Happy New Year everyone. I thought I would kick 2014 off with a little document I penned on the back of napkin in 2011. It’s a short reflection on why our church (SPCH) no longer had a voice in the community and a suggestion on how to get it back again. Interestingly, I only had…
Read more The Price of Admission – the new cost for being heard …
I was at the gym yesterday and my partner asked what type of things freak you out at church? Well here are three things that do that when said to me after the church service: 3) That was really good, but ….. – well thank you very much Mr GoodButt! 2) I really want to…
Read more 3 things to say to me after church that freak me out!
Innovation is something I’m always thinking about. I came across this article this morning which just caught my eye and got me thinking about ministry. Amongst other interesting idea, this paragraph caught my eye: How do innovations emerge in society? It is process of what Joseph Schumpeter, the Austrian economist, called ‘creative destruction’. In a major innovation cycle,…
Along with four weeks of special Sunday Church services where we aim to present Jesus clearly and call people to respond to him, during May our church is putting on 3 other special events for your unchurched friends: Justine Toh Wednesday 8th May in the SPCH Church Foyer — 7:30pm till 9:00pm Justine will lead an interactive…
Allahabad is one of the sacred sites for Hindu pilgrims. Without prior understanding of the significance of the date, we booked our arrival coinciding with Kumbh Mela – a 1 in 144 year pilgrimage festival. Hindus believe that on certain dates – governed astrologically – if they bathed at the meeting point of the Ganges…
A man came up to us and said loudly to my son, “Your dad should teach you English!” Then he walked away. A seemingly innocuous statement made by a complete stranger to my four year old whilst we were standing at the checkout of the Coles supermarket at Castle Towers. My son just ignored it. However,…
Read more “Your dad should teach you English!” – the ugly face of racial hate
Over the past two days, I have been in meetings with our Executive Minister, our Student Ministries Director and our Women’s minister in an effort to begin conquering the task of ministering to people who are transitioning from young adulthood to adulthood. At SPCH, our reasonably loose definition of a young adult, is basically any…
Read more Conquering the ministry fog from young adults to adults (Observations)
I write this acknowledging that I am easily distracted and often find it difficult to concentrate during church. I also write this acknowledging that I am a heavy user of my phone and I would admit that it is kind of the go-to device for much of my ministry and work – it has my…
Read more Today I forgot to bring my phone to church and church was so much better!
A little while ago, I outlined a suggested narrative for a carols event. As our has been developing, I though I’d give you an update: Reading 1 – The Big Picture of Jesus’ birth A long time ago, in a land far from here, there was the announcement of great and joyous news: “For…
Christmas is fast approaching. It’s a time when Australia basically stops: schools break for holidays; offices shut down; and people gather together for one never-ending BBQ. All for what? It’s obviously a naturally low in the working cycle (except if you are a shopkeeper or work in a shop). However, for Christians it is the…
Read more Christmas Carols that are good to attend but also preach Jesus?
Taste and See that Jesus is good! 