Earlier in the year there was a grid blog (where various people blog about the same thing) around the idea of waiting. I blogged avery few days for some time on some thoughts around waiting.
At the other end of the year, in a very different place we are in a different part of the church calandar - then was lent, now it's advent. Both have waiting as a theme.
I've been thinking around wiating this last week for a number of reasons, especially that I'm leading a couple of our Sunday gathering times over the next few weeks and going to lead one on waiting. Some people have also been blogging about it and some mailing lists I'm on ahve had the theme a bit!
Lots of thoughts around it but it has taken me back to earlier in the year and probably the person (that I know of) who enjoyed my waiting series of blogs the most, the person who emailed me if I missed a few days and asked me where the next post was, because he found himself "waiting" (we enjoyed the irony of that!) for my post, in eager expectation. That person was Paul, whose death I blogged about a few months ago.
So as I enter a time of thinking about waiting, it is in a place of being very conscious that as I ponder it, blog about it, live it, Paul is no longer part of that journey ... at least not in the way he was. His journey of waiting in this life is over. The thing he longed for and waited for the most is his! However, as I "wait", as I ponder the theme of waiting this advent it is with the very real presence of the loss of Paul in my life ... in our blogging life especially.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Is this a book review site?
It's beginning to feel like it!
I've been reading heaps in the last few months - and having a great time. Over the last week, I've read a book called Open Minds (published in the US under the titled Creative Company) by Andy Law. It's all about the Advertising Company that completely changed the way that they worked. It was one of those books that really caught into my passion for life and work ... It's a good read and challenges lots of our automatic assumptions about what work is and how we do it and approach it.
I've been reading heaps in the last few months - and having a great time. Over the last week, I've read a book called Open Minds (published in the US under the titled Creative Company) by Andy Law. It's all about the Advertising Company that completely changed the way that they worked. It was one of those books that really caught into my passion for life and work ... It's a good read and challenges lots of our automatic assumptions about what work is and how we do it and approach it.
Friday, October 15, 2004
A New Kind of Christian
Last week I finished reading an excellent book by Brian McLaren called "A New Kind of Christian". It's a most excellent book.
If you are someone who either loves Jesus or is interested in who he is and what relating to him might be about but are over some ways the church has told you that needs to be lived out I reckon that you might like to journey with this book.
Others who read this blog might be interested in reading it to get a real feel for where some others are coming from - but can I ask that you read it graciously?
I'm reading the sequel at the moment which is even better "The Story we find ourselves in" - all about the big picture story of life, the universe, the Bible - so exciting and gets me so passionate about life.
If you are someone who either loves Jesus or is interested in who he is and what relating to him might be about but are over some ways the church has told you that needs to be lived out I reckon that you might like to journey with this book.
Others who read this blog might be interested in reading it to get a real feel for where some others are coming from - but can I ask that you read it graciously?
I'm reading the sequel at the moment which is even better "The Story we find ourselves in" - all about the big picture story of life, the universe, the Bible - so exciting and gets me so passionate about life.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Quiet, I know
It's been very quiet on this blog - sorry about that. Life has been going exceptionally fast (and very slow at the same time) in this part of the world. Been working lots, applying for jobs, studying, and a decent amount of partying too!
One of my most exciting things of the last few weeks is going 4 generations back in one of my families - so on that part of my family I am 8 generations back ... and know that we came into Australia (into SA) on a boat in 1840.
Will write more soon.
One of my most exciting things of the last few weeks is going 4 generations back in one of my families - so on that part of my family I am 8 generations back ... and know that we came into Australia (into SA) on a boat in 1840.
Will write more soon.
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Another quote
Reading another brilliant book: Resilience by Anne Deveson.
A quote that resonates with alot of what I've been thinking about over the last 6 months or so (it's conversation between two people):
"It's only when people change their thinking that action follows."
"Sometimes you need to act before you change the way you think."
"You need both approaches," he said calmly, "As I've grown older, I've recognised that the way I live is far more critical than the actions I take. Fundamental change in thinking isn't triggered intellectually. It's far more emotional than that." (p71)
I guess this resonates becauses I'm becoming more and more convinced that neither actions nor thinking, as important as they both are, really cut it for deep change - that it really is about much more core issues of who we are and how we live. Actions and thinking are part of that, but no where near the whole story - I agree with "it's far more emotional than that". Although I'm not sure if "emotional" is the word quite, although definately part of it, maybe what I would say at the moment is "it's far less tangible than that".
A quote that resonates with alot of what I've been thinking about over the last 6 months or so (it's conversation between two people):
"It's only when people change their thinking that action follows."
"Sometimes you need to act before you change the way you think."
"You need both approaches," he said calmly, "As I've grown older, I've recognised that the way I live is far more critical than the actions I take. Fundamental change in thinking isn't triggered intellectually. It's far more emotional than that." (p71)
I guess this resonates becauses I'm becoming more and more convinced that neither actions nor thinking, as important as they both are, really cut it for deep change - that it really is about much more core issues of who we are and how we live. Actions and thinking are part of that, but no where near the whole story - I agree with "it's far more emotional than that". Although I'm not sure if "emotional" is the word quite, although definately part of it, maybe what I would say at the moment is "it's far less tangible than that".
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Living in a process world
Yesterday I finished reading "Leadership and the New Science" by Margaret Wheatley. Excellent book.
I loved these sentances and thought that many of you would too:
"the greatest challenge for me lies not in adopting any one new method, but in learning generally to live in a process world. It's a completely different way to be. Life demands that I participate with things as they unfold, to expect to be surprised, to honor the mystery of it, and to see what emerges. These were difficult lessons to learn. I was well-trained to create things - plans, events, measures, programs. I invested more than half my life in trying to make the world conform to what I thought was best for it. It's not easy to give up the role of master creator and move into the dance of life.
But what is the alternative, for me or you? Our dance partner insists that we put into ourselves in motion, that we learn to live with instability, chaos, change, and surprise. We can continue to stand immobilized on the shoreline, trying to protect ourselves from life's insistent gales, or we can begin moving. We can mourn the erosion of our plans, or we can set out to discover something new." (p153-154)
I loved these sentances and thought that many of you would too:
"the greatest challenge for me lies not in adopting any one new method, but in learning generally to live in a process world. It's a completely different way to be. Life demands that I participate with things as they unfold, to expect to be surprised, to honor the mystery of it, and to see what emerges. These were difficult lessons to learn. I was well-trained to create things - plans, events, measures, programs. I invested more than half my life in trying to make the world conform to what I thought was best for it. It's not easy to give up the role of master creator and move into the dance of life.
But what is the alternative, for me or you? Our dance partner insists that we put into ourselves in motion, that we learn to live with instability, chaos, change, and surprise. We can continue to stand immobilized on the shoreline, trying to protect ourselves from life's insistent gales, or we can begin moving. We can mourn the erosion of our plans, or we can set out to discover something new." (p153-154)
Friday, September 03, 2004
Doing or Thinking
A statement and idea I've heard a fair bit is "act your way into a new of thinking". The idea is that the way to change how people think is to get them to act differently and then they will think differently. There is much that I agree with in that - so often churches especially just major on what people think and expect it to change the way people live when so often it stops as heard knowledge rather than real knowledge which is lived and thought.
BUT I'm conscious of how different people process and people like me who need a framework to act in. That is, I need to "understand" the system/how it works, then I can know how to act and the action has a framework for it - ofcourse the action then reinforces the thinking and then the thinking reinfoces the action then ... (I won't go on!)
I think that they are absolutely inter-related and I guess I have been around lots of people who major on the "acting changing thinking" in recent times. What are your thoughts
BUT I'm conscious of how different people process and people like me who need a framework to act in. That is, I need to "understand" the system/how it works, then I can know how to act and the action has a framework for it - ofcourse the action then reinforces the thinking and then the thinking reinfoces the action then ... (I won't go on!)
I think that they are absolutely inter-related and I guess I have been around lots of people who major on the "acting changing thinking" in recent times. What are your thoughts
Monday, August 30, 2004
The food is crap!
The other week we had an interesting situation with the group of us who hang out regularly in our area. There is a key place where we hang and where we are very much regulars, where we are aiming to build relationships as well as have a "local" and the other week we were faced with a dilemma.
Often the food has been pretty average (with some exceptions like the time we had the best steak any of us have ever had!). On this particular occasion the food was appalling for all but one of our table. One persons risotto wasn't cooked properly, several of us ordered fish that was just plain awful. What do you do? What would you do?
What did we do? We discussed, we were fed up, we wondered what to do. A few people went and talked to the waitress, and we also talked to the owner who we know a bit - there was a new chef starting in a few days time and while I haven't eaten there since, the food looks great. We were polite but honest and used the opportunity to keep building relationships - and we chose to take the offered refund.
I thought that it was an interesting dilemma
Often the food has been pretty average (with some exceptions like the time we had the best steak any of us have ever had!). On this particular occasion the food was appalling for all but one of our table. One persons risotto wasn't cooked properly, several of us ordered fish that was just plain awful. What do you do? What would you do?
What did we do? We discussed, we were fed up, we wondered what to do. A few people went and talked to the waitress, and we also talked to the owner who we know a bit - there was a new chef starting in a few days time and while I haven't eaten there since, the food looks great. We were polite but honest and used the opportunity to keep building relationships - and we chose to take the offered refund.
I thought that it was an interesting dilemma
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Love/Hate list of Emerging Church
Jason Clark (UK) lists things that he loves and hates about the Emerging Church - loads in there that I agree with. What are your thoughts?
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Birthday Cards
Just going through my birthday cards and noticed a fasinating trend. The only birthday cards with "Happy Birthday" on the outside were from my parents and my aunt - all the rest were plain on the outside - even if specific birthday cards in the message on the inside. Not sure what that says - just was an interesting division.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
A Hymn for every Occasion
Yesterday in class we looked at the hymns of Charles Wesley (I am doing a class on the History of Evangelical Christianity this semester). It was a fasinating series of lectures - John Wesley, then George Whitfield and then the hymns of Charles Wesley. But this last hour particularly struck me.
He wrote hymns for every kind of occasion - for when you thought you might be getting small pox, for when you had it, and for when you were recovering from it, for those in child birth ... and the one that seemed strangely appropriate yesterday which was one of the ones that the person giving the lecture (a person doing her PhD in Charles Wesleys hymns) gave us to look at was a hymn to sing on viewing a corpse. The words, I thought, were quite appropriate for such an occasion and it was interesting to think about how they had some way of expressing those thoughts in words that were given to them - especially at a time when words are quite hard to find but there is (in my experience)a longing to express something of what you are experiencing.
Interesting ... no I am not going to become a mad hymn singer out of this (certainly none of you who have sung around me would consider that an option anyway! ... or those of you who know what I think about the way singing can isolated people who are unfamiliar with church norms) ... but it is interesting all the same
He wrote hymns for every kind of occasion - for when you thought you might be getting small pox, for when you had it, and for when you were recovering from it, for those in child birth ... and the one that seemed strangely appropriate yesterday which was one of the ones that the person giving the lecture (a person doing her PhD in Charles Wesleys hymns) gave us to look at was a hymn to sing on viewing a corpse. The words, I thought, were quite appropriate for such an occasion and it was interesting to think about how they had some way of expressing those thoughts in words that were given to them - especially at a time when words are quite hard to find but there is (in my experience)a longing to express something of what you are experiencing.
Interesting ... no I am not going to become a mad hymn singer out of this (certainly none of you who have sung around me would consider that an option anyway! ... or those of you who know what I think about the way singing can isolated people who are unfamiliar with church norms) ... but it is interesting all the same
Friday, August 06, 2004
How do you remember someone?
Apologies for how long it's been since my last post. It's been such a mixed few weeks. A close friend of mine died last Tuesday (27th July). Words really don't cut it at such times but I'll say a few.
My memories of Paul are wide and varied: they start with buying cigarettes for us before I had my first cigarette, they continue to things like ABBA music, to many holidays together - especially trips around wineries ... Rutherglen will not be the same without him, to living in the same house as him and lots of memories around that, to planning his proposing to his wife and being involved in the activating of that plan, to watching 6 hours of Brady Bunch straight ... and I need to mention The Simpsons, Mad about You and South Park, to lots of msn conversations, to walking through and talking about lots of the crap times in our lives together. Those are just a few of the scattered memories I have of the 13 years I've known Paul.
The last week has been full of lots of grief - and lots of joy. Grief about Paul's sudden and tragic death, grief for us and grief for my very close friend Julie, who is his wife. The agony of his death for many of us is very hard to put words to.
The joy of knowing the end of pain for him, the knowledge of him being with God for eternity - the absolute certainty that we have in his relationship with God and the way that has been proclaimed in this last week has been amazing and a source of joy. Someone has commented that the last conversation he had with them was about how much he longed for people close to him to know God and I'm really conscious that his faith has been proclaimed really strongly in his death - that has been a joy to be around and to be part of. It's also been the place that myself, and many others, have found hope, strength and refuge.
My memories of Paul are wide and varied: they start with buying cigarettes for us before I had my first cigarette, they continue to things like ABBA music, to many holidays together - especially trips around wineries ... Rutherglen will not be the same without him, to living in the same house as him and lots of memories around that, to planning his proposing to his wife and being involved in the activating of that plan, to watching 6 hours of Brady Bunch straight ... and I need to mention The Simpsons, Mad about You and South Park, to lots of msn conversations, to walking through and talking about lots of the crap times in our lives together. Those are just a few of the scattered memories I have of the 13 years I've known Paul.
The last week has been full of lots of grief - and lots of joy. Grief about Paul's sudden and tragic death, grief for us and grief for my very close friend Julie, who is his wife. The agony of his death for many of us is very hard to put words to.
The joy of knowing the end of pain for him, the knowledge of him being with God for eternity - the absolute certainty that we have in his relationship with God and the way that has been proclaimed in this last week has been amazing and a source of joy. Someone has commented that the last conversation he had with them was about how much he longed for people close to him to know God and I'm really conscious that his faith has been proclaimed really strongly in his death - that has been a joy to be around and to be part of. It's also been the place that myself, and many others, have found hope, strength and refuge.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Following Jesus in Everyday Contexts
If you were part of a group looking at what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the contexts that you find yourself everyday - what would you want to look at?
(if you are going to be part of this group - feel more than free to answer the question too!)
Maybe an even better question - what would not want to look at? And why?
(if you are going to be part of this group - feel more than free to answer the question too!)
Maybe an even better question - what would not want to look at? And why?
Birthday Rolls On
Yes - the birthday continues! Last night I went to some friends' place for dinner and those present decided that it was necessary to go for coffee and cake at a local cafe after dinner in honour of my birthday. Once more, very pleasant and lovely.
Monday, July 19, 2004
Two books on Leadership
As well as partying I've beenr eading two books: Leadership and the New Science by Margaret Wheatley and Surfing the Edge of Chaos by Pacale, Millemann & Gioja. If you're into that kind of stuff - I strongly recommend them. Once I've finished them I will write more about them.
Too much partying
The last few days have been quite pleasant really. Thursday was my birthday. A special thanks to all those who helped celebrate that in your various ways - emails, phone calls, presents, organising of cakes, lunches with me, partying with me etc etc.
On Thursday, I went to Sth Yarra with 2 friends for lunch. We spent hours talking, sitting & eating - a most pleasant way to spend an afternoon, especially having the sun streaming in and sitting directly under the heater (Melbourne is COLD at the moment!). That night went out with my parents to Nth Fitzroy Star.
Friday night went out with a very good friend for dinner to our fav. local Spud place for dinner. They have just done it up and we just had to go and have dinner there (I was by then in the mood for a low key dinner!) - and we discovered they have added two new spuds to their menu. Need to try those - Dahl Makhani and Chicken Korma.
Then I had a party - a drop in and have a drink and celebrate at the bar/cafe place that is several of our second home - Wesley Anne. It's a place where several of us are very much "regulars" and it was lovely to selebrate there. People came and went, many stayed for hours and a good time was had by all. A couple of people made cakes (thanks guys!) and I had happy birthday sung to me ... and the guy who runs Wesley Anne gave me a free shot!
On Saturday arvo. I went to the Art Gallery and had lunch with two other good friends. Their is an Impressionists exhibition on in Melbourne at the moment and I love Impressionist art. A relaxing lunch and fun afternoon.
Later I had dinner with someone to talk about some things and then we went off to a friends house warming party.
Yesterday, went to our Sunday gathering and had an ace time ... then went to friends for lunch (with others) stayed for several hours, came home and had other in and out here during the evening.
A very full but very good week or so.
On Thursday, I went to Sth Yarra with 2 friends for lunch. We spent hours talking, sitting & eating - a most pleasant way to spend an afternoon, especially having the sun streaming in and sitting directly under the heater (Melbourne is COLD at the moment!). That night went out with my parents to Nth Fitzroy Star.
Friday night went out with a very good friend for dinner to our fav. local Spud place for dinner. They have just done it up and we just had to go and have dinner there (I was by then in the mood for a low key dinner!) - and we discovered they have added two new spuds to their menu. Need to try those - Dahl Makhani and Chicken Korma.
Then I had a party - a drop in and have a drink and celebrate at the bar/cafe place that is several of our second home - Wesley Anne. It's a place where several of us are very much "regulars" and it was lovely to selebrate there. People came and went, many stayed for hours and a good time was had by all. A couple of people made cakes (thanks guys!) and I had happy birthday sung to me ... and the guy who runs Wesley Anne gave me a free shot!
On Saturday arvo. I went to the Art Gallery and had lunch with two other good friends. Their is an Impressionists exhibition on in Melbourne at the moment and I love Impressionist art. A relaxing lunch and fun afternoon.
Later I had dinner with someone to talk about some things and then we went off to a friends house warming party.
Yesterday, went to our Sunday gathering and had an ace time ... then went to friends for lunch (with others) stayed for several hours, came home and had other in and out here during the evening.
A very full but very good week or so.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Our warped Proverb
In our communities Sunday gathering last week, someone directed our attention to Proverbs 3:5-8 and we spent some time reflecting on some of the concepts in it. Having reflected a bit on it, couldn't help re-writing it according to the opposite - pretty close to how many of us often live, I reckon!
Trust in yourself and others with all your being,
and lean fully on your and their insight,
In all your ways acknowldge yourself and them,
And your paths will be very crooked.
Be very wise in your own eyes;
ignore the Lord, and embrace evil
It will be draining for your flesh,
and exhausting for your body.
Do look up the original - it's a much better way to live!
Trust in yourself and others with all your being,
and lean fully on your and their insight,
In all your ways acknowldge yourself and them,
And your paths will be very crooked.
Be very wise in your own eyes;
ignore the Lord, and embrace evil
It will be draining for your flesh,
and exhausting for your body.
Do look up the original - it's a much better way to live!
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Food, glorious food
The last three evenings have been somewhat special - all in quite different ways but all hinge around good food and company.
Thursday evening went out with two friends to a pub called the North Fitzroy Star. It was a beautiful environment and a very special evening - but the food was especially magnificant. All three of us had a salmon main that was literally divine. Then to follow it was had a chocolate dip with what we are sure was homemade marshmellow, strawberries, honeycomb - and for those that I was with, bread (I keep telling them that chocolate sauce does not go with bread - but they disbelieve me!) Unfortunately, we weren't there early enough to get a table near one of the several fireplaces but it was one of the most pleasant evenings I've had in a long time.
That was followed by lunch with the class of the intensive that I have been part of at college all week - at a Lebanese restaraunt near college - yummy!
Friday evening was a lovely night at my dads. Another very special time with dad. Again yummy food - haven't had corn on the cob for a long time, but especially a wide ranging convo that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
And tonight - a hilarious night with some friends over. On surface there is nothing particular to rave about - it was a simple night cooking, eating and cleaning. But - that was with much laughter, conversation and fun. It was a simple night of community that was very much infused with an enjoyment of life. We made Pad Thai once again (yes now very much got the hang of it) and made some biscuits for morning tea for the Sunday gathering of our community tomorrow. I reckon they are the most laughed over, most analogy drawn out of biscuits in the history of the world! Much fun and refreshment was had all around.
Thursday evening went out with two friends to a pub called the North Fitzroy Star. It was a beautiful environment and a very special evening - but the food was especially magnificant. All three of us had a salmon main that was literally divine. Then to follow it was had a chocolate dip with what we are sure was homemade marshmellow, strawberries, honeycomb - and for those that I was with, bread (I keep telling them that chocolate sauce does not go with bread - but they disbelieve me!) Unfortunately, we weren't there early enough to get a table near one of the several fireplaces but it was one of the most pleasant evenings I've had in a long time.
That was followed by lunch with the class of the intensive that I have been part of at college all week - at a Lebanese restaraunt near college - yummy!
Friday evening was a lovely night at my dads. Another very special time with dad. Again yummy food - haven't had corn on the cob for a long time, but especially a wide ranging convo that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
And tonight - a hilarious night with some friends over. On surface there is nothing particular to rave about - it was a simple night cooking, eating and cleaning. But - that was with much laughter, conversation and fun. It was a simple night of community that was very much infused with an enjoyment of life. We made Pad Thai once again (yes now very much got the hang of it) and made some biscuits for morning tea for the Sunday gathering of our community tomorrow. I reckon they are the most laughed over, most analogy drawn out of biscuits in the history of the world! Much fun and refreshment was had all around.
Monday, June 21, 2004
Yoga and various other things
Had a great dinner with a group of people tonight - open house type night at some friends of mines house. Yummy food, great convos and lovely time of prayer to top it off. Thanks guys!
All of us Christians with somewhat different backgrounds (including several of us having a mixture of things in our own background) and got onto the whole yoga, alternative medicine, astrology kind of conversation. So what do you think about these things? And particularly why do you think what you think?
(There are people of what I imagine are all sorts of different views on this topic who read this blog ... so do be honest and real but also be gracious in your tone! I'm sure you will be but just a reminder!)
All of us Christians with somewhat different backgrounds (including several of us having a mixture of things in our own background) and got onto the whole yoga, alternative medicine, astrology kind of conversation. So what do you think about these things? And particularly why do you think what you think?
(There are people of what I imagine are all sorts of different views on this topic who read this blog ... so do be honest and real but also be gracious in your tone! I'm sure you will be but just a reminder!)
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