backyardmissionary

A few weeks back I had some strong words to say in regard to the Draft Covenant document for Baptist churches. My concern revolved around several issues, but primarily the imagination of church that undergirded the document and that was expressed by ‘40 adult members’ being seen as the minimum number for admission to the […]

A new Tim Winton novel comes out on Friday…
I have been in waiting…

If you can’t be there then this bloke give you the next best thing.
Some awesome photography!
It stirs memories of those crazy teenage years when we’d surf anything that moved…

This weekend is the Anzac day long weekend and tomorrow is the public holiday. Yeeha!
I was lined up to be one of the speakers at the Seventh Day Adventist Church planting conference in Logue Brook Harvey, when our neighbours on either side invited us to go camping… also at Logue Brook in Harvey right next […]

We invited Steve Timmis of The Crowded House in Sheffield to join us at the recent Forge festival and I found his session on Sunday morning very helpful. I have really appreciated Steve’s insights as a church planter and long term practitioner.
Today I was reading the reflections of Johnny, a bloke who accompanied him on […]

We had a great time last night at Jarrod’s house with Tom Sine and a whole bunch of pioneers and missionaries from around the city. It was great to catch up with some of my old youth ministry friends and to enjoy an evening with some kindred spirits.
Rodney has an interview between him, Tom & […]

We have just started a new blog for those in the forgewa reimagine stream.
At the start of 2008 Forgewa began its ‘reimagine‘ stream, working with 6 established churches who are on the journey of exploring what it means for them to live as a missionary community.
This blog is way for them to share learning, explore […]

Watched the ‘Heartbreak Kid’ tonite with Danelle.
Had to note down this quote from ‘dad’ as Ben Stiller goes to ‘get his girl’.
“Be careful! This is the Bible belt. These people have guns”
(An average movie with some funny bit and several cringeworthy moments)

Over Easter I was reading Tom Sines latest book The New Conspirators and loving it.
The good news is that Tom is in Perth this week, staying with Jarrod and the Peacetree crew and doing a few gigs around the place. The pics below give an idea of what he’s up to.

Should be a great time!

For most of the time we have been married I have been the person involved primarily in ministry in one form or another, but lately I have been observing that the roles have been changing and now Danelle seems to be the primary ‘minister’ (or insert whatever word you prefer)
Up until 2002 we were based […]

My friend Andrew Menzies emailed this thru today… I enjoy extreme statements as they make us think more than gentle conciliatory ones. Here’s a pie in the face for those of us are seeking to connect with specific people groups.
“The projects known as ‘Fresh expressions’ and ‘mission-shaped church’ are, therefore, the outcome of this evangelical-liberal […]

Just go here for some great pics of the recent Forge Festival.
I have chosen one that for me stands out - not because its a fantastic pic - but because it captures something of the heart of the festival.

The pic was taken during a short time we set aside to honour older missionaries and those […]

Its been a great 4 days of hanging with the Forge tribe from all around Oz and even a few from overseas. Alan & Deb Hirsch made the trip back from the US for the event and it was great to see them again. We spent a couple of hours over lunch yesterday in their […]

“Seafood extender does not belong on a seafood platter under any circumstances.”
After 4 great days in Melbourne this was the one disappointment. Lygon St in Carlton is well known for its cafe strip, but competition seems to sometimes ring out the worst in a business as it tries to save money.
With the fish of the […]

I’m vegging out waiting for the festival to start. Vawz - who came in on the midnight flight - is asleep in our room while I tap away up here.
Andrew lent me a copy of a very interesting and provocative DVD entitled ‘Finger of God‘ that looks at the miraculous intervention of God in our […]

Danelle and I are off to join the rest of the Forge tribe in Melbourne this weekend for the festival.
It looks like being a great weekend in every way.
I’ll let you know more as it develops!

Its been a long time in the making but the brilliant new resource ‘Exilio’ is now out and ready to go!
Exilio is based around the content of Mike Frost’s book Exiles and over 24 weeks addresses the question of how we live in a world that no longer sees itself as Christian and where our […]

I have noticed that there is a direct inverse correlation between the thoughtfulness of what gets posted on here and the amount of physical work I do.
It seems the harder and longer the work, the less headspace I have for thinking on the more significant issues of life. The last couple of weeks […]

‘Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Look for yourself and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in’.
CS Lewis

Last night I was invited to see the Baptist Theological Collage chance it’s name to the Vose Seminary to honor a great man that who has been so good to me and the Peace Tree Community over the years, Noel Vose.

For those who don’t know Noel, you should. :)  He is a wonder, wise, prayerful […]