Again in the last few months a couple of people I know (one a close friend, another who I meet fairly regularly) have been diagnosed with terminal, or probably terminal cancer. This caused me to focus again on the issues in this previous post such that I thought it worth re-posting. Serious concerns re the church and its ever decreasing missional effectiveness to those who have the Damoclean Sword of being without Christ hanging over their heads.
The American businessman Stephen Covey was the author of the well-known statement that "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." While that was said in the context of business it also is highly relevant to the existence, health and purpose of the church, particularly in the area of Mission. At the … Continue reading When the ‘Main Thing’ Isn’t
“I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, my reality is just different from yours.” … Continue reading The Misshapen Church and the Rabbit Hole to Weird-Land
For Support, Encouragement, Equipping, Knowledge Sharing- 26th October, 2019 For all those who are already involved in, or interested in developing, Missional Communities and Networks. Looking at some of the (perhaps new) skills for the creation and development of MCs in the 'Live, Work and Play' cultural universes where unchurched people spend their time. For … Continue reading Notice – A ‘SEEK’ Day – Missional Community Gathering
It is quite dispiriting to feel the need to return to this topic. It has been quite a few years since I first wrote about the ‘Transferee Mirage’. The original context was the satisfaction being expressed by many church leaders at the time that a (then) recent National Church Life Survey (2011) indicated ongoing attendance … Continue reading The ‘Transferee Mirage’ – Again!
Morning sunlight dapples forest floor, At Escarpment’s foot, a sparkling Pacific dances in a southern breeze Eucalypt scents the air, Tumbling seaward the Creek burbles with pleasure Kookaburras laugh with joy Collared Doves coo, Magpies carol and Currawongs call, Backed by a Cicada choir God’s creation rejoices and sings unbounded praise for Summer’s morn.
In 'The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean Giono describes his experiences that flowed from a chance encounter with a Shepherd when he was on a walking holiday in the French Alps. He recounts how after about three days of walking he came to a barren and colourless stretch of land where almost nothing grew and … Continue reading A Forest of Kingdom Outbreaks
Ship cruising along, passengers full, Ease and comfort were expected to be, But blind eyes were turned to the dangerous sea. I went up to the Bridge, but there was no one there, The place for the Helmsman, it was bare. Charts for Navigation were lying around, but readers of them not to be … Continue reading The View from the Bridge
The general subject of this booklet is the Missional Malaise that now infects the whole Australian church landscape. The specific subject is the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, arguably still the strongest part of the Australian non- Catholic Church and thus of broader relevance to the wider church. While the specific focus is Sydney, it can … Continue reading The Missional Malaise – Time for Something Completely Different
The writer of the Biblical book Ecclesiastes, often called ‘The Teacher’, makes the statement that- “For everything there is a season”. (3:1) This ‘season’, as the last year fades and the horizons of the yet untravelled vistas of the new year … Continue reading The Big Why? – A New Year’s Reflection
