backyardmissionary

OK I’m giving it a shot… over
I am ‘revhamo’. If you are using skype then let me know and we might talk some time. Over
Over and out!

The whole John Safran exorcism episode sure has got people hunting for explanations.
This normally quiet blog with a fairly select readership (yes that’s you!) has been off its nut the last week as people have been googling for Safran.
Last year I made the mistake of posting about A-strali-an Id-l and every man and his dog […]

Yesterday Stuart and I went out for a bash in the 4WD’s up north of where we live and then today Mark and I did the same.
Its all of 400m to bush tracks so it makes for easy access and a lot of fun.
It struck me again just what a blokey activity 4WDing is! Climbing […]

Its not that hard to know what we are called to do. Its in the book and spelt out a number of times.
Jules asks Willard’s question:
‘Can your church group put a sign out the front, or an advertisement in the paper saying, “We teach people who have chosen to follow Jesus how to do all […]

This would be funny if it wasn’t so outrageous. Somebody’s brain was in neutral when working this case…

Today I’ve had some really inspiring conversations and met with some fantastic people. I’ve also had some disturbing news and as a result the day has felt really heavy. Good friends struggling with the crap of life sure outweighs some big wins on the work front.
I feel like we are in the middle of some […]

Recently I have been reading Alan Jamieson’s thesis from which he wrote ‘A Churchless Faith’, a book in which he explores why normal, clear thinking, unembittered people have given up on church but not on God.
I am only half way thru but here’s where I sense he is heading”
He has unpacked Fowler’s six stages of […]

One of the things that really sucks about living in Brighton is that we pay long distance rates for all of our local calls outside of the immediate area. It makes for humugous phone bills.
So here’s a thought”
Why not ditch the landline altogether? We have access to cable internet so most of us can survive […]

At last week’s round table meeting with the Church of Christ youth pastors we discussed the whole thing of planting an ‘emerging church’ and I sensed the need to clarify that its not for everyone.
In fact its probably not for lots of people…
Just as planting a typical church is not for everyone I would suggest […]

Every time I watch this movie I get goosebumps!
Vianne is one of the best metaphors I have come across for who I feel called to be as a church planter.
I was going to list what I see in her but maybe you should just watch it and see what you think.
Anyone else feel this?!

Sam calling out to my neighbour as she approached with her chiuauaua

Since we are no longer able to give people a public flogging this will have to do…
This morning we headed out fishing with my brother, a mate called Paul and his mate - Steve. Steve is an English immigrant recently arrived and loving Australia… until today…
It took Steve all of 20 minutes or so to […]

Before and after… click for a bigger image

Today was the final day of our backyard blitz project at Jackie’s house.
A whole bunch of people from the community rolled up to finish the job and it was sensational to be there and see everyone working together and enjoying the experience.
It was great to meet some new people and see the transformation take […]

This is a fascinating presentation where Tony Campolo and his wife Peggy speak about the issue of gay relationships and their completely different perspectives on same sex relationships.
This is the blurb that precedes the talks:

Dr. Campolo’s position on homosexuality is conservative: he believes that the Bible forbids all homosexual activity. However, he does not […]

Just me
Yesterday while I was off work my principal rang up to see if I knew if I’d be in today. “Umm…. really can’t say”. So she gave me another day off just to be safe. Pretty nice I reckoned - but it seems I needed it.
I have just woken up from over 3 hours […]

A few weeks back I was speaking with Herds, a member of our team about the year that’s been - our first year of living here in Brighton as missionaries.
It has been a challenge to make the shift from being a pastor and running a church to being a missionary and leading a missionary team, […]

It seems that episode of Safran v God really stirred people up.
The key question seems to be ‘was it real?’
Other comments in Andrew Denton’s guestbook can be read here, as well as an interview with Safran & Rachel Kohn here and other viewer comments here.
(Thanks Jarrod!)
He obviously experienced something that impacted him…
God…
Nah, that couldn’t be… […]

I am at home sick today after a sore throat became a sore body and left me feeling lousy. Part of me is glad because teaching is less than a passion any more. As I was checking email this came in from an old mate over east.
Teaching isn’t so bad…
When you have a “I Hate […]

I have just added two new faces to the blog list on the left - both west aussies.
Roo is a top bloke who is about to start up as a youth pastor at Coastal Christian Community and ‘otherendup’ is still choosing to stay relatively anonymous…
I have known otherendup for around 15 years, we have […]