Archive for the 'Local Mission' Category

Transience Gives Me The Shifts

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Some days suburban transience really does give me the irrits.
We have been gone 6 months and on Saturday we arrived back in our street and caught up with friends and neighbours and the church community we will be leading. It was beautiful to see those people again and yet what strikes me this morning is [...]

Re-Imagining Missional Distinctives

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Recently I have been considering again what it means to be a ‘missionary community’, and I have been pondering what ‘values’ we would hold dear, and to be honest I get very weary of those ‘discovering our values’ exercises because inevitably we discover that we value the Bible, prayer, relationships etc. Its all no brainer [...]

The Evangelist

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

After I had preached on Sunday morning a man swaggered up to me. He looked mid forties, stocky and like his nose had been broken more times than he could remember. I was talking to a member of the church and he joined our conversation.
“So, does anybody do any witnessin aroun here?” he asked.
It felt [...]

Simon Holt in Perth

Monday, August 4th, 2008

There are few books I have raved about as much as Simon Holt’s God Next Door.
It is a brilliant book that articulates a beautiful picture of spirituality in everyday life and that inspired me to see the value in so much of what is taken for granted. It is on the shortlist for Australian [...]

God Next Door II – The Lives of Ordinary Neighbourhood People Actually Do Matter Part II

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

Ok so the ramble continues…
From Innaloo I got married and moved to Glendalough for a couple of years early in our marriage. We lived in a 2 bed flat and then a 3 bed townhouse. Not quite inner city, but definitely high density living! As I look back it is surprising how close we can [...]

Inverting the Way We Live

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

As I mentioned a few posts back I have been re-reading God Next Door by Simon Holt and I have to say that for those of us in neighbourhood mission this is one of the best books I have come across. Simply brilliant and brilliantly simple!
I intend to offer a series of reflections from the [...]

In Jesus Love has won.

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

Jarrod McKenna’s Wednesday’s with Gandhi:
 “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always.” -Mohandas Gandhi
I’m off to Indonesia this Friday [...]

Essential Components of a Missionary Community

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

Here’s a dot point summary of a talk I did over the weekend for anyone who is interested. It is a simple reflection on the desires, knowledge and actions that a missionary community requires.
I’d be interested in your reflections and what you would add to the lists.
Missionary Desires rush hour 3 dvdrip
1. For people [...]

10 Ways to Live More Intentionally in the Suburbs

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

Here
Its well worth a read. Its not rocket science, but most of us aren’t tripped up by how complex things are. Usually its because they are simple in concept but difficult to practice.

Blasphemy & Missional Solidarity

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007

Jarrod McKenna’s Wednesday’s with Gandhi:
“My experience tells me that the Kingdom of God is within us, and that we can realise it not by saying, “Lord, Lord,” but by doing God’s will and God’s work… Do you know that there are thousands of villages where people are starving and are on the brink of ruin? [...]