Pearl Diving & Camel riding in Broome, October 2008

This was the day we visited the Pearl Diving Museum in Broome WA. Saturday October 25, 2008.

Alice Springs Aboriginal Town Camps

Last year on our trip around Australia I visited one of the Aboriginal Town Camps with Pastor Dave from the Lutheran Church.

I talk about this visit in this talk last Sunday at church...

Imagine a church that loves the lost

video feed | iTunes

audio feed | iTunes

How's the building going

People keep asking me how is the building going? Here's a week by week progress shoot that Andre and Nick put together.

Cathie's home

We called in to the hospital this morning to see Cathie. The registrar
had just been through and told her that she could go home. So we took
her home. Praise God for this amazing recovery - 48 hours after
surgery and she is in less pain than she has been for several months.

She has been asleep for most of the day. But she would rather be here
sleeping than at hospital (even with the sound of kids squabbling).

It's been a quiet day otherwise. Hannah and Solomon's sport was
cancelled. Abraham has gone for a sleepover at a mates. Solomon's
AFL game tomorrow has been cancelled as well.

There's a BBQ after church that I'm looking forward to.

ps Our phone is being switched over to a new phone company so we have
a few days with no home phone.

A vision template from Stuart Robinson

This is a template for formulating a ministry vision that Stuart Robinson gave me in 2001 that I have frequently lookd back on.

1. Passion – for the Lord - share own heart - if not with me on this one - need to talk or you need to walk

2. Passion – for the Lost - share own heart - if not with me on this one - need to talk or you need to walk

3. Prayer – Personal

4. Prayer – Corporate

5. Plan – Core Values ( the priorities and assumptions which describe the personality or character of a ministry. C.V’s are essential for clarifying direction). Examples of C.V.’s include;

• the priority of reaching the lost
• the priority of mutual ministry
• the priority of equipping believers for ministry
• the priority of fellowship with God and each other

Note: Structures such as house groups or cell groups are not to be thought of as core values. Rather, they are the/a vehicle by which we can live out our core values.

1. Plan – A clear statement of Mission – (the ‘why does this particular church exist’ question). Examples include;
• ‘we exist to know Christ and to make him known’
• ‘we exist to reach people and to teach them to follow Jesus’
• ‘we exist to engage with our community, to evangelise the lost and to equip and establish the saints’

1. Plan – A clear statement of Vision – (the ‘where are we going’ question or the ‘what shape ought our church take’ question). Examples include;

Where do we want to be in five years ?? lets dream ??
• ‘Our vision is for men, women, boys and girls to move from being ‘outsiders’ (Colossians 4:5) to ‘disciples’ (Matthew 28:19) within eighteen months.’
• ‘Our vision is to exercise pastoral care and outreach through a developing network of cell churches’
• ‘Our vision is to engage in gospel growth by multiplying congregations’
• ‘Our vision is to provide a safe place for emotional and spiritual healing’

Note: Vision is very much a function of leadership. A vision which is borne out of prayer, consultation and research will ‘resonate’ with those in the planning group and will be a unifying focus for the whole church.

Strengths/Weakness/Opportunities/Threats

1. Plan – A clear statement of ministry Objectives – ( the ‘what specific areas will we target in order to fulfil our mission and realize our vision’ question). Objectives are generally non-negotiable. (In setting objectives always ask, ‘can I assign a person to take responsibility for this area?’). Examples include;

Set clear objectives - in which we will principally invest - people/money/prayer
- non negotiable core ministries for the next two years
- contain all ministries under ten !
- work out a goal schedule

• To provide a Christ-centred ministry to children
• To provide a Christ-centred ministry to adults
• To provide a christ-centred ministry in stewarding resources
• To provide a christ-centred ministry in leadership development

LETS HAVE A LOOK AGAIN AT THE CORE VALUES - SO THE CORE VALUES WILL AGAIN SHAPE THE GOALS THAT FLOW OUT OF THE OBJECTIVES. THE CORE VALUES FORM A CHECK LIST AGAINST WHICH GOALS CAN BE SET FOR MEETING OBJECTIVES.

A REAL SENSE OF OWNERSHIP - BRAINSTORM FOR EVERY OBJECTIVE, TO WORK OUT THE GOALS. ASSIGN THE GOALS - HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY - SHARE THAT WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH.

1. Programmes – An Ideas Shedule. In order to set goals (which facilitate objectives), the planning group need to take the time to brain-storm, dream and record their ideas – no matter how ‘out there’ they may seem. Time ought then be spent in prayer. An ideas schedule is to be completed for each objective.

2. Programmes – Goals. Out of the Ideas Schedule a series of

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Result-oriented and
• Time-dated goals are to be set.

Note: Unlike Objectives, Goals are flexible and mid-course corrections may be appropriate.

1. Programmes – Evaluation. Goals which are ‘S.M.A.R.T.’ can and must be regularly revised and evaluated. Quarterly and annual evaluations are oft-used time frames.

2. Programmes – Celebration. Often overlooked, celebration (of goals which have been met) are a wonderful way of encouraging the ‘body’ and bring honour to Christ. Context is also created. This means the church can look back to what God has done in their midst and then boldly step forward with new faith-filled goals.

Note; Programmes put flesh on our Plans which inflame our Passion and inform our Prayer.

After postmodernity? Pragmatism!

The Introducing God course we wrote a few years ago is still seen by lots of people as the Christian course most suited to Introduce a postmodern to God.

But what is next after post modernity?

If after evidence based modernity (with it's search for truth), comes post modernity (with it's conviction that truth cannot be found), then I am tentatively suggesting (I can't remember where I read it but I now think I agree with the suggestion) that after post modernity comes pragmatism.

In that if the world has given up caring about what is true then we will do what works.

I see this in the way the world functions but also in the wider church.

Is this thesis right and if it is how will it impact communicating Christ to an increasingly pragmatic world? As we come to write version two of Introducing God what changes would you suggest?

The thinking behind what we are Imagining

A friend has emailed ...

I'm inspired by the vision stuff you are doing at church.
We are trying to work out a process of developing a vision.

From watching and listening to your talks I've worked out some of your steps but is there a document you could send me that maps out the steps you are taking to establish your vision?

I think we are 'building the bridge as we walk on it' and are making it up as we go along. But I'll try to use this blog for the next little while to think aloud about what we are doing.

Pastor church to Team church

I think Arlin Rothauge has lots to teach us about church size theory.

http://www.congregationalresources.org/article0132.asp

I can see we as a ministry are on the verge of the change from pastor
church to team church.

We have been in some ways operating as a team church but it most ways
operating as a pastor church.

In order to grow we need to become wholistically a team church.

Applications of this are:

1. Last Sunday the data projector had the top of the display cut off
meaning you couldn't easily read the top line of any of the songs. My
temptation (acting in the pastor church model) was to take
responsibility and get up and fix it. But acting under instructions
from Matt Lemsing (our executive pastor) I sat on my hands. He says I
need to train others to take responsibility for things by not fixing
the problems myself.

2. On Monday night we have a meeting of our new finance and property
committee (church council in Anglican speak). I am not going. This
is not because I don't care about what decisions are made, but the way
to train others to own the issues is to give them freedom to make
decisions by me not going, then others will step up and lead.

I am really excited about both seeing these areas of applying the
theory and us starting to live them out.

The church size theory says that it's hard to move from one size model
to another. The hardest is the change from pastor church to team
church. The difficulties are the pastor not letting go and the
members not stepping up (and the recursive pattern that develops).

Please pray for us that both I, our new elders (next post) and our
members would all make this change.

Cathie is up and about

Cathie had neurosurgery yesterday and I have learnt a lot about this
subject in the last 24 hours.

She has had serious back pain for a few months now. She had an
injection a fortnight ago, it reduced the pain somewhat. But she
started to loose function below the waist. So the doctor on Monday
said go straight to surgery do not pass go. The operation was
yesterday afternoon.

I dropped her at the hospital at 11am and waited with her till 12:30.
The operation list started at 12:30, there were two of them on the
list and she was second. Theatre for her didn't actually start till
3pm. She was out by 5:30pm and when I arrived at her ward (30 mins
earlier than they told me to be there) she had just arrived and was
groggy but conscious.

There's a scar about two and a half inches long on her lower back.
This morning while I was there she did two walks down the corridor.
Her brain is functioning normally, the pain is much reduced and
although she appears to have pretty much full function back. So it's
so far so good.

I've pulled out of a regional planning day on Saturday. Hannah's
doing netball on Saturday morning, then we will visit Cathie in
hospital, then Solomon will do AFL and Hannah take Barack to dog
training.

I am expecting to be at church on Sunday and looking forward to
speaking on 'Imagine a church that loves the lost.'

Thanks so much to all those who have prayed and offered support.

Dominic

Abraham chairing school assembly :)

Great Keppel Island

It's a day off so I spent a little time editing up a video from September 17, 2008 - on long service leave.

Church building from the inside.

Ian's tour of upstairs

Hannah playing for the Bobcats

Imagine Christ | 1 of 7

Our project as a church family the next seven weeks is to Imagine what Christ might do through us. We are spending the time 1. Giving thanks, 2. Setting forward a proto-vision for this ministry and 3. Asking for support.

It's linked to the fact that we are opening a new building on October 11, 2009 and so entering into a new phase of ministry. We are also changing the way we operate from a pastor model church to a team model church. And we are going to need everyone involved if we are to realise the vision that we think God has given us.

It's the start of the conversation rather than the last word. The elders are going to be taking note of what is said and digesting it and then reporting back at our AGM next march with a more concrete vision.

In the meantime we are also asking all involved with church for their take on how we as a church, their community group specifically and they individually are going at:
* Remembering what Christ has done
* Following Christ
* Loving each other
* Loving the lost
* Blessing beyond

We are also attempting to put the ministry on a sounder financial footing by asking for 12 month commitments of support to both our operational costs and building debt, as well as a one off gift towards the building ahead of June 30.

They are exciting times. But it marks a change from 'stake in the ground and run,' to planning to be a more settled long term sustainable steadily growing ministry.

Please pray for us.

New building walkthrough

Imagine Week Zero | More than you can imagine

Con Campbell kicked off the Imagine a church series for us last Sunday. It was an excellent address on Ephesians 3:20, setting out how God can do more than we can imagine.

You may like to repost this series on your blog.

audio | video | handout

Imagine a church

At our church over the next seven weeks in personal bible reading, community group studies and in our Sunday meetings we will be using our imagination. We are asking ourselves to :

26 April 2009 - Imagine Christ
3 May 2009 - Remember what Christ has done
10 May 2009 - Imagine a church that follows Christ
17 May 2009 - Imagine a church that loves each other
22 May 2009 – Thanksgiving Dinner
24 May 2009 - Imagine a church that loves the lost
31 May 2009 - Imagine a church that blesses others (Gift and Pledge Sunday)
7 June 2009 - Imagine a church that parties

Most importantly we will be imagining the difference that a church like this could make for Christ in today’s world.

This is a series about the church, the body of people who together form the church. It is specifically a series about our church Annandale Community Church/Christians in the Media.

It highlights some of the great themes of the Bible that we are particularly excited about as a church.

This series will be conducted in conjunction with an appeal to give generously to our church operational costs and building appeal.

The series will stir our imaginations to be a church that truly impacts the world for Christ.

I hope that you enjoy and are challenged by this series.

Media Students Getaway

I got back last night from a brilliant couple of days with Sophie Gyles and a team of media students from UTS.

We also took Abraham and Barack (our fox terrier).

The series we studied was called 'What would Jesus say to Beyonce.'

We looked at the first talk at the sweep of the Bible's teaching on marriage and sexuality. And in the second one at a Biblical take on the Homosexuality debate.

Gender roles and Homosexuality are probably the most controversial areas for students studying media at a place like UTS.

It was a great time. Please pray particularly for one student who is not yet Christian.

Speaking at weddings

I got to the Colinda and Brent's wedding an hour early today. I always do when I am speaking or officiating. I joked with the couple 'If you muck it up on a Sunday people remember for a week. If you muck it up at someone’s wedding they remember for the rest of their life.’ (I think Al Stewart taught me that).

There has been so much angst and planning gone into the flowers and the colors and the dresses etc. And relatively much less thought goes into the really important issue of what is actually said.

Although I wasn’t speaking today I spent a little time reflecting on how I put together a wedding talk.
- Understand that most of the guests are probably on a ‘first date’ with God and so therefore my aim is to ‘make a little ground,’ commending the experience of coming to church, engaging with God and his word.
- I want people to hear that it is possible to come into a relationship with Jesus as Saviour and Lord and that this will involve trusting and obeying.
- Keep it short. Remember they are here for a wedding not a lecture or crusade. No one really wants you go to over ten minutes.
- As you are the first speaker of the day you can cherry pick and showcase the most important information relevant information about the couples relationship with Christ and each other. I think it's really important to show that the couple are real and serious about their relationship with God and what that looks like in their life and how that will impact their marriage.
- Pick a passage that doesn’t take too much work to give context and background. I often will speak evangelistically from narratives, but rarely at weddings. I am much more likely at a wedding to pick a propositional text that can be illustrated from either the couple’s life or marriage etc.
- I generally ask people to pick a wedding passage that I haven’t spoken on before so that I am not just in my mind changing the names of the bride and groom from last time.
- See it as an occasional address rather than a regular exegetical presentation. Therefore this is not really the time for a detailed exegetical argument.
- I have chosen not to use the wedding to address the controversy over gender roles (I’ve not tackled Genesis 2 or Ephesians 5 at weddings). If people are to go home remembering something I would rather then remember the cross, rather than feminist controversy. That leads me to put emphasis primarily on the husband’s obligation in laying down his life for his wife as Christ did. (Note this doesn’t mean that I back away from complementarian wedding vows. I am very keen that people model their relationships on Christ and the church in a complementarian rather than egalitarian way. But I think that the time for teaching this is in the study beforehand rather than in what is a guest meeting.)
- Every talk needs an action point. What am I going to do. For the husband it’s love like Christ, for the non Christian guest it’s talk to the couple about what that means, for Christian guests it’s pray for them.
- I make sure that the couple are clear about what is going to be said and then encourage them to ensure that at the reception things said in church are backed up an reinforced. As everyone expects the minister in church to say Christian things, but it’s when the individuals say later on, off church property, that they believe the things that were said that people may really take notice.

I should say that although I have spoken at weddings about every six weeks for the last ten years. Only about four of them have been for people outside our ministry. So for those weddings their may be a different approach.

Colinda and Brent

Bob Carr makes an excellent case

Good point by former Premier Bob Carr

Wedding Ceremonies

A thought on wedding ceremonies. I am off to Colinda and Brent’s wedding in an hour or so.

I am really big on encouraging the bride and groom to learn their wedding vows off by heart and then having them printed in the program.

I love it when couples are able to say their promises to each other unprompted on the day because they have gone over the words again and again.

It helps teach them and it helps teach those gathered that these promises are real. When they say the words of the promise they are promises that the couple own. They have been over the promises again and again as they have met the two or three weeks beforehand.

And a side benefit is that it allows me as the officiator to have a detailed discussion about the meaning of the promises a long time in advance, so after that discussion they can start practicing.

ps the generous people at St Thomas' North Sydney have lent us their building for the wedding today. We are looking forward to opening our building in October. There are two couples keen to get married then.

City Bible Forum - Wednesdays and Thursdays in the CBD

I'm looking forward to being back at the City Bible Forum in a fortnights' time (Justin is speaking at the moment giving a three week series on suffering).

When I am back we're doing a series called 'Essential Jesus'

During the five weeks we will be encouraging people to give out copies of the Essential Jesus to their workmates throughout the CBD.

The series I am doing is all taken from the Essential Jesus.

1 Jesus weeps over the city Luke 19:28-48 (April 28, Pyrmont; April 29, Angel Place; April 30, Cathedral)

2 Jesus challenge to city leaders Luke 20:1-19 (May 5, Pyrmont; May 6, Angel Place; May 7, Cathedral)

3 Jesus, paying taxes and heaven Luke 20:20-39 (May 12, Pyrmont; May 13, Angel Place; May 14, Cathedral)

4 An essential meal Luke 22:7-38 (May 19, Pyrmont; May 20, Angel Place; May 21, Cathedral)

5 Blood sweat and tears Luke 22:39-46 (May 26, Pyrmont; May 27, Angel Place; May 28, Cathedral)

I plan to give the same series at our Tuesday lunchtime Bible talks at the Harlequin Hotel in Pyrmont.  These talks have been really going well this year.  We've been enjoying working together through the logic of Tim Keller's book Reason for God.  We will pick that up after this series from Luke.

Set an example for the believers in speech, in life...

Justin told me to express my thoughts more in this forum more so I will have a go.

I have an assignment that I'd like your help on.

Paul Grimmond from the Briefing has written me this note:

I am writing in order to ask if you would consider writing something for us to go in our 'Pastor's brief' section on the topic of learning to listen as a pastor? Tony and I had a chat about the importance of developing listening skills and helping pastors learn to listen healthily to criticism and just generally being willing to listen to their people. And we thought it would be good to hear from someone who has learned over the years to listen. It's kind of a back-handed compliment isn't it? It's not meant to be rude, but rather an acknowledgement that it is an area of your character that you have had to work on developing that some others might have naturally but lots don't. We reckon people are likely to learn more from someone who has wrestled with learning to listen.

I am not offended by Paul Grimmond's comment rather encouraged that at least on this point he must think I am making progress.

His email made me think about the Apostle Paul's first letter to Timothy:

1Timothy4:11 Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I was encouraged that someone had seen some progress in at least one area. And also thought I should say yes because we are to set an example for others in speech, in life, in love, in faith etc.

So I have started a process of introspection.

I thought it might help me to evaluate how I have changed in this area particularly and what areas I still have to go in so I might become more like Jesus and more useful to others in.

Anyway if you can think of some examples of where I have changed in this area I am keen to hear them

If you think it is a too personal example maybe you might like to email me or call me (02 9660 2444) rather than comment below.

ps I am a little nervous about the whole exercise so be gentle.

Solomon & Barak heading on holidays

We had a great morning at church this morning for Good Friday. And we are able to get the video online just a few hours later. Here's the edited version of my address today where we spend time carefully looking at what John Stott called that great and most glorious of subjects: The cross of Christ. This is the first time that I have spoken on the crucifixion from Matthew's Gospel. I've spoken before many times from Mark and Luke and at least once from John. But never before from Matthew. I found the work of translating this passage from scratch for the first time very stimulating. (I really like the way translating slows me down and helps me to concentrate on the meaning of every word). audio |video | outline

Marriage and Sex - What?

Again Christopher Ash is brilliant. He provides in his book 'Marriage Sex in the service of God' an excellent definition of Christian marriage that I work through in this talk. Next week we will check out the third of his big headings and explore the 'How of marriage and sex.'

Marriage and Sex: Why?

Well here's the talk from yesterday - well done for Nick on the fast editing work. This is the first of three talks on the subject of marriage and sex - the why, what and how. We started with the why of marriage.

I was enormously helped in my preparation by reading Christopher Ash's excellent book 'Marriage Sex in the service of God' and I acknowledge him in this talk and urge you to read it as well.

I feel as though I have grown in my understanding of this subject signficantly in my preparation.

audio | video | outline

Jesus All About Life :: The next ten words

Well I wrote an article for sydneyanglicans.net today that has flowed out of the series I’ve just finished ‘Making Connections for Life.’

I wrote the series based on the book of Revelation to help me and others work out how to have discussions with people about the coming Jesus All About Campaign.

We’re going to do some more work on the series and try to package it up into something useful.

Check out the article at sydneyanglicans.net and I would be interested in your comments.

Making connections for life 4 of 4 :: Revelation 21-22

Making connections for life 3 of 4 :: Revelation 4-5

Making connections for life 2 of 4 :: Revelation 2-3

Making connections for life 1 of 4 :: Revelation 1

I am interested in writing some questions to go on the end of this talk in a booklet. I'll put some up over the next few days and see what you think.. or if you have any suggestions as well that would be fine.

Christians in the Media weekend away

Next Tuesday at Pyrmont

Where is God in the bushfires?

I am disturbed by the misrepresentation of Jesus by Victorian Pastor Danny Nalliah who has linked the Victorian bushfires to the liberalisation of that state's abortion laws. In this address I show from Luke 13, why Nalliah and Jesus disagree. Not that abortion is a good, far from it, it is a terrible attack on the most vulnerable in our society.

But we must not link the bushfires to a specific sin of Victorian parliamentarians as if that somehow makes them worse than other Australians. Jesus says No!

Handout | Audio |Video

Big Day In | Connect 09

In 2006 I and a number of others were invited along to a few meetings in St Andrews House where the Archbishop was calling for ideas on what could be done to motivate the entire Anglican Church in Sydney to better make Jesus known.

It was exciting to see this all kick off with a launch by Peter Jensen last weekend.

Our church joined 200+ churches linking up for a joint church meeting involving 50,000+ Christians all praying together that we could be used by God to Connect or Introduce our city to God.

We found it enormously encouraging to hear and see the work being done by other churches across the city and the way they are stretching for Christ.

The telecast was hosted at Kellyville and involved crosses to Engadine and Campsie.

The only disappointment was to hear during the week that some of the churches that I had assumed would be part of the telecast in fact weren't. I am praying that they are still planning to be part of the Connect 09 campaign.

Team Bootcamp

Here's the address I gave last Saturday at our Team Bootcamp.
outline | talk

Where is God in the bushfires - this Sunday at Annandale Community Church

The bushfires in Victoria have prompted us to make a last minute change to our teaching program at Annandale Community Church and Christians in the Media this Sunday.

Our scheduled series - Connections for Life - will be delayed a week and instead this Sunday (February 15, I  will address the difficult topic - Where is God in the bushfires?

A tragedy of this scale causes us to pause and think. It raises questions both for people of faith and of no faith. How could God let such a catastrophe happen? Does God care? Why would someone deliberately light fires? If there is no God and 'mother nature' neither knows nor cares, why do we cry in anguish over such meaningless deaths? Dominic will tackle these issues at City Bible Forum on Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes and then offer you the opportunity to anonymously comments or questions.

We will also be encouraged as we rally together to help one another.  These meeting will include a special time of prayer prayer for all those affected as well opportunities to offer financial assistance.

Please think carefully about who you know has been impacted by the bushfires and invite them to join us this Sunday at church.

I will also be giving this address and we will be praying for victims at Sydney's City Bible Forum this week on Wednesday February 11 and Thursday February 12.  Wednesday lunchtimes 

The start of our next series will be delayed by one week.  On Sunday February 22, I will begin a series on 'Making Connections for Life,' from the first chapter of the book of Revelation.

Annandale Community Church, 9:30am and Christians in the Media 6:30pm

meeting during building renovations at Annandale Neighbourhood Center

79 Johnston Street

Annandale  NSW  2038

City Bible Forum

Wednesdays, 12:10-12:50pm or 1:10-1:50pm, lunch $7

Angel Place Conference Centre, 123 Pitt St

Thursdays, 1:10-1:50pm

Lunch from 1pm $7

Upper Chapter House, St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, Corner George and Bathurst

Contacts: Peter Kaldor, Russ Matthews

Connect 09

Check out where two of the stained glass windows will go

As part of the building project we are moving seven stained glass windows. Two of them will go on the new west wall.

John and Eleni

I had the honour yesterday of officiating and speaking at the wedding of John and Eleni Holloway.

Commissioning 2009

Well Annandale Neighbourhood Center was packed to the rafters this morning as we gathered as a church to commission Matt Lemsing and Thora Marsh to their new roles of executive pastor and women's pastor of our ministry.

Matthew Whitfield and I are delighted to have them as co-workers and look forward to a long and happy relationship together. Here's my address from the commissioning meeting. audio | handout.

Camper Trailer Crash

Well our trusty camper trailer was parked out the front of our house and a Jeep Cherokee slammed into the back of it on Tuesday morning at 8:15.



The damage was extensive. Every panel is damaged and the two truck people who took it to the dealers at Penrith were afraid that it would collapse on the way. It certainly wouldn't have been possible for us to have towed it with our car.

Apparently the driver who smashed into the parked campervan came through the roundabout, was heading for a head on smash with a car coming the other way, but then overcorrected and smashed in the back of our parked campertrailer. The driver was OK. It took ages for the two trucks to come.
We've sent the camper trailer back to the dealer at Penrith. I think they are expecting that it will be written off but we will find out in the next few days.


The four wheel drive isn't too damaged but it appears that they don't put campertrailers through the same crash testing regime.

Hannah and Joshua

The first day of high school at Fort Street

Grow Up: Building God's People

It was a really good night at Christians in the Media church last night. We asked people to put up hands if they were in and then made a huge order of Thai takeaway and people stayed late and had a greart time. I gave a talk on 1 Corinthians 3 that outlined how we should be thinking about the ministry of Christ that we are engaged in. Please pray for God's spirit to work amongst those who heard. audio | handout | video.

Solomon's wild back scar

Bethany and Martin Southwell

Today it was a delight to officiate at the wedding of Bethany McCaffery and Martin Southwell. We had a really nice afternoon at Christ Church Springwood. It was great to see lots of friends thereand I particularly enjoyed a long conversation with Evan and Nicky Batten before the wedding reception.

A walk through our new church building

Walk around the church building from Christians in the Media on Vimeo
I had a day off today as it's a big day tomorrow, when I'll be marrying Bethany and Martin. Well they will be marrying each other - but I will be officiating. But first thing this morning I headed down to the church building with my Dad (who was visiting for breakfast) and we walked through with Paul Waterhouse who filmed the walkthrough. It will give you a sense of the brilliant job the builders are doing. There seemed to be about 15 guys working today. It was a huge day on the church site. And it's all looking really good.

Wittenoom and Fatherhood

Cathie's dad Wilf was working at Wittenoom in WA in 1958 when he contracted mesothelioma. He died when she was eight years old. My lovely wife grew up without a father. Her uncle Bob filled that role to some extent. But he too was killed by Wittenoom's mesothelioma a few years ago.

One of the places that Cathie really wanted to visit on our trip to WA was Wittenoom. Strangely it has gone from all the modern maps and the tourist office at Port Headland was directed to advise us NOT to go there.

There are a few people still living in Wittenoom braving the asbestos cancer risk. But the government provides no services: Police, Post, Courts, Electricity etc. As far as I could work out those living there were squatters prepared to take life in their own hands.

The rest of us stayed in the car. Cathie got out to take a photo of a roadsign, to collect flowers, and to place them under a tree near the town's abandoned petrol station.

My own feelings were muddled. Last time I was at Wittenoom I was single and the town and it's asbestos cancer related history was just a curiosity. This time it is a town from whom the poison came - that has killed two of my relatives - and scarred the life of the girl I care for most.

Tomorrow at church Matt Whitfield is speaking on the Lord's Prayer, where Jesus teaches us to pray 'Our Father.'

[outline | audio]

It is an enormous comfort to me to have a father with whom I am in good relationship. He's not perfect - not like the heavenly father. But he's my dad.

My wife grew up from aged eight with no dad.

I pray for her in regards to this.

Solomon's mates for a sleepover

Last night we had four of Solomon's friends for a sleepover. He was due for a birthday party last October but because we were on our trip around Australia that didn't happen. We did it last night.

There were two boys from church and two boys from school and Solomon and Abraham. We had sock wrestling, campfire, marshmellows and damper, scary stories, they stayed up to late, talked to much, and then this morning were mellow eating pancakes and watching the movie Oliver.

This afternoon it's a quiet afternoon at our house

Every day off I plan to edit up a new holiday video ...

... this one is of our visit to the Qantas Founders' Museum and the Stockman's Hall of Fame at Longreach. The Qantas Museum exceeded our expectations and the Stockman's Hall of Fame was a disappointment. It was good - but the build up in my mind had perhaps been too high.

Andrew Barry on 'The Father's Heart'

Over the summer break I found this video of Andrew Barry's excellent talk on 'The Father's Heart'. Somehow we failed to put the video on line at the time he gave this address two years ago. But here it is now.


Andrew Barry on 'The Father's heart for the lost' from Christians in the Media on Vimeo.

Leader's Bootcamp - Saturday Feb 7

We are asking all who are exercising any sort of leadership in our ministries to join us Saturday February 7 at Annandale Community Center for our Leaders' Bootcamp (8:30am - 1pm). Our program is shaping up to include:

• Breakfast
• A Biblical Theology of Elders, Deacons and Christian leadership (Dominic Steele)
• Significant input and discussion on vision and church/ministry name
• An excursion tour our new church site
• Details of our new 'team ministry' structure and how year will work (Matt Lemsing)
• Groups Meeting and Training: Community Groups, Youth and Childrens, Scripture, Media Leaders (Worker ministry team, Pyrmont team, UTS team, Mac Uni team), Resources Ministry (Publishing), Resources Ministry (Downloads), Finance Committee, Church Council, Women's mid week groups, Playgroup/Littlies
• Prayer
• Lunch

There will be a creche on site and a older children's program run in parallel (this will happen at Dominic and Cathie's house).  (We are looking for volunteers to help with these programs)

RSVP to rsvp@christiansinthemedia.org

Preaching Christ Crucified

We've just kicked off a major series on Sunday nights hoping to address particular issues that we face as a church. I've called it 'A letter to us that's not to us'. Here's the outline and talk from last Sunday night.

This Sunday night I am speaking on preaching Christ Crucified from 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5.

To think ahead...

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
1. Remember from last week that the Corinthians were dividing over silly things. What is the real ‘division’ in this world (v18)?
2. What does God think of human wisdom (v19-20)?
3. How did God turn the tables on human wisdom (v21)?
4. Greeks are looking for wisdom, Jews are looking for power. Why might the idea of a crucified messiah trip up both groups (v22-23)?
5. What totally different view of Jesus and the cross do you get when God calls you (v24-25)? kick off The cross
6. Why is the cross the ultimate answer to people getting carried away with pride, thinking we’re strong or clever?
7. Think about the idea that the real division in this world shouldn't be in the church, but rather it is the great eternal divide between the saved and the perishing. Discuss all the consequences you can for us as a church, from that gospel truth.
8. If Greeks thought the cross was foolish, and the Jews thought it was weak… what barriers do Australians put up to belief in Jesus’ death for them? How can we address this?


Questions taken from a study by Southern Cross Presbyterian Church.

David Aikman at Access All Areas

David Aikman's keynote address at Access All Areas. Download: audio | video.

Hannah and Barack

Connect 09 - launch February 8

We are going to join up with 270 other Sydney ministries on February 8 to take part in the launch of Connect 09.

Great Prayers of the Bible

Download Matt's talk on 2 Samuel 7. Outline.

A new puppy

A Christmas present for the kids from Cathie and me. We decided to call him Barack. His mat is oval and we call it the Oval Office and then we call his kennel 'The White House.' I like the idea of saying 'Fetch Barack.'

Barak or Herod or Jed or Jarwin or Homer or Dogmatix or Asterix or ?

Well I really do love Cathie deeply. I can tell because I agreed to
her request that we get a puppy (pictured here) for Christmas.

There were two conditions 1. That it is an outside not inside dog. 2.
That the parents choose his name not the kids.

Some of the names on the list in the subect heading above have made it
to the second round.

That Barak is in the list should nor be read as a pro right or pro
left comment. I just like the idea of calling out 'Barak fetch' in the
park.

Image for Old Testament plotline

Here is an image I used in my Christmas Day talk and that I have used many times before. I am pretty sure I originally spotted it in a John Richardson book but it's so long ago that I have gone hazy. I think it is brilliant.

The Slaughter of the Innocent

On Christmas Day I tackled the horrific story of the slaughter of the innocents, giving us a picture of the real Christmas of history and the real Christmas today. audio | handout.

Christmas 2008

.
Christmas Carols last Sunday night. We meet tonight (11pm Christmas Eve) at Annandale Neighbourhood Center (79 Johnston St, Annandale) and 9:30am Christmas Day at Annandale Neighbourhood Center.

The Incarnation

In this talk on the incarnation I attempt to show why it is vital that
Jesus is both fully human and fully God. I also outline my
difficulties with the popular new book 'The Shack' and my
disappointment in Sydney's main Christian bookshop and radio station
for their promotion of it. audio | handout

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men

This is the height chart from the doorpost on our kitchen door.  Hannah and Solomon compete to be taller at the particular age.  I imagine that a sign of Jesus' humanity is that he would have had similar competitions with his siblings.

Luke 2:52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

 

Gavin Wilcox

For several years on Christmas Day we visited All Saints Church at Nowra. Gavin Wilcox was the minister. He was a contemporary of mine at Moore College.

On Thursday Bishop Robert Forsyth told me that Gavin had died that morning. Gavin's first posting was alongside Robert at St Barnabas Broadway, before he later moved to Nowra.

Among my memories of Gavin are the many people he introduced me to at church who he had led to Christ using the Introducing God course.

I thank God for Gavin's life today and will be praying for his wife Wendy and kids.

Hovel's latest update

Hannah has finished Summer Hill Year Six

Tonight she's off on a sleepover caravan with Cathie and the four
friends pictured here with their teacher Miss Arentz.

Miss Arentz is not on the sleepover - I presume after two years of OC
kids she's enjoying relaxing.

UTS and Mac Uni Media students end of year shindig

We had a great time tonight at the UTS and Mac Uni media students get
together.

Because the tomb is empty - Part B

In this talk I unpack the implications of the empty tomb from the book of Romans. The handout is here. The talk in audio is here. We plan to be back putting videos up each week in the new year.

The truss is in

One of the big issues in our church building project is how will the
south wall be held up? The engineers and architects and builders have
designed and constructed a huge truss.

It was put in yesterday morning. I was stopped at the traffic lights
just after midday and took this photo from out of the car window.

The guys are making great progress :)

Christmas Buddhas

Cathie went shopping at K-Mart Broadway. They are selling Christmas
Buddhas to hang on your tree.

I asked her if she complained. She said no, but that they weren't
selling very well and that the marked would probably decide.

And don't the waiters look good!

A Christmas afternoon tea

Good times today for the women of our church and friends with a
special Christmas afternoon tea at Annandale

Jericho and Galilee

Others have done profiles on Jericho and Galilee in the Holy Land. This is a profile on Jericho on the Jordon River, near Lake Galilee in Central Queensland. I couldn't find all the statues. But then I didn't have a researcher as part of the film crew :)

The buskers are back

Hannah on Clarinet, Solomon on Sax. They went busking today with
their roadie Abraham.

In one hour in Johnston Street they made $6:35.

They paid the roadie a third. Which meant that each received $2.10.

Apparently Christmas Carols and Duets were most popular.

So they are going to practice and do it again soon.

Blackwater and Emerald

On each of my days off over the next few months I'll edit up little snippets of video from our holiday. And sharing it with you will motivate me to do it bit by bit.

I thought this was cool ...

The angst of Christmas

On Wednesday I was back at City Bible Forum for the first time in more than three months and had my first chance to address publically the issues of the financial crisis that have hit our world in 2008.

I called this address from Luke 1:46-56: The angst of Christmas.

St Lukes Miranda Christmas Lunch

Today Cathie and I headed down to St Luke's Miranda where Cathie's mum
Janet is a member and where Cathie grew up.

The people at St Lukes adopted us as link missionaries ten years ago
and have me back to speak there around every 18 months.

I am so thankful to God for them - for their prayerful and financial
support for our missionary work to the media.

I am convinced that their support is key in the way God has blessed
the ministry we have been doing.

Today was Christmas lunch for the St Luke's crew. There were about 100 at the lunch at Taren Point and we had a great time. I spoke about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the ministry we are engaged in and a little about our holidays.

This blog

Between September 1 and December 1 we went on a three month long service leave trip around Australia. Over the next couple of weeks I'll put up some of the videos we took on the trip as part of sharing the adventure with friends and family. I hope you enjoy. Cheers,Dominic

Because the tomb is empty - Part A

It was terrific to be back at church last Sunday. I had a lovely time and after 13 weeks visiting other places it was lovely to be back with friends and to meet new people who have joined while I was away.

I gave the first of two addresses under the heading 'Because the tomb is empty.'

In these talks we are thinking about the overall direction of our ministry given two factors : 1. The tomb is empty and 2. We now have a timeline of when things can happen and can make concrete time based plans about the next ten years.

If you missed last Sunday and would like to listen to it. The talk is here.

City Bible Forum

I am looking forward to being back at City Bible Forum today at
lunchtime after a 14 week absence!

Billy Joel - great fun but a bit sad

Last night Cathie and I went to see Billy Joel.  It was a birthday present for Cathie from me.

We had a terrific night. Joel is a great showman, commands respect on the stage, was at ease in the 20-thousand arena and had all sorts of fun along the way. We fell smack bang in the middle of the demographic who were attending.  And Billy Joel sang lots of songs from our youth.

There were some lovely moments, for example as he played Waltzing Matilda alone on the piano and the whole auditorum sang to him, and then in the last verse of the last song 20-thousand of us we sang together with no backing music: 

"Sing us a song you're the piano man, sing us a song tonight.

We're all in the mood for a melody and you've got us feeling alright'

However, I was shocked and distressed to the core when Joel's roady 'Chainsaw' led the whole auditorium in singing 'I'm on the Highway to Hell.'  I read later on a blog that this is a signature event of a Billy Joel concert.    But there was something terribly tragic about 20-thousand people singing in loud voices - defiantly - unthinkingly - 'I am on the highway to hell.'  Of course it wasn't the first time I had heard the song.  But there was something about seeing all those people singing it together - an opposite parallel to a congregation singing the praise of Jesus and the glories of heaven.

Also distressing was Joel's anthem to lust 'Only the good die young' (A song of course I knew but it was distressing to see him and many others celebrating this world view)

Come out Virginia, don't let me wait

You Catholic girls start much too late

aw But sooner or later it comes down to fate

I might as well be the one

I felt for Joel the person.  Of course there's lots to admire.  He has been at the top of the music business for 30 years and has escaped much of the ravages of that industry.  But I couldn't help feeling sad that many of his love song ballards written for previous wives were left out because (I guess) he couldn't sing them with sincerity now, the one that he did sing he had to qualify with his expression, his hand movements and his preamble explaining that he didn't really believe it anymore.  He also came across as less than the person that I had expected him to be.  At points spectacularly the elder statesman of rock, at points cynical, bitter and bruised.

I prayed for him when I was listening to his albums in the 80's and am going to start praying for him again.

Annandale Christmas Scripture Assembly

Jane Vaughan, Sophie Gyles, Nathan Ford

Building work inside the chapel area

Note the floor is 30cms lower !

I am so looking forward to teaching the Bible tomorrow

I haven't taught the Bible (except in the caravan with our family and
amongst our staff this week) for 13 weeks and I am so looking forward
to opening the scriptures again tomorrow.

I am going to be speaking on 'Because the tomb is empty - Part 1'
where we will be looking at the implications of the Resurrection for
where we will be going as a ministry in 2009 and over the next five
years.

Back to business

I just put on a tie for the first time since August.

The wall is coming down

Hey this was exciting. This morning I went along to check out the
building committee meeting - and they were knocking down a wall of the
church.

Camel riding in Broome

This is us camel riding in Broome.

Great to be be back at church

We were back at church this morning and how good it was to be back,
especially seeing friends that we hadn't seen for ages! Matt
Whitfield has done a terrific job in our absence and things were
blazing at full strength. Con Campbell gave an outstanding talk on
the Spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 with lots of Old Testament
references. I want to look up angels in the Bible as a result.

A scary trip across Ivanhoe Crossing, Kununurra, NW Australia

Now we are back I've edited up this video of crossing at Ivanhoe Crossing, Kununurra. It was scary!

Pythons and Crocodiles at Adelaide River

I'm gradually editing up the videos from our trip. This one was from October 18 at Adelaide River, just north of the Kakadu National Park.

Matt & Bel for dinner

It was great to have Matt and Bel for dinner on Friday after dinner on Thursday night with Mum and Dad and Janet on Wednesday night.

Matt & Matt & Apple

I spent most of my last day of long service leave meeting with Matt Lemsing and Matt Whitfield. We went over our 2009 budget with a fine tooth comb. We've had some disappointing news financially over the last fortnight and lots of prayer and generosity is going to be required.

Then I headed to the Apple Shop in town. Cathie lent on the LCD screen of my macbook in Katherine and broke the screen. Sad as the bill for a repair is $850.

School

Wild horses couldn't have stopped the kids from going to school today. They are so excited to be seeing their friends again.

Solomon: 'This is such a big house!'
Dad: 'It is compared to a caravan!'

Back to Annandale & Stanmore

Cathie drove Hannah in to the inner west in Janet's car while the boys and I drove in the 4WD. As we came through Marrickville Solomon asked if we could drive past chruch to see what had happened there while were were away. It thrilling to see the back wall up and the columns that will back the back of the enlarged auditorium.

Mat and Ros (who have been living in our house) were on hand to great us and Matt helped put the campervan in the carport. I took the jeep down to the car detailers to have it properly cleaned for Peter and Vini (who lent it to us). And then we started the huge taske of packing and sorting.

It was a little silly how many things we unpacked that we had taken all the way around the country and not used. Some books that I had planned to read, some sporting equipment, some baking trays. All sorts of things. But we just laughed.

Mum and Dad were at the my sister's daughter Kalani's birthday and so they came for dinner which was great (takeaway pizza).

We slept in our own beds. The house seems much darker than the caravan and the our bedroom strangely dark and private. We had to open up more windows because we were used to more of a breeze.

21,350km and we have done it! It's good to be home.