The Continuing Journey

oops

2006-05-12T22:33:00.000+09:30

Has it really been that long since my last post?

Well I hate to say it but it has been a busy time.
I have finally come out of the other end of the pastoral search process with a confirmed call from the Salisbury Baptist church in Adelaide to be their pastor and I have accepte so hopefully I will be able to post more regularly in the future.

low tech style

2006-03-19T21:30:00.000+10:30

I was cleaning up my office and found my old LP’s. So I connected up my old record player and put a few of them on. Phil Collins “No jacket required”, Springsteen “born in the USA”, Police “Zenyatta Mondatta” and Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” among many other 80’s hits. What a flood of memories comes back! Not only listening to the old songs but also remembering how to use the old low tech record player moving the arm across etc. Remember how fragile this format was? Or how detailed the covers were. I don’t know why but there is something about the old scratchy LP’s that gives them a sense of authenticity. I immediately remember seeing Australian Crawl play in the Bridgeway hotel, Pubs played music that didn’t come from poker machines. There is something about listening to live music that I love. The fact that you would never hear the song played that way again.

In this day and age of CD’s, MP3’s and streaming etc I find that everything seems so fake, if it isn’t perfect it isn’t any good. I have seen this kind of mentality come through in the Church as well the polished singers at the front of the auditorium hands raised in just the right way wearing the right clothes heads strategically bowed. I begin to long for some authenticity in the church some low-tech scratchy performances that really tell you that you are alive. In a church context this means that the audience is God. Does he want perfection in the Worship that we offer him or authentic live never to be repeated performances for the love of him? How fragile yet compelling does God want us to be?

My new challenge

2006-03-08T10:39:00.000+10:30

My journey has had some interesting turns in the last few weeks. I have completed my studies and will graduate in a little over 1 week’s time. At the moment, I am going through the pastoral search process and trying to discern where God is calling me. Anyone who has ever been through this process will understand how daunting a task it is. It would be easier if I could open a paper on a Saturday and circle the pastors’ jobs with the best conditions and pay. This of course is not how it works though, I must wait for a church to approach me and then try and determine if God is calling me to that community. I have had discussions with many churches and those discussions are continuing. I ask for those who know me to continue to pray, that when God calls me to the church he wants me to go to that I will hear him clearly and that Alison and Jakob will feel the call as well.

confessions

2006-02-15T08:08:00.000+10:30

Forgive me father for I have sinned it has been over a month since my last blog(whoops wrong tradition). But I do have a Confession to make. Come closer so I can whisper it my grammar sucks. It is actually so bad that I have decided it is time I took an english grammar basics course. I am not sure whether or not to blame ths school system or my own lack of attention but something must be done. My sentences are too long, I have no concept of punctuation and if I didn't have a spell check on my computer I would be lost. In fact my hand writting is so bad I dare not write birthday cards for my family for fear that they would not be able to read them(my wife has to write them all). So hopefully over the next couple of months you will see an improvement in my grammar.

Happy new year

2006-01-02T12:48:00.000+10:30

Boy am I glad that is over! I have spent the last 2 weeks shopping( one of my least favorite things), eating , drinking and celebrating with friends and family(my most favorite thing).

I need to get back into a routine. I am a bit obsessive about routine it comes from my German background. I miss the gym and I miss my early morning walks. It can get very easy to sleep in at this time of the year have noticed.

I spoke earlier of shopping (I feel the need to get this off my chest). On Wed 28/12/05 I went shopping at the local Westfield "So what you may ask?" Well good question, it just happened to be 12.01 am. Every year for the last 13 years Alison and I have promised ourselves to but a good Christmas tree at the post Christmas sales. But each year comes and goes and for one reason or another it doesn't happen, not this year. I decided to stay up late (while my overly intelligent wife went to bed) and buy a tree. No problem I said to Alison at this time of night in a suburban shopping centre I will be the only shopper there. I will walk straight in and get what I need.

I knew that my thinking was flawed when traffic was banked up like peak hour 1 km from the store. I then had to park in the most distant car park available when I arrived at one of the many sets of doors to the Mall, there were people banked up 50 deep. When the doors opened people cheered(huh?????) I was in the store quickly thanks to my childhood playing rugby in Darwin and I had to scramble for a tree. I wanted a 7 foot tree and all that was left was a 6 footer so I had to make do. I fortunately bumped into some friends who could only get a 7 footer when they wanted a 6 so we swapped. Even though this was already an experience beyond comprehension, I then had a 1 hour wait to pay for my purchase.

I hope this tree lasts a lifetime because I will never go through that experience again. The most interesting thing is I did all this for a $60 saving on a Christmas tree. I am not sure whether or it was worth it, but these shoppers were dedicated I spoke to many people in my queue who do this every year. Imagine if only followers of Jesus were as committed as these bargain shoppers maybe the world would look different.

Ice Cream time!!!

2005-12-17T15:24:00.000+10:30

Alison and Jakob enjoying an icecream in the backyard (what a cool family HEHEHE) I am just a proud dad and husband.

I can't live without it

2005-12-17T14:52:00.000+10:30

I have been slack lately when it comes to posting. I have been to a wedding at the other side of the country been sick and been busy none of which are good excuses.

I have discovered lately how reliant to technology I am. I was about to back up the info on my palm when I realised that the screen was smashed. I felt ill, all my appointments phone numbers and notes were on that thing. I had to go out and buy a new one that day. I decided to go for another brand that sits on my desk and updates itself every 15 mins and a case to protect it from when I drop it. The option of going back to a paper diary was simply not possible I have a memory that requires me to make sure I write everything down or I will forget it. I am now in the situation where I could never go back to a paper diary. You see I was once in the situation where I had a car without airconditioning and I coped fine summer was hot but I didnt really notice. Once I had a car with airconditioning I knew I would never own a car without it again. I am in the same situation with my PDA(personal digital assistant) I could never be without it now that I know what a difference it makes in my life.

sorry

2005-11-21T16:41:00.000+10:30

i have been too snowed under with final exams etc to post lately i expect to catch up soon.

"God Wants Only the Best"

2005-11-21T16:27:00.000+10:30

When we hear "God deserves the best" we could all say amen. But when that turns into "you are not good enough to preach, teach, sing or play music for God leave it those more gifted" it makes me wonder why there is more that 1 Christian musician in the world because there would only be one person who is THE best. It would seem to me to be supremely arrogant to think of oneself as the best at the same time telling someone else they are not worthy to be part of the church musical team.

I don't advocate letting anyone preach, teach or play music but unless we give people an oppurtunity to learn, how will they become better? Or how will they even discover in what areas they are gifted?

Ah simple pleasures

2005-10-25T20:00:00.000+09:30

The new Industrial Relations package

2005-10-25T19:56:00.000+09:30

I am sick to death of seeing my tax dollars spent on an ad campaign to sell me something that I dont want or need but my Government is going to force on me anyway.

In one ad break I have seen at least 2 ads for this package. wouldnt it have been nice to have had the same amount of money spent on the "Jesus all about Life" campaign?

16 thousand reasons to read your bible

2005-09-30T20:51:00.000+09:30

Last monday night on the Aussie "Who wants to be a millionaire" the $16000 question was,

What is the third book of the Old Testament?
A: Numbers B: Genesis C: Leviticus D: Exodus

Now any one who has ever tried to read the Bible all the way through knows once you get to Leviticus and all the rules etc its pretty hard to keep going. but this poor guy had to take the $8000 because he couldnt answer it . So like I said 16 000 reasons to read your bible.

read the whole story here

http://millionaire.ninemsn.com.au/thisweek/default.aspx

Ordination

2005-09-29T22:03:00.000+09:30

I have spent the last 4 months applying for ordination in the Baptist denomination here in South Australia. I have to admit the application process was a bit daunting. It began with a 16 page application form, a police report and three personal references. A panel then interviews three people from my local church, my pastor, my college principal, my field education supervisor and finally my wife and I. Then this panel has to reccomend me to the Executive committee who has to reccomend me to the State Baptist Assembly at which time I will be allowed to study for a further 2 years at then end of which time I can apply for the final step to ordination, which once approved my ordination needs to be finally confirmed by a local church calling me into ministry.

Now I don't want to sound like I am complaining, I am NOT. I welcome the process, by making it this difficult it has made me appreciate the responsability of the process. Let me explain why this is so important. Tonight on one of the tabloid current affairs programs was a story about a guy who was ripping people off by calling himself a Reverend he was ordained by 2 guys who had splintered fromthe anglican church. It srikes me that in a time when the church is going through an image problem because of guys like this and fake ordinations (like http://www.ulc.org/)that we need to make it a tough but worthwhile process. The title doesn't give special powers nor does it give a put me above any one else(exactly the opposite). What it does say is that this person will be held accountable by resposible christians everywhere. So bring it on.

New technology

2005-09-15T15:00:00.000+09:30

Adelaide My Home Town

2005-09-15T15:17:00.000+09:30