Church Stuff: The Emerging Church

There are lots of interesting blogs dedicated to interesting discusions regarding the "Emerging Church". The following is based on my comments on a discussion on the Emerging Church as Simple Games.

I'm still trying to put my finger on what is meant by the 'emerging church'. It appears to be like a cross between the home church and networking (as opposed to the contemporary church that meets in warehouses etc). It appears that the EC are on a journey to find a new 'operating' model so to speak.

For me I like Church, I go to a contemporay Church. There are many expressions of Church 'High (formality) Church' - 'Low (formality) Church' - all cater for different needs and tastes - all being the same in purpose (we hope).

Church is effectively community of people called to worhship and serve God and serve one another (ie 'do life together'). Church, in whatever its expression must retain all of its core attributes worship of God, meeting, teaching, sharing, serving, accountability, evangelism etc. Lets hope the EC finds a model that does not compromise those core attributes that make 'Church' - 'Church' but whose expression appeals to a new group of people.

Recreation: TGIF 2

Well its been a flat-out week. TGIF. I have to work tommorrow though.

Out for dinner to unwind - Mexican , a few glasses of wine... Okay, I enjoy the ocassional drink - but then I'm in great company. So did Martin Luther - who also got critisized for turning pub songs into hymns...

Been reading more of the book 'Anatomy of the Spririt'. Some truth(s) in there - but its not long before the ugly little troll of 'mysticsim' raises his brutish little head.

Some dangerous stuff for the unwary...I'll write some more on it tomorrow. For now its of to bed.

Its Been Raining & Its Late

10:30 Pm. Just got in. Its been raining and its late.

The Datawarehouse is going extremely well - on time, under budget. Hope this continues.

The 6yo is asleep in my bed - just waiting for his Daddy to wake him up - before I carry him off to his own bed. That's what it's all about.

Lots to do tommorrow. Off to Bed. 

Reading: "Anatomy of The Spirit" - Initial Impresion

Interesting that this book's first sentence starts with "...after ending my career as a newsaper journalist and obtaining a Masters degree in theology..." Hmmm, even this level of Biblical education does not stop one writing about books that combine Hindu, Christian and Kabbalah beliefs (and others) into one compatible teaching...

Also next page just noticed : "Having grown up Catholic and studied theology, I was keenly aware that tanspersonal abilities lead one inevitably to the Monastery - or the madhouse..."
 
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Funnily, its on my heart to do some deeper theological studies - but have always been worried that my core beliefs my change when subjected to philosphies such as 'higher criticism' - I never want to end up like Bishop Spong or Barbara Thieling...Is "anatomy of the spirit" a product of 'higher learning'?

More God Stuff: Thirst

I never thought that I would write so much spiritual stuff on this blog - but guess thats the way it goes.

I jumped on the Bus yeterday morning on the way to work.. . and bus time is MY time. Being terribly self absorbed - Like Shrek "I need my space".

On the bus I saw my ex-next door neighbour who by the way is a really extroverted friendly and chatty woman, and of course selfishly I just wanted to find a shell and crawl under it.

Anyway, the thought occurred to me that I am 'obliged' to talk. (Hmmm sometimes I question my own behaviour).

However it wasn't long before our conversation turned to spiritual things. She told me she is involved in "New Age" and gets surrpunded by energy and immersed in 'white light'. I tactfully warned her (yes at times I can be tactful) that the Bible says that even Satan comes as an angel of light etc. and also told her about Jesus being truly God and truly man, dying for sin etc.

Obvioulsy she became uncomfortable with the fact that I told her what she is into may not be all  good for her and kept trying to find similarities between what we believed. She then pulled a book she has just finished from her bag asked me to read it - (I think more for audit and reassurance that I could come back and say it is OK).

Now I have another book on my pile entitled "Anatomy of the Spirit" and some more research to do.

It is so apparent that there are so many people out there thirsting and in need of answers.

 

 

 

Reflections: The Monastic Lifestyle vs My World

I’ve been reflecting on the lifestyle of Monks, and in some ways how great it would be to give it all up and live for God in a community. No bills, No Kids Education, No going to work, No internal corporate politics, no struggle to avoid the coming downsizing etc…

I’m not going to take anything away from the life of the Monks for I believe that this form of existence is largely another expression of the Christian Church and some are genuinely called to this life style “…and others who do not marry for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, Let him who can accept this teaching do so”. (Matt 19:12).

And also their overall contribution to society cannot be underestimated.

In fact according to Boenhoffer the Monastic lifestyle had noble beginnings:

 “As Christianity spread, and the Church became more secularized, this realization of the costliness of Grace faded. The world was Christianized, and grace became its common property, It was to be had a low cost. Yet the Church of Rome did not altogether lose its earlier vision. It is highly significant that the Church was astute enough to find room for the monastic movement, and to prevent it from lapsing into schism. Here on the outer fringe of the Church was a place that the older vision was kept alive. Here men still remembered that grace costs, that grace means following Christ. Here they left all for Christ’s sake, and endeavored daily to practice his rigorous commands. Thus monasticism became a living protest against the secularization of Christianity…”
             -Dietrich Boenhoffer (The Cost of Discipleship)

It is interesting that to note that many people are attracted to the monastery for a period of rest and reneawal. I believe that this can be helpful. But it is funny how we sometimes think that the lifestyle of these seemingly (and possibly) more spiritual people is always actually more spiritual than our own.  

I have personally struggled with the fact that my own ‘secular’ lifestyle may not measure up in Gods eyes to that of the monk, the priest / pastor, the teacher or the missionary.

I also remember back to when I was in YWAM, how tempting it was to feel ‘good’ (or holier) than my friends that went straight from Uni into career. I also observed some people in that organisation were quite proud of the fact that they were living a ‘superior’ Christian life to those people who ‘had it easy’ living the normal Christian lifestyle - that is 'just' going to work and then to Church on Sundays (people who paradoxically provided for them financially).

Some had even likened themselves the SAS or Elite Forces. This may be true with respect to some going into different and dangerous nations, but there is the obvious danger of pride creeping in. Noting, that there are times in my life where I catch myself thinking that I am spiritually superior to others – particularly others who have fallen away from Church, - to be more deserving of Gods Blessing (God forgive me).

Where is this going? He says very tired and as his thoughts meander….

The religious or communal lifestyle can easily set itself to “depart from genuine Christianity setting itself (themselves??) up “as the individual achievement of a select few, and so claiming special merit of its own.”    

Interestingly, Martin Luther who had himself become a monk to forsake the world and be obedient to Christ had to leave the monastery and go back into the world

Luther had to learn that "the only way to follow Jesus was by living in the world. Hitherto, the Christian life had been the achievement of a few choice spirits under the exceptionally favorable conditions of monasticism; now the duty lay on every Christian living in the world. The commandment of Jesus must be accorded perfect obedience in one’s daily vocation of life”…..”It was hand to hand conflict between the Christian and the world”.
 
I can see the logic in this.

It is more confronting, in some ways more dangerous and more difficult to be a Christian sent out as “sheep amongst wolves” in our ‘secular’ environments rather than to exist in the comfort and protection of a laregly full-time Christian community.

It is our in the sanctuary of our own homes, our Churches, and our friends that we meet to learn, rest and recharge in order to “go into the world” as "ambassadors of Christ".

It only when I look at it this way that purpose in living seems to materialise before my eyes and any feelings of guilt or inadequacy begin to dissipate.

Recreation: Sunday with the Monks

For someone who went to a Catholic High School, and then after becoming a Christian in my mid-20's I feasted on a lot of so-called Christian literature (eg. Jack Chick) that was decidedly anti-Catholic.

As I have grown in my faith, I have come to accept Catholicism (with all of its faults) as another 'expression' of Christs Church. Over recent times, I have found a greater respect for this denomination after watching great films like (Father) Romero and also spending some time in an orphanage run by Catholics in the Phillipinnes.

Yesterday, I thought as a family that we would just pack the Car and drive to a place that I have wanted to see for a long-time - the monsastory town of New Norcia.

It is a beautiful town and one can only admire the Leadership and Vision of the founder Bishop Rosendo Salvado.

"The first fifty years of New Norcia's history are dominated by the towering figure of Bishop Rosendo Salvado (1814 - 1900). Along with another Spanish Benedictine monk, Dom Joseph Serra, he founded New Norcia in 1846, spending the rest of his life making it one of the most progressive and successful missions in Australian history.
Salvado's original vision was to create, among the indigenous peoples of the Victoria Plains, a Christian, largely self-sufficient village based on agriculture. However, after the decimation of the local populations by introduced diseases in the 1860's, he concentrated his activity on giving a practical education to the indigenous children who were brought to New Norcia from all over the state. Like other missionaries of the nineteenth century, his aim was to 'civilise' and evangelise according to the European ideals of the time, but he did so with a sympathy for indigenous culture that was rare in his day".

Blogging: Trouble

I'm having technical difficulties with my - losing my fav - links etc and formating going skew-wiff. I will seek to fix over the next month or so.

I want to book mark this site to add to my list of reading. I am intrigued by the Muslim faith, the serenity and mystique of its mosques, the discipline of its believers, its politics etc.

A pity they don't really undestand Jesus.

Values: Courage Competes With Arrogance

On the back of a "Herald Sun" Shrek 2 promotional poster sent by my Grandpaprents in Melbourne to my 6 year old an article entitled 'Humanity's Near  Miss" (dated 27 Ausgust 2004) caught my eye.

"How close we came to the nightmare of a nuclear winter, or at least the destruction of major cities, is told in the article on Stanislav Petrov in the Extra section in today's Sunday Herald Sun.
It was very close – millions of lives hung in the balance when Moscow's early warning centre detected hostile missiles.
Yet courage competes with arrogance; the spirit of individualism with the closed mind of totalitarianism in the report of the 1983 near-disaster.
An unorthodox hero, Lt-Col Petrov, alone stood between reason and the madness of a nuclear war. Despite the electronic evidence flooding in to his command post from spy satellites, he refused to believe the US was attacking.
The Soviet missiles stayed in their silos. He bought time to expose the alarm as false. He averted a holocaust.
It is chilling to recall that faulty technology almost caused World War III, but inspirational that a person, just like one of us, saved the planet".

Thanks for your courage  Lt-Col Petrov...

 

Parenting: Children and Destiny

The Lord said to me, "I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations".
    -1 Jer 4

Real Art: "Fish" By my 6 Year old

"Fish' By My 6yo 

Parenting: Luther on Teaching Children

My boss is a great guy who really looks after his team and best of all promotes the work life balance. Family is his highest priority.
 
Recently, something he said still resonates in my ears - "Your first responsibility is your family"...
 
Been thinking about that alot lately.
 
Sometimes I feel Iwould like to do something more altrusitic with my life like go and teach Primary School - noting that there is shortage of male primary teachers. That move would take a year of study and put alot of financial pressure on my family. Dont feel that it is the thing to do right now,,,maybe in a few years... 
 
But for now I accept that my first responsibility is to work with my gifts and talents and provide for my own family and disciple my own boys.
 
Came across a good quote today
 

"Sermons very little edify children, who learn little thereby; it is needful they be taught ...at home that they be heard and examined what they have learned, this way profits much; tis very wearisome, but very necessary".
                                                          -Martin Luther speaking on the Catechism

Food & Wine: Recommendation

My Father-in-Law is a very shrewd man, with an eye for quality and an aversion for parting with money. He is the type of guy that the book the "Millionaire-mind-next-door" seems to be written about, having never owned a new car but successfully runs a tight business that employs about 15 people or so.
 
Much like my own Father he loves the good things in life food and wine, having said that he has always kept himself extremely fit and even now in his 50's still goes for a surf. Obviously, we get on well and I have a great deal of respect for him.
 
Recently he recommended an excellent wine: De Bortoli's Sacred Hill, Cabernet Merlot, 2003 a great wine - and dual Bronze medal winner  -  review attatched, but the best bit is that it costs only $60 for a case...that's $5.00 a bottle.
 
He recently purchased a case on my behalf....
 
But $5.00 a bottle for dual bronze medal winner!....I told you he is a very shrewd man (much like Laban in Genesis). ...
 
His only down fall thus far has been giving permission to a person of Scottish decent with "even shorter arms and longer pockets" to marry into the family.... 
 
Needless to say I still haven't paid him for the wine yet :-) 

Parenting: Classic Quotes

Had a colleague and his wife and 3 yo over for lunch yesterday - my wife cooked up a storm as she does...
 
Getting my 6yo and my colleague's 3 yo to play together was not difficult for the most part but when asked by his father to share the toys the young boy replied:
 
"No Daddy --- I want to share by myself".
 
 

Parenting: Speaking their Lingo

I thought that I had it covered - When kids say "sick" they actually mean "great" thus, "thats sick Dad!", means "thats great Dad!".
 
I was wrong.
 
I've just learned that "sick" actually means "sick" in the traditional sense - but its actually "s-i-i-c-k" or the elongated form of the word "sick" that is actually used to means "great". 
 
It makes sense really!
 
Guess that goes for words like "w-i-i-cked" too??  
 
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By the way, I have learned that "Gee thanks Dad - you're the best Dad in the whole world" has to be up there with the best words that you'll ever hear.

Values: From Purpose to The Empathy Driven Life

I work for a corporate, and I have to admit that our own "Marketing Guru's" have done a brilliant job looking introspectively and relaunching our Brand this month.

Over the last 5 years, we have come along way and now operate across a wide range of consumer markets. We have a solid “we will be the best yada, yada, yada…” type mission (purpose) statement and aligned values of “trust, security, integrity etc.”.

And in the past it’s our Vision, Mission and Values (Purpose) that has driven us…

But the thing that’s now changing is the fact that our brand which used to be aligned to our corporate values is now being repositioned in order to convey “EMPATHY”.

Our values will stand, and our purpose remains the same – but we are finally learning that really, really understanding the customer and catering for their needs is what needs to drive us. Not in a way that we think is appropriate, but in a way that is appropriate to the customer.

In some ways we are now moving from being a ‘purpose driven’ organization to being an ‘empathy driven’ organization.

Until recently, I used to think that I was an empathetic person – until a much wiser person than me advised that if you really want to understand how a person is feeling and why they are behave the way that they do “you need to feel their pain” – i.e. Listen to what are they trying to tell us in their own language.

Most good Marketing principles cascade down from the academic institutions to the corporate 'think-tanks', then to business and then adopted by other institutions. There is nothing wrong with this - as all good principles are God-created.

I read Rick Warren's book a few years ago and it certainly made me think about having 'purpose' in my life.

Maybe it’s only a matter of time before before we see a new book series permeating our book shelves and Christian circles entitled the "Empathy Driven Life".
 
I know I will need to read and apply the principles in it.

Ocean Stuff: Running with Dolphins

I only had my favourite set of DVD's - "The Blue Planet" narrated by David Attenborough returned by a colleague last week  - so sat down to watch it with my 6 yo.
 
In the opening scene David Attenborough describes the size and wonder of a Blue Whale...its the largest living creature on the earth...its heart is the size of a small car...many of its blood vessels are so large you can swim through them. It goes on. It is absolutely amazing.
 
Coincidently, in terms of the marine environment in Western Australia its been a big week here with displays of The Danger, The Magnificence and The Beauty by the creatures that live in the Ocean.
 
The Danger:
 
First last Saturday with the tragic shark attack in Gracetown and feel for the victim. I'm also  surprised with the lack of expertise we have here in Australia in terms of understanding shark behaviour on the basis that we have mores attacks per capita than any other continent. Whites are in fact relatively intelligent creatures, and will hunt together - as shown in documentary I watched a couple of years ago about their behaviour when hunting seals of California.  
 
I respect and admire Great Whites - they are infact superb and wondrous creatures. However my personal view is that we need to control fishing of Great Whites of our coastal waters - but not necessarily give them wholesale protection. It seems there numbers are on the increase, perhaps they are driven in by over-fishing in deep water, but my assertion is that they are inceasing in numbers as the whale population (a major food source) has increased in recent years - this is coupled with the fact they are protected.
 
To be truthful they scare the crap out of me - but it won't keep me out of the water. Lets hope they just dont become a pest like the crocodiles up in Northern Australia have become since their own protection.
 
The Magnificence:
 
Also, on the subject of marine creatures, my wife called to say that they saw a whale not far off Trigg Beach on Wednesday. The wildlife officers had to rescue it from a net that it had caught and was dragging along with it. My wife and 6 yo witnessed it blowing water which was a buzz. Later it was all shown on the evening news.
 
The Beauty:
 
Finally, the perhaps the highlight of my week was sighting a pod of about 6 dolphins only metres from the bank of the Swan River when going for a lunchtime run yesterday.
 
I don't normally agree with New Agers - but they tend to say that you are going to have a lucky day if you see a dolphin.
 
Well, on this one I will have to concur. While all large marine creatures are amazing and wondrous - I think anyone is a hell of alot luckier if they unexpectedly find themselves in close proximity to a dolphin rather than a shark.
 
 

Learning From Experience #3: Shoes

Never buy leather work shoes where the sole is glued to the shoe - invest in leather soles that have been stitched to the shoe. There is nothing funny about this - it's just practical.

Reading: Reading With Intention

I really like socialising and don't mind people (contrary to popular belief) - my wife and I both love cooking - and we regualrly entertain, - but having said that I relish solitude.

A couple pf hours per night, studying, reading, writing or reflecting - my personal Universe...its great.

I hate wasting money and I've done the sums - owning a second car is one of the most inefficient use of resources. As a consequence I also have an hour and a half per day in transit and elect to take public tranport. Solitary space mmmm.

Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to read quite a few books in transit. But this year have struggled to get through books so I need to prioritse the books on my WIP shelf and read with intention and order:

1) Jack Welch - What I've Learned Leading a Great Company (given to me by my boss who is both a great friend and mentor).
2) Rumours of Another World - Phillip Yancey: Only two Chapters in but this book is intriguing...looks for the eveidnce of the supernatural in the environment around us.
3) Patrick O'Brian - Master & Commander...Not usually one for fiction - three chapters in.
4) How to win friends and influence people - (Carnegie) To help turn around my abrasive, terse, impolitic technique. Got a reputation for getting things done at work but leaving others to pick up the pieces - I'm tryiong to change...6 Chapters in...
5) The Cost of Discipleship (Boenhoeffer) - about seven chapters in of this classic. WOuld love to strat again and summarise.
6) The book I saw in the Koorong catalogue on the sphere of salvation - whether there is space for people outside "Christianity" to be saved - its a must read but just got to finish what I started first.

But solitary time is up...I'm being lured to watch Australian Idol by my wife with a piece of home cooked chocolate cake and a glass of red wine not finished with dinner....

Character: First Class Lives

I have to say that from my earliest of days I remember being facinated by men who embodied integrity. I guess that I had a feint hope that I could learn from them or some of what they are - would ‘rub-off’ and change me for the better.

In films it was Christopher Reeve in 'Superman' when I was a kid. As a teenager, Atticus Finch from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ entranced me.

More recently I enjoyed the character Bill Parrish who represented those character traits in the film “Meet Joe Black”.

In 'Meet Joe Black', William Parrish (Anthony Hopkins), whose charmed life and orderly household are suddenly disrupted by the arrival of an enigmatic young man named Joe Black (Brad Pitt) who proceeds to fall in love with Parrish’s beautiful daughter Susan (Claire Forlani). For Parrish, Susan and the rest of his family, the consequences of this romance are profound, complicated and bittersweet, for Joe Black is actually the personification of Death.

What vividly impacted me was the scene towards the very end of the movie that when it was time for Bill Parish to pass away. He asked Joe Black “Do I have anything to worry about?” The response that followed was along the lines “No Bill, not you―You have lived a ‘First Class Life’”.

If there is anything that I desire at all - I would like nothing more to hear a similar statement to those words - “Well done Good and Faithful Servant” (Matt 25:21&23) when I pass into the next world……I guess I've got quite a few changes to make in the mean-time.

Parenting: Time

"Remember kids spell love T-I-M-E"
-Ian Grant "Fathers Who Dare Win".

I've been really busy with work and doing stuff around the house and noticed my 6yo getting a little bit teary.

So took the family to Kings Park to do the 'Tree Top Walk' and play in the Park. An ice-cream for an afternoon treat. Just small things that don't cost anything much - only time.

It's the small things in life that create the best memories. Time with the kids.

Ironically, one the best feelings in life is having an infant fall asleep on your chest on the couch at 4am in the morning - when you should be asleep yourself.

Attitude: Unfinished Lives

I often tell myself that life is great for two reasons: 1) I have to remind myself to be thankful and appreciative of the gifts of life and 2) I have to fight against sliding back to my natural default melancholy, pessimistic “woe is me” temperament.

Having said that I also realize that life is interspersed with tragedy and disappointment. There is a time for introspection, there is a time for mourning and there is a time for despondency.

I was planning to reflect upon the tragic Gracetown shark attack this morning and how it fits into my world. But flicking through the Sunday Times I noticed so many tragedies on so many levels.

I guess we can’t have the highs without the lows, the excitement without the danger the success without the failure. That is life.

But it’s how we face and respond to these tragic milestones in life that make us what we are and define who we will become.

Usually great and inspiring quotes in life situations come from Great and Famous people― but in today’s paper I noted what may be one of the most memorable quotes that I may ever hear in my life. It comes from an everyday father who tragically lost his 17 year old son in a car-accident:

“His may have been an unfinished life, but (my son) was not an unfinished person. We could clearly see the man he was to become. Our comfort is in knowing that we produced a fine human being”.

Parenting: Childwise and Controlled Crying

I've now conlcuded that there is no such thing as "controlled crying".

Theology: The Anti-Christ Unmasked

When I was growing up I was entranced by prophesy books – Stan Deyo’s “The Cosmic Conspiracy”, Barry Smith’s “Final Warning” and the sequel “The Very Last Final Warning” or whatever it was called. (By the way these books should have come with a money back guarantee if they didn’t deliver).

Also remember playing around with numbers to determine who actually the number of the Beast is. Both the names William Gates III and Henry Kissinger add up to 666 if you use the secret code A=6, B= 12, C=18 etc. Hmmm….

But I reckon after years of research I’ve finally determined who the beast actually is. Without doubt it’s the evil, malicious little guy that emails the surf reports to me. When it’s good surf you never actually receive the email until after 1.00pm when the wind goes onshore. What use is that? And often he lies. When it is really good he lets everyone think that it is small and that the wind is going to come in soon - while he and his close mates then enjoy Trigg point all to themselves.

Surely the hottest place in Hades has been created for this guy.

Marraige: Appreciation

"Try praising your wife, even if it does frighten her at first."
-Author: Billy Sunday

I've made some dumb decsions in my life; but fortunatley I was either wise or lucky in choosing my wife.
I'd only been a committed Christian for a month or so when we met, and we became friends for quite some time before we even started going out together.
My wife comes from a long lineage of committed Christian women, me from a nominally Christian home. I also had some pretty "messed-up" attitudes towards women in general and wasn't big on the "trust" thing. God has used her to change that entirely.
But I've learned that while there are potential many compatible partners out there, ultimately if we are open to God's plan I believe as in the case of Isaac and Rebecca God has it all worked out.
I hope that I can instil in my boys three things:
1) Trust God for your wife
2) Use Proverbs 31 as a 'checklist' for potential suitors
3) Marry a woman who is your best friend.

Attitude: Thru the Tunnel

" I can see clearly now the rain has gone..."
-Hothouse Flowers / Johnny Cash

Thi may seem a little weird but I just wanted to log this one for no other reason but to make a note to myself that after about two to three weeks of a very "melancholy" period - I finally feel that I've come thru the tunnel.

Now back to focus on work and too enjoy the people around me.

I've got a datawarehouse to deliver!

And hopefully no-more Mrs. L complaining that I'm being overly introverted.

Life is grand. God is great. And a little Guinness is a remedy for many ailments! :-)

Learning From Experience #2: Spreadsheeting

Always hit the 'save' button when working on spreadsheets for long periods of time. Its got a huge ROI.

Values: Jacques On Faith & Hope

"If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope".

Author: Jacques Cousteau, French marine biologist/diver/explorer/videographer

Quote of the Day:

"Can you help me answer this twat please?"...

Helen Kay, Manager of Colwick Hall Hotel in Britain, learns the importance of distinguishing between the 'reply' and 'forward' buttons when responding to a customers email complaint.

-Source: australianIT.com.au

Learning From Experience: Haircuts

Never let an apprentice cut your hair without supervision.

Finances: Money & Friends

I have been walking around the house singing “N-O”, “N-O”, “N-O” in my terrible off-key voice. My wife has been asked to have an ENJO party by a friend. The products are great, but I always feel uncomfortable with the prices and pressure to spend at these things. Beside most of my peers, like us have young kids and mortgages. So for now – its “N-O”, “N-O”, “N-O”.

God Stuff: Grace and Truth

"The Word...came from the Father full of Grace and Truth" John 1:14

Been thinking about Grace and Truth again...
Thought that I had it figured out to a degree - then it overwhelms me again.

I can't figure out:
Do Grace and Truth coexist as separate but side-by-side entities like 'tweedle dee' and 'tweedle dum'?
Are they both two sides of the same coin?
Is Grace infinitely bigger than Truth or visa versa?

It may seem irrelevant but in practical terms I guess if we have some understanding of this then we will know when to say "No - enough is enough - and stand firm on issues" and when to say "I'll keep giving/relenting/tolerating/I'll keep my mouth shut even though I don't agree with you/you dont deserve it".

My head hurts. Off to Bed.

God Stuff: Love

I love the fact that services are held on a Saturday night – love having Sunday off for R&R. The sermon last night was on “Love” and 1 Cor 13 and whilst there was nothing wrong with the content or delivery, I have to admit to coming away feeling a little heavy.
Talking with my wife about it and I confess to often being un-loving in my dealings with others (“don’t suffer fools lightly” type attitude). I also can feel myself freeze inside when someone goes to give me affection – eg. my mother in-law. Despite having a great family up-bringing maybe losing my natural mother early on is a contributing factor. Regardless, of the cause, it’s something with Gods help that I have to change.

Ocean Stuff: Decent Swell

Today was a case of a great winter swell which hit with waves well over head height about 5ft (10 ft face)*.
This morning looked great with the offshore wind but couldn't get out until about 1pm - when a slight onshore came in to 'mess-it-up' a little.
It was still big, only got a couple of waves - spent most of the time pounded and dragged across the reef bottom. I have heard my bones crack before, but today was the first time I've ever heard my ears pop when being pushed under the water by a crashing wave.
Organised a leave pass for tommorrow - as I'm going back for more!

Edit

*The official surf report for Saturday reported a swell of 2-3 feet (4-6 ft face).

Although I'm still skeptical of their call - they often say its bigger when there is nothing.

It was still over head high. And the boys had fun.

Just Stuff: T.G.I.F

Its been a hardish, longish week.

Thank God it's Friday.

Free Dress For Work.

A pint, - OK, it was actually two pints of Guinness with the guys at the Grosvenor...

But best of all - home to the little men for the weekend.

Work Stuff: Irreverence

I may have the occasional whinge about work sometimes, but in reality I have a great job where I get to do a lot of research and writing.

Came across a case study yesterday on Richard Branson and the Virgin Brand. ‘Virgin’ represents ‘irreverence’in the marketplace.

Branson uses his Brand almost as a ‘war-cry’ to enter a market where there is need for a shake-up. This occurs when there are ‘special situations’ such as when industries are in turmoil or otherwise where there are above average industry returns and have companies have become complacent.

By definition ‘irreverence’ is confrontational and offensive.

Consequently, when Virgin goes in there is a level of ‘shock’ and then resistance – before companies start looking inwards and changing the way they see things (attitude) and then finally in the way in which they operate.

Obviously if ‘irreverence’ can work in industry, it can be used to impact attitudes and the way we operate at a personal level when we become complacent in our outlook, entrenched in our beliefs or set in our ways.

After all, industries are made up of people.

Parenting: Ouch!

My 6 year old came to me this morning with my dive ticket ID in his hand.

It has a passport photo on it to help authenticate identity.

He asked: "Who is this man?".

I answered "That was me about 14 years ago"...

His eyes just looked at me with all of the honesty and innocence that only a child can muster and said "you had lots of hair then...but you look like Homer Simpson now"...

It's gonna be a damned cold day in Hades before I put a current photo up on my Blog.