus has died, Jesus has risen and Jesus has formed a new community of people who belong to him, eager to do good. At York Street Anglican, we have been given grace to take our place in this Story of Redemption, for the sake of Sydney, to the Glory of God.

To that end, we are beginning a New Evening Service this Sunday.

THIS SUNDAY:

We mark the beginning of this community in a fresh and hospitable way. 5:30PM for a 6PM Start.

We will meet in our Apartment. Dr Laurel and I are hosting, and Matt Straw is organising. Our living space will be recreated into a place where the Redeemed can look Redeemed: we will eat, break bread, sing, pray, hear from God's Holy Word, and ask every question needed to to begin in a fresh way.

(Parking: There is always parking on the streets around - Jamison, York, Clarence. The Wedding Bay on Clarence St costs nothing on Sundays. Or simply bring a few gold coins with you, or use the Credit Card Meter in front of Mio's on Clarence St. Easy.)

PREACHING:

A New Face to Sydney -

Feb 7: A New Paradigm - Matthew 9:9-13 (At the Moffatt's)
Feb 14: A New Joy - Matthew 9:14-17 (Up the Front of the Church)

Orthodoxy; Orthopraxis; Orthokardia. (Lent Series on 1 Peter 4:7-11)

Feb 21: Learning to PRAY - 1 Peter 4:7 (Lent 1)
Feb 28: Learning to LOVE - 1 Peter 4:8 (Lent 1)
Mar 7: Learning to offer HOSPITALITY - 1 Peter 4:9 (Lent 1)
Mar 14: Learning to use GIFTS - 1 Peter 4:10 (Lent 1)
Mar 21: Learning to SPEAK - 1 Peter 4:11a (Lent 1)
Mar 28: Learning to SERVE - 1 Peter 4:11b (Palm Sunday)
Apr 4: Easter Sunday -- Opening to the City of Sydney.

YOUR SAY:

In the end, this is not about a 'Service'. This is about a Community who love the Redeemer. So we want your say. Especially while we plan, we want you to be bold and speak up. What would be good for your friends who don't yet believe? Where ought we to meet? What ought we to study? What ought we to sing? How do we pray? What do we do? We want to know the way forward. And there will be ample opportunity to pray about that.

EASTER SUNDAY:

We are working towards one thing: Opening our doors to the City of Sydney on Easter Sunday: April 4.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Let me know if you or any you know would like to be a part of this...

For the Redeemer,

Justin and Laurel and Matt

_______________________

Free Nelson Mandela

2010-02-03T01:14:00.003+11:00

You kids won't even remember this, but when I was a kid, Nelson Mandela was in still prison. Gosh, this Youtube brings back many memories:

I went to look for this song for no other reason than the song came into my head. I wondered while listening to the song how long it has been since he was released. So I googled it.

And -- get this -- it has been 20 years today that ' F.W. de Klerk reversed the ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organisations, and announced that Mandela would shortly be released from prison.' He was released 20 years ago on February 11.

20 Years today. Freaky.

Goodnight.

______________________

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare (3rd Interview with CPX)

2010-02-02T14:05:00.001+11:00

Shakespeare's fun with love from CPX on Vimeo.

What's not to love?

_________________________________

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare (2nd Interview with CPX)

2010-02-02T11:41:00.001+11:00

Shakespeare's wise fool from CPX on Vimeo.

This is the Second Interview...

________________

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare (1st Interview with CPX)

2010-02-02T09:01:00.004+11:00

Totally proud of my wife, if that is allowed. Laurel was interviewed late last year by the Centre for Public Christianity here in Sydney on Shakespeare. She's on the front page. Nice.

Laurel did her PhD on "Shakespeare's Idea of Nothing." I believe that the three videos (which I will post each in turn) were released yesterday in time with the start of the new school year (Southern Hemisphere).

Take a watch:

Much ado about nothing from CPX on Vimeo.

ALSO:

Her Graduation: Graduation pics.

Her Defense: "In Defense of Nothing".

_____________________________

Is God Killing the Uniting Church?

2010-02-01T16:53:00.005+11:00

Wow.

Read this.

It's called 'The lowest common denomination: a lament'.

It is a piece by Scott Stephens, a pastor and theological educator in the Uniting Church in Australia.

He builds a case, and he ends this way:

What if God is killing the Uniting Church? Here is what Stanley Hauerwas told the congregation of Broadway United Methodist Church in South Bend, Indiana, in 1993:

“The plain truth is that Broadway survives as part of a larger church that is dying. Mainstream Protestantism in America is dying. Actually I prefer to put the matter in more positive terms: God is killing Protestantism and perhaps Christianity in America and we deserve it.”

Is God is killing the Uniting Church?

I don't really know about the Uniting Church.

But I pray to the God whom I fear that he will spare us.

H/T Faith and Theology.

___________________________

Pic on Flickr by oldsads.

On Being Australian

2010-01-26T08:31:00.006+11:00

Today is Australia Day.

It is earily quiet here in the city. Almost silent. But it is early in the day. All this will change later in the day.

I wrote a series of posts a few months back called: 15 Minutes Around Postcode 2000. A group of us at York Street are trying to work out who it is that we are trying to reach. And so we came up with 9 things we think characterise Sydney-siders.

Three that apply to Australia Day:

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.

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.

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.

Thought I'd repost this today.

Any thoughts?

Have a day of joy. We're having a BBQ in Mascot with 2 other families.

___________________

Pic on FLickr by robyngeeringphotography.

Huw Jones: A New Minister at York Street (Music Direction)

2010-01-21T15:19:00.011+11:00

Huw Jones will be joining us at St Philip's very soon as a Lay Minister (and Music Director). He is a passionate church musician, and has been involved in church music at several churches. He has served in music direction at Katoomba conferences, and led workshops at the TWIST conference in Sydney.

When appointing a Music Director at York Street, I had to find someone who understood and and could direct traditional church music (for our 8:30AM Congregation), as well as someone who could lead, love and direct contemporary musicians (our 10AM and Evening Congregations).

I found that person in London.

A little more about Huw:

Huw is Australian. He studied oboe at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and graduated with first-class honours. Since leaving the Conservatorium, God has given Huw a successful career as a freelance oboist and teacher, and he has recently undertook postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London, where he currently resides with his wife Renee. Huw regularly plays with Opera Australia and the Australia Chamber Orchestra.

Huw will be involved in music direction, lay ministry, Service formation, discipleship and outreach.

On a personal note, I've known Huw since 1997 when we were at St Ives together. He was a student in the year group that I took to Year 12. It was my delight to prepare and then witness his wedding vows to Renee four or so years ago.

We're very excited to have Huw and Renee join us, and we thank God that Huw can join as a member of staff. You might like to pray for him, and his wife Renee, as they move back to Sydney from London and begin serving at St Philip's.

__________________

Fear and love (Tomorrow's Sermon)

2010-01-16T20:04:00.004+11:00

Tomorrow's Sermon Preview:

How can I learn to love God more?

Two ways from Deuteronomy 6 and 1 John 4:

1. Tremble with a Fear that leads to Love.
2. Enjoy a Love that banishes Fear.

We'll see how we go.

___________________

Help me with Fear

2010-01-15T09:49:00.002+11:00

I'm preaching this Sunday on the Fear of the Lord.

Here is my text: Deuteronomy 6:13-19:

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.

16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers 19 by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.

Lots of great stuff there. Lots to talk about. But you can help me:

Why fear?
How does the dynamic of fear help you to love God?
What is your testimony of the Fear of the Lord?
How does this message become evangelistic?
Who is good to read on Fear? (Besides Kierkegaard... I don't have the time... :)

Any other thoughts or reflections on fear would be great.

______________________

Celebrity, wash thy hands

2010-01-15T09:34:00.001+11:00

About the funniest thing I've read in a while. Nice.

___________________

Attention Moore College Student Ministers: Can you serve in two congregations?

2010-01-13T16:51:00.007+11:00

Quick Questions for any Moore College Students reading this:

How do you feel serving two congregations (if you are a Student Minister)?
Do you give weight to one gathering, and not the other?
Would you have a preference to serve at one? Why? Why not?
Does it change if one congregation serves one purpose, but not another (e.g. Morning Church, then Youth church?)
Does it change if you have a family?
Positives? Negatives?

I'm just trying to work out how it feels working in a church for just one day.

Help me, if you can.

_____________________

Pic from Dan's Blog.

York Street 2010 Developments: #1 Podcasts

2010-01-10T18:56:00.001+11:00

York Street Anglican is podcasting again. Early stages yet, and we'll get better at it. Bonnie is our office person here, and she is putting them up.

You can go to our SERMON Page.
Or THIS link (hopefully) takes you to the iTunes page.

There are just three sermons there at the moment.

Two from our Advent Series:

Simeon — We need a Hope that Satisfies our Longings (25 minutes)
Jesus – We need a Son to show us his Father (21 minutes)

The first of our Summer Series:

Begin Again to Love God. (21 minutes)

Hope they help.

_______________________

After Church on Observatory Hill

2010-01-06T10:28:00.005+11:00

I may try to post some of my favourite summer pics. This one was taken with an iPhone after Church last month on Observatory Hill, just above our home.

You can click on it to make it bigger.

_____________________

Cool Lego Commerical

2010-01-02T20:22:00.010+11:00

Love this commercial:

Love it on so many levels.

H/T Dan Philips.

__________________

Sermon Series: New Beginnings for an Ancient People

2010-01-02T10:40:00.006+11:00

York Street Anglican has this one simple irony going on:

It is the oldest parish in Australia, and yet it has this new feel about it. We are small, but full of potential. Love this space.

Therefore, Deuteronomy 6 is perfect series for Summer: An Ancient people on the Edge of Promise, with a History, but with New Possibilites and New Beginnings. Plus, during summer, it is nice to only spend time in a few verses at a time.

It's too hot for large tracts of text, right?

Here is the Series:

New Beginnings for an Ancient People (A Series in Deuteronomy 6)

Jan 3: Begin Again to Love God – Deut 6:1-9
Jan 10: Begin Again to Remember God – Deut 6:10-12
Jan 17: Begin Again to Fear God – Deut 6:13-19
Jan 23: Begin Again to Tell God’s Story – Deut 6:20-25

8:30AM (Book of Common Prayer)
10AM (City Church)
3 York St, Sydney.

May God be with you.

____________________________

My Favourite Picture on New Year's Eve

2010-01-02T08:46:00.003+11:00

Love this one.

Twittering New Years Eve in the City

2009-12-31T16:02:00.006+11:00

We live right at the base of the Southern Side of the approach to the Harbour Bridge. So, we are right there in the thick of it for New Year's Eve in Sydney. Should be noisy and fun.

Last year, Michael Winram and I hacked it out in Time Square in the cold. No such suffering this year.

It's 4PM on the 31st now. It's 77F, 25C, and we going to stroll the City with the kids now until maybe 6-7PM. Then we'll cook up a BBQ on the deck here, while watching the mayhem begin.

I'm hoping my kids don't learn any new words tonight -- maybe put them to sleep in the more 'sound-proofed' rooms. We may head out to the apartment of a couple who go to our church. And I could be climbing the Church Bell Tower or York Street for a view of the fireworks at midnight.

Will be Twittering HERE.

It should be interesting to be in the middle of it!

Enjoy your New Year.

Justin.

______________

The Cost of Sin in Dollars

2009-12-29T11:49:00.004+11:00

Click HERE.

Hooley Dooley.

_________________

Christmas> Would you prefer to bury him? (Herod's thirst)

2009-12-24T14:58:00.004+11:00

Service Times are HERE.

And this is the introduction (basically) for our 11PM Service tonight:

Questions for you this evening…

How far will you go to find your creator?
How willing are you to beat a path to his door?
How thirsty are you to discover him? To locate him?
And then to love him and pay him reverence?

That is the question of our text this Evening (Matthew 2:1-18). The Wise Men go and find Jesus. They beat a path to his door.

But, in contrast, Herod sees how much this baby affects his life. And he goes to dark lengths to get him out of his life.

See, all of us –We live and we love and owe our existence because we were created by God to live and love and exist. I breathe because God allows me to breathe. Will I seek after my creator? Will I seek him with all that I am, and all that I have?

There is a verse in the Bible that goes like this:

'God determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

Have you thought about this?

God has placed you here in this city for a reason: That you might seek him and perhaps reach out and find him. He has you in this room to seek him and perhaps reach out and find him.

How is your heart? Is it reaching out to discover him?

I suspect – because I know my own heart – that many of us are lethargic in this one area. Except maybe on Christmas time. We are lethargic to God, and Christmas is like caffeine for God: A season – oiled by carols and traditions.

That’s not true in other areas in our life: Many of us are willing to beat a path to other things: Like the better job.

We are very thirsty –

For affection,
Or for approval,
Or for beauty,
Or for a child,
Or a spouse,
Or for a life of joy and ease.
We know how to track down a bargain.

And yet – if there really is a God-- and I know many of you think that there is – Then, surely, God must consume your heart and mind and actions.

There is the alternative question this morning with respect to God…

Would you prefer to bury him?
To make God go away?
Maybe even to find him in order to bury him.

(This is why some come to church)

That is what is going on in our text when the King Herod tries to find Jesus.

Now, I know you don’t think that you can actually do that: Bury God. But functionally, is that your preference? In terms of the way you operate your day, is that how you live?

That is: “I don’t want him running my life, and so I’ll find a way to make him go away.”

So in our text today (Matthew 2:1-18), we one who searches (Wise Men) and one who buries (Herod).

Which are you?

.................

___________________________

In Defence of Schoolies

2009-12-12T15:06:00.005+11:00

I'm won't, but Adele Horan writes in defence of Schoolies Week HERE. She says of those who won't go:

Unless your Year 12 son or daughter is ...
a strong-minded non-conformist,
a loner,
a Christian,
or a super-nerd...
... chances are that some time soon they will pop the question.

['Can I go to Schoolies?']

What do you make of that list?

______________________

Praying for Healing

2009-12-05T10:28:00.003+11:00

There are at least three people I know how are right now undergoing treatment for cancer. I am praying for two things: total healing of the illness and that all glory goes to God. These two are not synonymous. He may not heal (now), but he will receive all glory. That being said, these are my two prayers.

God knows who they are.

York Street Advent Preaching Program

2009-12-04T17:21:00.010+11:00

Christmas is what you need. We need:

a Prophet who Challenges
a Song that Magnifies
a Hope that Satisfies
a Judge that Redeems
a Fear that Drives away fear
a Messiah who Saves
a Son who reveals

And so here is the preaching program through Advent and Christmas, starting SUNDAY

This Sunday, 6 Dec (Advent 2) -- Luke 3:7-18
John: You need a PROPHET (that challenges your Life)

13 Dec (Advent 3) -- Luke 1:46-58
Mary: You need a SONG (that magnifies your God)

13 Dec (Carol Service 7PM) -- Luke 2:22-40
Simeon: You need a HOPE (that satisifies your longings)

20 Dec (Advent 4) -- Luke 1:67-80
Zechariah: We need a JUDGE (to redeem our world)

24 Dec (Christmas Eve) 11PM -- Luke 2:8-20
Shepherds: You need a FEAR (that takes away your fear)

25 Dec (Christmas Day) -- Luke 2:1-11
Jesus: You need a MESSIAH (that saves you from your sin)

27 Dec (Sunday After Christmas) -- Luke 2:41-52
Jesus: You need a SON (to show you his Father)

Now, anyone know where I can find Eggnog in Australia?

____________________

Live Out Loud: Tickets at the Door...

2009-12-04T11:14:00.003+11:00

TONIGHT (FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER, 2009)

Buy your tickets at the door.
DOORS OPEN: 6:30PM
www.loudevent.com

Blogging London #5: The Lunchtime Business Partnerships

2009-11-27T10:10:00.006+11:00

St Helen's began in the 1960's with a ministry to the London Business Community. I'm glad, because one of our 6 communities is the Sydney Business Community. So we have a model, then.

In 1961, Dick Lucas was preaching to the business community (mostly men) who worked in London. St Helen's was a (mostly empty) 13th Century church near The Bank of England, Lloyds of London etc. But it was a tiny community on Sundays ('a few people and 2 cats'). Apparently, the main income of the church was brass rubbings!

But there were keen partnerships in place that allowed both the Lunchtime Ministry and the Church to grow. From the partnerships, the Sunday Ministry grew.

I saw the big Tuesday Lunchtime meeting, which was good. Mark O'Donahue (top guy) leads the ministry there. I was able to visit with Chris Fishlock (ditto Mark) and his team at the Fleet Street Talks. At the Fleet Street Talks, I was able to get under the 'scaffolding' to see how they do it. And it is about prayer and teaching the Bible. Sure. But it is more that that: it is about forming partnerships to reach their colleagues.

So -- what have I seen that would be helpful at the York Street Forums?

Partnerships.

I saw deliberate, prayerful, passionate partnerships in the Business Community. They invite people specifically to partner with them in reaching the city.

We haven't really developed partnerships of prayer and passion at the York Street Forum. Not this year. Sure, we preach Christ at the York Street Forums, and we teach the Bible (with interaction and Questions etc). All good. That's our job. But we need more.

Now, here is a confession. I plead grace in this: we have been in Sydney for 10 months etc. But we haven't included the *actual* business community in our plans and prayers. Can you believe it? We've just got a preaching program, and a time and a space.

I've been wondering why good men and good women (who are passionate about Christ) have come to the ministries for a month or two, and then we never see them again. Truth is, we haven't invited people to partner with us: in prayer, support, evangelism, training, care and support for their colleagues in the office.

I've got more thoughts. But this is all Ill say right now.

___________________

Pic on Flickr by Kevin Danks.

Blogging London #4: 'I'll fight the battles'

2009-11-27T01:43:00.010+11:00

Heard this great story while in London about the early days of St Helen's:

When new Rector Dick Lucas came to the city to begin his work in the early 1960s (he was just a little younger than I am now), he had some very faithful and committed people who persuaded him to step up and do the work. They were evangelists; they were givers, they were bringers of friends. And they supported Dick all the way. It was great to hear that. I heard this great report of one of them. A Colonel (now departed) from World War 2 came up to Dick one day and said to him:

"Dick, you are the Bible Teacher. I am the soldier. You teach the Bible. I'll fight the battles."

I am praying for more saints like that here at York Street, and all over Sydney.

I have three more posts on 'Blogging London', that I'm hoping to post today. Three topic areas:

1. The Lunchtime Business Ministry

2. The 'Read, Mark, Learn' Bible Study Program

3. The Associate Program (MTS)

____________________

Are you British, or are you American?

2009-11-22T05:22:00.005+11:00

Are you British, or are you American?

As in, which do you choose if you had to?

Ich Bin Ein ________________?

Make your choice. You can't say 'both'.

______________

Blogging London #3: Two things I learnt on Sunday

2009-11-17T12:50:00.008+11:00

I missed a post for yesterday. But Laurel and I have been sun-up to sun-down with people and churches.

Best part about the whole experience is being with Laurel. We have been free to simply listen and learn and look at Churches without the pressure of leading one (me) or of rounding up kids all day (Laurel). We have grown closer.

Tuesday was all day with St Helens. (With their MTS program; their city lunchtime ministry; their staff meetings; personal meetings; 'Read, Mark, Learn' study and then dinner with Mark O'Donoghue and his lovely wife, Claire.)

Today was a day at Co-Mission Initiative. Co-Mission is not a city church, but they are bold. So they are good to be around. It is infectious. Richard Coekin was kind enough to give us near 2 hours of this time. He was challenging, as he always is. We are going to have to spend some time sifting through his challenges.

Tonight, Laurel and I went to All Souls to witness their training Program run by an magnetic person called Wanyeki Mahiaini.

Lots to say, but I wanted to post two things from Sunday I learnt that at St Helen's that are helpful for York Street:

1. A Financial District Church can grow to a vibrant church of thousands.

Guess how many people *live* near St Helen's?

Go on. Guess.

None.

Zilch.

Nada.

Maybe 4 people, says William Taylor.

The Church is situated in a place *worse* than St Philip's with respect to residents. People said to us over and over that St Philip's is not a good place because nobody lives nearby. But it's simply not true. About 20 people walk to St Philip's each Sunday. Many of them new this year.

And there are 38, 000 people that could walk to York Street (Postcodes 2000, 2007 and 2009). These are one of the communities we are trying to reach: those who live nearby.

The concept of the Sydney CBD being non-residential is wrong for three reasons:

1. Folklore -- We retell the stories about the time when people were leaving the city for the backyards;

2. Comparative -- we simply compare it to the amount of people working in the city, which swaps the residential population (good thing);

3. Not forward looking -- The City of Sydney is growing as a residential area. Take a look at this.

But here is what I love about St Helen's: *no one* lives nearby, and people *still* come, and they bring their friends. In fact, their friends come because its in the Square Mile, and so everyone knows where it is!

And more than that, if the prayer is bold, the vision is right, the Bible taught with passion and insight and people are trained to serve, then they will come.

It's simply got to be worth it.

That's all.

2. An Historic Church can be forward looking.

St Philip's York Street is old. Oldest Parish in Australia. It has its links on the First Fleet! And we have been given watch over a very old and grand building (the colours, the light and the symmetry are stunning). I like the space. And so do many others.

Of course, this kind of building can very quickly become a liability as people think more about the age and nature of the building, rather than of Jesus and his Kingdom. People can easily give up the best for the good.

We want the building to be an asset, not a liability. Not neutral either. Just used for the Glory of God.

Now -- we are 221 years old.

But guess how old St Helen's is?

Go on. Guess.

The Year of our Lord, 1210.

You heard it.

Like, 800 years old. It escaped the Fire of London. Shakespeare may have worshipped there. It's an Indiana Jones kind of building. Seriously. There are dead people entombed where we all had coffee.

And yet their building is wonderfully used for the Gospel, as it should be!

Now, I know that the conditions are different. London is different. The history is different.

But it can happen.

It'll be a long project. And we need people to pray, and people to join, and people to serve and reach out to their friends. But I've seen something of what it can look like here in London.

If you wish to join us next year and grow this thing under God, shoot me through an email with the Words: "I'm in".

___________________

Blogging London #2: Initial Impressions of St Helen's

2009-11-17T12:10:00.010+11:00

I've only ever edited two pages on Wikipedia: one of them was on the St Helen's Wikipedia page. A couple of years ago, someone had used a pejorative word in their description of St Helen's, and I changed it to the current description: that it is is a 'conservative evangelical' Church. I'd never been to St Helen's, but I couldn't stand the slander.

But now I have visited the church that I once defended -- even if in an ever so small and virtual way. It is and ancient space (the building goes back to the 13th Century), and it is a city space. I get it.

Dr Laurel and I went to three meetings yesterday: 10.30AM, 4PM and 6PM. And in between, we had lunch with the Fishlock family: Greet peeps, and lovely kids. Chris is a curate at St Helen's -- about my age. I'll tell you more about him later in the week.

I heard three sermons from three different preachers: from William Taylor (Rector), Chris Fishlock (Curate) and Andrew Sachs (Curate). Three clear and insightful messages. A touch of humour in each. Each of them actually set up an issue by asking a question. And then they spoke to the issue, answering from the Scriptures. In other words, not a dud sermon in the day! :)

The most new thing that happened was that there were five adult baptisms. Five adults changing their mind about God. Five adults repenting before Jesus.

I was expecting the usual Anglican sprinke thing. But wooden boards were opened up before us, revealing a massive Baptismal pool in the floor of the church. I love it! Apparently it was Dick Lucas' idea after the IRA bombed nearby in the 1990s, leaving room for creative refurbishment of the ancient space.

Three of the five candidates for Baptism spoke movingly of their conversion. They spoke about what attracted them to Jesus. And each got fully dunked. Lots of joy and laughter and fun. And meaning.

I brought two church two people who are getting married at St Philip's next March. They live in London, so I brought them to church (naturally). I think that they may have been a little startled by it all -- there were about 400/500 young people in the room. And with this Baptism, it was hard not to be confronted by the authenticity of their faith.

One other thing I noticed: the music was joyful. And there didn't appear to be any tiredness; nor cynicism, which is something I see in some Australian churches from time to time. But who can tell from one meeting, right?

I also noticed three specific things that are relelvant for St Philips as a City Church. These I'll share tomorrow.

____________________________

Favourite Pic so far...

2009-11-16T22:04:00.005+11:00

The Little Lady (with her old New York friend) in Central Park Zoo. Click to see bigger picture.

Should this be a caption Competition?

_______________________

Blogging London #1: Reasons for Visiting

2009-11-16T13:10:00.008+11:00

(These posts will be blogged at a special Site at York Street Anglican.)

I'm in London. So is Dr Laurel. Nice. The kids are safe (Stateside) and having a great time with their grandparents. We miss them. We also miss our friends at St Philip's ( I heard that yesterday was a wonderful time with Ugandan preacher Alfred Olwa).

And yet being here is a gift of the Spirit to us, and so we are thankful to God. I'm going to Blog my trip, if that's OK by you.

Why are we here? The first reason that we are taking a break. We haven't really rested since July 08. We've taken a few days, but that was all in a Trans-Pacific move: hardly a break. So we are in the US for Thanksgiving with Dr Laurel's parents. We also visited dear friends at Christ Church NYC. All this explains why we are overseas, but not why we are in the UK.

The reason for being in London? When I arrived at York Street Anglican, I realised the obvious: that Sydney has very few models for doing church in a *financial district*. The Cathedral is our only viable model, as far as I can see.

In America (New York City in particular), the 'city' is a huge area that is basically urbanised (rather than sub-urbanised). If you or your neighbours have a detached home or a backyard, it is 'suburbs'. If it doesn't, its 'city'. So there are something like 8 million people in the 'city' of New York. But many of them live in residential areas. So Christ Church NYC was on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, which is a residential area. Wall Street is a financial district. And the Upper East Side is as far away from Wall St as Roseville is from the City of Sydney. See the Google Map.

But when Sydneysiders think of 'city', they really do mean the Central Business District. And maybe Pyrmont and Ultimo. (The official 'City of Sydney' also includes some Inner Western, Eastern and Southern suburbs, but the city usually refers to the 40,000 or so that live in the CBD, as well as all the people who work, govern, perform, buy and sell in the CBD.) And the suburbs are basically 5 minutes drive away. Even if those homes are not large, they are still what you might call 'suburbs'.

So we are in a new situation.

St Philip's York Street is located in a Business District. I know this because every 'bus that comes off the Harbour Bridge stops outside my home. I go to bed knowing how many people are still at work in the Suncorp Building. I can 'touch' Centrepoint from our balcony. It's finance and cubicles all around us. There are lots of residents within walking distance of our church, but it feels like business and commerce.

So we quickly realised that there are not many growing, vital and innovative churches in financial districts. Not even in NYC. The one church I knew was in the same position is St Helen's Bishopsgate in London. There were a group of us at York Street that surmised that it would be a good idea to see St Helen's at some stage.

As it would happen, I met the Rector of St Helen's at the Engage Conference in Katoomba in October. I had coffee with William Taylor, telling him about the excitement of being in the city, the passion we have to reach both workers and residents in the city, and of the enormous potential of growing a church in this central space.

He invited us to visit London in his classic English way: 'Do come.'

So York Street have sent us here to look at their ministries (mid-week Business ministries in particular), as well as at All Souls, and the Co-mission Initiative.

Laurel has joined me to see things firsthand, have some down time, as well as look at how family and children's minstries are configured in this City.

So here we are as guests of William and Janet Taylor. We have just come home from a day of church. And we have lots to report.

But I'll leave that for the next post. Stop by soon.

_________________________

Pic on Flickr by Anirudh_Koul.

Want to buy a Redeemer Church Planting Manual?

2009-11-13T04:02:00.006+11:00

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 Manual, 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.

_________________

Handle with Prayer

2009-11-10T13:40:00.002+11:00

What do you think of this?

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

_______________

A Five Year Old discusses Work

2009-11-01T15:48:00.007+11:00

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

2009-10-27T23:28:00.003+11:00

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?

____________

Cult Classic

2009-10-21T15:54:00.002+11:00

Tasker on Christmas - I just ordered 10

2009-10-16T11:22:00.004+11:00

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.

___________________

When did you first join a CULT?

2009-10-14T09:29:00.006+11:00

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?

______________________

Are Youth the Canary in the Coal Mine?

2009-10-12T21:05:00.009+11:00

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.

_______________
Pic by Flickr on Floridapfd.

ACL Links: How do they choose what to link?

2009-10-09T15:12:00.003+11:00

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.

_____________

_________________

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare and the Bible

2009-10-09T09:28:00.004+11:00

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.

________________

#9 Being Australian (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-10-06T19:51:00.003+11:00

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.

________________________
Pic on Flickr audi_insperation.

#8 Morals (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-10-05T21:17:00.004+11:00

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?

________________________
Pic on Flickr by psd.

#7 Family (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-10-04T21:20:00.006+11:00

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.

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

Boba Fett, Bounty Hunting and Yoda

2009-10-03T20:14:00.005+10:00

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?

___________________

#6 Relationships (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-10-02T08:13:00.005+10:00

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?

_____________________
Pic on Flickr by inail1972.

#5 Tastes (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-10-01T16:28:00.004+10:00

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?

__________________

Pic on Flickr by d_web.

#4 Lifestyle (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-09-30T19:51:00.007+10:00

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?

________________________
Pic on Flickr by NSW Ocean Baths.

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

2009-09-30T13:55:00.006+10:00

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.

____________________

Pic on Flickr by Brianapa.

#2 Education (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-09-29T14:29:00.006+10:00

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.

____________________
Pic on Flickr by Convexstyle.

#1 Religion (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

2009-09-29T08:05:00.009+10:00

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.

____________________
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.

15 minutes around Postcode 2000 (Redeemer's People Profiles)

2009-09-28T21:20:00.011+10:00

I learned a *lot* spending a year with Redeemer's Church Planting Center. But one of the things that struck me was the following simple list: The Profile of a Professional Manhattanite.

The list is an attempt to humbly work out (through a process of dialogue, listening and researching) specific and thoughtful people profiles for a professional Manhattanite.

I quote:

From brainstorming with the core croup and in the evangelistic encounter, Tim Keller developed the following profile of the professional Manhattanite:

a) extremely bright-experts; highly proficient in their fields
b) years of counseling, self-analysis; tend to think in psychological terms
c) very sexually active
d) absorbed in their careers--many/most relationships in their job field
e) liberal social conscience
i) commitment-wary (phobic); very private individualistic
g) somewhat lonely; experience numerous transitions
h) highly secular, yet have tried 2 or 3 religions or spirituality-systems
i) deep mistrust of organized religion and especially evangelical Christianity

Our Evening Church Congregation Planning Team have begun to write our own profiles for those we are trying to reach. We don't pretend to represent everyone (as Redeemer's doesn't). The idea is that they pick up the majority of people living withing 15 minutes walk, drive or public transport from Postcode 2000.

I will blog them this week. Two a day. They are based on our collective intuition, as well as some research, but we are happy to have them put through the fires of Blogging, and in our friendships with those who are not Christian.

You can read them HERE.

We've grouped them:

RELIGION
EDUCATION
MONEY AND CAREER
LIFESTYLE
TASTES
RELATIONSHIPS
FAMILY
MORALS
BEING AUSTRALIAN
CHURCH

Keen?

I begin tomorrow.

________________

Mike Baird to the the NSW Parliament

2009-09-25T13:42:00.001+10:00

Mike Baird is a member of the NSW Parliament. He gave THIS SPEECH he last day or two. Nice.

______________

MPJ's open letter to Nathan Rees

2009-09-24T07:05:00.002+10:00

My friend Mike's Open letter to Nathan Rees made the news.

Nice.

________________

Quotes from Today's Inspiring People #2

2009-09-17T11:40:00.013+10:00

PLENTY MORE Inspiring People Events to go (and bring your friends)

Register HERE.
The next events are on Wednesday 23rd of September.

Here are some quotes from Today’s 'Inspiring People' Series (The quotes are not exact, but they are mostly correct):

John Anderson (Former Deputy Prime Minister) on Peter Costello:
"Peter rang [the vehicle help line] to have his car fixed. The woman noticed the name from the registration number and she said to him: 'You poor blighter, it must be absolutely terrible having the name 'Peter Costello'."

Dr Karin Sowada (Former Senator) on Archeology:
"I chose to study archeology because I love to uncover people's lives; their stories."

Dr Chris Hayward (Heart Specialist) on informing patients of their potential death:
"We have to be comfortable with our own deaths first."

Chris Hayward on patient care:
"I've only been in tears once this week."

Chris Hayward on the Age of Death:
"Death is not fair at any age."

John Anderson on Suffering:
After being asked about his personal experience of losing loved ones: "It is really empty and meaningless to make sense of suffering if there is no higher plan, no relief. It's all pointless then, in which case the pain is never ending."

Dr John Dickson (CPX) on Richard Dawkins:
"Very few academics today claim that an 'all-loving' God would necessarily stop suffering. There may be good reasons that we don't know for God to continue suffering. Even Richard Dawkins, (who is not adverse to running light arguments), knows not to run with this one."

John Dickson on God and suffering:
"We may not be able to trace his hand, but we can trust his heart."

John Dickson on doubt:
"You are allowed to come to God with your doubting muscles flexed."

Karin Sowada on John Anderson:
Karen: "John came up to me in parliament and said to me 'how can you be a Christian and in the Democrats'?"
John: "I was just being friendly. :) "

Karen Sowada on being a Christian in Parliament:
"The rubber hit the road when it came to godliness. How do you be godly? It's the same as being a Christian businessman. How do you be honest? How do you face the temptations and still be godly."

John Anderson on Aussie attitudes to politicians:
"I would greet a group of school children and ask them how many of their parents had said to them before they came to Canberra: 'Oh all the politicians are crooks'. And almost all these kid's hands went up. We forget how good we've got it."

John Dickson on Christianity:
People have to allow Christianity to put its best foot forward."

________

Quotes from today's Inspiring People

2009-09-15T12:30:00.006+10:00

Here are some quotes from Today’s 'Inspiring People' Series (The quotes may not be exact, but they are mostly correct):

Colin Buchanan on his time Outback:
“The desert does its work on people”

John Dickson on being in 'In the Silence':
“The band didn’t want to be famous and shallow, so we split up and 3 of us when to Bible College.”

Ken Handley on the pressures of being a judge:
“You need to be thick skinned, and I’m well qualified.”

Ken Handley on being on a panel with 3 musicians:
Moderator: “Can you play anything?”
Ken Handley: “I can play the fool”

Colin Buchanan on creativity:
“There are so many cracks in the pavement to fill with all sorts of creative activities.”

Ken Handley on the domestic life of a judge:
“Don’t think for a minute that I win the arguments at home.”

Anne Robinson on the Poor:
“You read the Scriptures, and it’s really between the eyeballs that God cares about the poor and needy.”

Colin Buchanan on Integrity:
“It’s the private moments that define the public moments.”

Colin Buchanan on Jesus:
“He says ‘Follow’ and I said ‘OK’.

Colin Buchanan on parenting an adult:
“My son is 19, and so he’s putting the world together.”

Colin Buchanan on Church:
“I’m at church every Sunday.”

John Dickson on Jesus:
“If the greatest person on the world died on a cross, then greatness must be in being humble.”

John Dickson on Ken Handley:
“I was at this camp, and I’d made a mess of my eggs and bacon, and I handed my plate to a man who got his hands dirty with my mess. And someone said to me: ‘that man is a judge’. It was you, Ken. I could see humility in action.”

Colin Buchanan:
“When Jesus talks about the weak, he is talking about all of us.”

______________________

Register HERE for tomorrow's LUNCH:

The Hon. John Anderson, Toby Hall and Davyd Thomas
Download Invitation and Information HERE
Wed 16th Sept (12.15PM)
Lunch $45 at Hilton Hotel, 288 George St, Sydney

______________________

New Series at York Street: Beyond Myopia

2009-09-11T18:16:00.003+10:00

Colossians: Beyond Myopia (Beyond a Small Vision of life.)

Beyond Myopia
(6-Sept) Colossians 1:1-14

Beyond Power
(13-Sept) Colossians 1:15-23

Beyond Apathy
(20-Sept) Colossians 1:24-2:5

Beyond Legalism
(27-Sept) Colossians 2:6-23

Beyond Banality
(4-Oct) Colossians 3:1-11

Beyond Anger
(11-Oct) Colossians 3:12-17

Beyond Dysfunction
(18-Oct) Colossians 3:17-4:1

Beyond Fear
(25-Oct) Colossians 4:2-6

Beyond Friendship
(1-Nov) Colossians 4:7-17

More Information to come...

____________________

Toby, the Middle Child

2009-09-10T21:06:00.002+10:00

My friend and colleague, Toby Neal started a post called The Middle Children of History.

Take a look, and make some comments.

The blog is named for a quote in the movie Fight Club:

We are the middle children of history—no purpose or place. We have no great war, no great depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives. We’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars. But we won’t. We’re slowly learning that fact. And we’re very, very ****** off.

I like how Toby has gone for a quote with Gravitas.

My Blog, on the other hand, is named after a much less substantive quote, from a far less substantive film. Some would say.

__________

Download Inspiring People Information HERE.

2009-09-10T10:08:00.009+10:00

There are lots of events for 'Inspiring People' in Sydney. I'm excited. On the website, you can read the profiles of each of the people, and see what events you can go to.

Thanks to Google pages, you can download and forward invitations to the first two CBD events here:

Colin Buchanan, Anne Robinson, and Ken Handley
Download Invitation and Information HERE
Tues 15th Sept (7.15AM)
Breakfast $30 at Union Club, 25 Bent St, Sydney

The Hon. John Anderson, Toby Hall and Davyd Thomas
Download Invitation and Information HERE
Wed 16th Sept (12.15PM)
Lunch $45 at Hilton Hotel, 288 George St, Sydney

I will be present at both of them, and on the Panel on Wednesday 16th.

Register by clicking HERE.

_____________________

Nothing kills joy like sexy or cool

2009-09-07T08:34:00.003+10:00

Joy is the New Black.

Of course, You can make anything the ‘New Black’ if you can find a few people to nod while you say it.

My latest post on the Sydney Anglican site HERE.

____________

Pic on Flickr by lancelot_milano.

I do miss Tipping...

2009-09-01T23:43:00.003+10:00

I do miss tipping, since leaving the United States.

Find out why.

__________________

'Inspiring People' for City Workers

2009-08-27T21:55:00.008+10:00

What inspires people like Peter Costello, Allison Shreeve, John Anderson, Steve Mortimer and Roger Corbett? How do they tackle life’s challenges and achieve results - from the boardroom to the sports field? This is your opportunity to hear a panel of some of Australia’s most inspiring people discuss their successes and failures, celebrations and difficulties, faith and doubts.

'Inspiring People' is a series of events planned for September and October in Sydney, as part of the strategy to reach the Central Business districts. It is organised by Connect 09, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, (And JAAL, CBF and CPX). Some things:

1. They are designed to attract outsiders, even those who don't know a Christian - hence we will advertise extensively in the CBD.

2. They will feature high profile Christians in prominent positions, who will tell their life stories, including their testimony, during panel discussions.

3. These discussions will be integrated with an offer to explore the Christian faith through the "Life of Jesus" course using "The Essential Jesus".

Choose from events over five weeks, either before, during or after work in the CBD, North Sydney and Parramatta. Starts Tuesday 15 September.

Of course we expect that many Christian city-workers will make the most of this opportunity to bring friends to a significant event where they can hear from: Commissioner Andrew Scipione (NSW Police Chief), Dr Michael Spence (Vice Chancellor of Sydney Uni), June Dally-Watkins, Professor Graham Clark (inventor Bionic Ear), Brad Mackay (Rugby League International), Lt General David Hurley (Vice-Chief ADF), Professor Alanna Nobbs (Macquarie Uni) and many more inspiring Australians.

What do you need to do?

1. Pray. All are welcome to come and find out more, and pray for the impact of these events. There will also be a special segment at the Connect09 Prayer Day today: Fri 28 August 2009 at Chapter House.

2. Encourage the city workers you know to get involved. We need prayer support, help with promotion and of course, people to invite their friends. All the event details are on the website 'Inspiring People'.

Please promote these events on your blogs, facebook pages, websites, everywhere!

____________________

Pic on Flickr by Shadphotos.

Auckland Churches (Advice please)

2009-08-27T21:13:00.002+10:00

Anyone know any good evangelical churches in Auckland?

Good with the Bible and not crazy etc.

Someone from New York would like to know...

__________________

Derek Church Planter

2009-08-27T16:49:00.005+10:00

Stephen and Cathy George are good friends from York Street. They put this together: (It's tops)

And I spent years with Mr Woodhouse -- MTS and all that.

Great talent. Love these guys.

___________________

Are Contemporary Songs Trinitarian enough?

2009-08-25T10:40:00.008+10:00

I will post a report on our Evening Church Planning soon. But just to say that we visited Church By the Bridge on Sunday at 5PM. It was great to be there, and I'll write some thoughts about it soon -- things I am thankful to God for. Mark Smith gave a great sermon on the Trinity. And it got me thinking lots. Which is good.

We sang a set of four contemporary praise/worship songs at the beginning of the service -- all good etc. But the sermon prompted me to think about the songs: they were all very unitarian, rather than Trinitarian. Lots of 'Praise God' and 'You are Holy', and 'How great is God'. Lots of wonder in God; the stars speak of his majesty etc. They were good. And we loved singing them. But they seemed to lack the depth and power of a Trinitarian faith.

Now, this is just a gut impression. I haven't really checked out whether its true against the lyrics.

So is my impression true?
Are the classic Hymns more Trinitarian? (besides Be Thou My Vision!)

__________________
Pic on Flickr by Forgiven!

Legacy (William Cowper Thanksgiving Service)

2009-08-19T12:46:00.008+10:00

Here at York Street Anglican, we celebrated 200 years since William Cowper arrived at the colony. The Governor came. It was grand.

Here are the notes for my Sermon on Galatians 1:1-10. William Cowper's first text was Galatians 1:10: The Legacy of Cowper.
Here is a piece on William Cowper in the Herald: Sydney's original parson: a 200-year milestone.
Here is Russell Powell's piece for the Sydney Anglicans: A man of hope in a colony short on hope.
And here is the Website to by Peter Bolt's Book The Indispensable Parson.

Will post up my Sermon Download from the Sunday Sermon when our new office manager can figure out the best way to do that!

Worth a read.

_______________

Is Darth Vader a micromanager?

2009-08-12T20:27:00.004+10:00

We watched Star Wars with the kids. Top stuff.

But Dr Laurel observed that Darth Vader was a micromanager.

Discuss..

____________________

Twist Conference for Sydney Musicians

2009-08-11T22:25:00.005+10:00

Twist Conference website.

I'm looking forward to it.

_____________________

William Cowper Celebrations at York Street Anglican

2009-08-11T10:42:00.005+10:00

William Cowper Celebrations on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

William Cowper was Australia's first Parish Clergyman. He was given charge of a parish: St Philip's in Sydney (rather than being a chaplain). 200 years ago next week, he arrived in Australia, and his descendants, along with St Philip's Church, have organised the following events to remember his life and contribution:

SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST (10.00AM): Thanksgiving Service at St Philips.

MONDAY 17th AUGUST (5.30PM): Book Launch: William Cowper (1778-1858): The Indispensable Parson, by Dr. Peter Bolt will be launched at the Mitchell Library at 5.30 for 6.00 pm. Click here to RSVP. And you can also read about Peter Bolt Publishing.

TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST (NOON): Civic Commemorative Service. Preacher: Archbishop Peter Jensen. (In the presence of the Governor of New South Wales.)

You can read it all HERE.

And you can RSVP for any of it, or any questions can be made by clicking HERE.

____________________

Come back, Word Verification, Come back

2009-08-11T10:25:00.003+10:00

Almost two years to the day that I killed my Word Verification (Begone, Word Verification, Begone) I'm bringing it back.

Too much spam lately.

I'll see how it goes. Hope it doesn't stop you from commenting.

__________________

I'm ramblin' again

Richard Johnson on ABC Website

An Invitation to hear Redeemer City to City Next Thursday

Vine Church is now meeting...

A psychic gave three Australians in NYC $20 to buy a Bible

The Key to Artist Success is Persistence and Passion

Now I know where the noise comes from...

Today's Hymns and Songs

$30,000 to announce that you already live together?

Make sure your acts of righteousness are seen.

City. Contemporary. Bold. *Kind*

I'm Back, I Hope

LAND and ISRAEL in the Jewish Scriptures

Help me with Divorce (and Marriage and Remarriage)

New Sermon Series in the Morning

Sermon Series in Evening: Sermon on the Mount

I think you need to read this Psalm...

Those African Americans know how to preach

We are all Theologians

C.S. Lewis on Church Music

New Website for York Street Anglican

Evening Service Starts in 10 Days

Listening to Sydneysiders (Moore Mission)

We went to the Winter Olympics

A Sense of York Street Anglican

Love this Pic

Dinner Tonight

New Evening Congregation brainstorm...

Where I used to live in New York City

Lent Preaching Program at York Street

Report: New Evening Service

New Evening Congregation starts this Sunday...

Free Nelson Mandela

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare (3rd Interview with CPX)

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare (2nd Interview with CPX)

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare (1st Interview with CPX)

Is God Killing the Uniting Church?

On Being Australian

Huw Jones: A New Minister at York Street (Music Direction)

Fear and love (Tomorrow's Sermon)

Help me with Fear

Celebrity, wash thy hands

Attention Moore College Student Ministers: Can you serve in two congregations?

York Street 2010 Developments: #1 Podcasts

After Church on Observatory Hill

Cool Lego Commerical

Sermon Series: New Beginnings for an Ancient People

My Favourite Picture on New Year's Eve

Twittering New Years Eve in the City

The Cost of Sin in Dollars

Christmas> Would you prefer to bury him? (Herod's thirst)

In Defence of Schoolies

Praying for Healing

York Street Advent Preaching Program

Live Out Loud: Tickets at the Door...

Blogging London #5: The Lunchtime Business Partnerships

Blogging London #4: 'I'll fight the battles'

Are you British, or are you American?

Blogging London #3: Two things I learnt on Sunday

Blogging London #2: Initial Impressions of St Helen's

Favourite Pic so far...

Blogging London #1: Reasons for Visiting

Want to buy a Redeemer Church Planting Manual?

Handle with Prayer

A Five Year Old discusses Work

US Passport

Cult Classic

Tasker on Christmas - I just ordered 10

When did you first join a CULT?

Are Youth the Canary in the Coal Mine?

ACL Links: How do they choose what to link?

Dr Laurel on Shakespeare and the Bible

#9 Being Australian (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

#8 Morals (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

#7 Family (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

Boba Fett, Bounty Hunting and Yoda

#6 Relationships (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

#5 Tastes (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

#4 Lifestyle (15 minutes around Postcode 2000)

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

City. Contemporary. Bold. Kind