JCAC

a Biblical thought...
They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. (1 Chronicles 16:6)

a Book thought...
It's our duty to help remedy a broken world, but this takes effort. Our responsibility is to embrace this task with humility and energy, without expecting the world to come to our doorstep. (p131)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday I ventured down to the Forrest Edge camp to run a session at the Junior Creative Arts Camp. It was great just to be there and experience the energy and vibrancy of the 100 eight to fourteen year olds present. Captain Tracey Davies is doing a great job once again as it is well organised but also a creative program to keep the kids engaged. I encourage you to come along tonight at 7pm to Box Hill and see the end result of their four days together.

As I was driving home I reflected on the fact that I attended similar camps in Perth as a nine year old boy who just held a trombone but didn't play much at all during rehearsals. What I do cherish though is the friendships I made back then that are still part of my life today. Being part of these camps where we live in community and get to discuss our growing faith is invaluable and I'm sure the kids I saw at JCAC today will one day look back at this camp too and value its lasting impact on their lives.

Just a thought.

Changing Teams

a Biblical thought...
David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets. (1 Chronicles 13:8)

a Book thought...
I am not asked to impersonate the Holy Spirit but to live a life that gives off God's fluorescence. (p114)
a Dave thought...
It was a fun yesterday to spend an hour with the two boys at the Glenferrie Festival. This annual community celebration involves closing Glenferrie Rd down so only pedestrians can access this 1km strip of shops. As we wandered along Noah was drawn to the Hawthorn Football Club stall, so I begrudgingly agreed to take a photo of him with the 2008 premiership cup. As I raised Noah as a West Coast supporter it has been disturbing watching him move across to the dark side and barrack for another team. Although it is just a footy team I know a little bit now of how it feels as a parent to have your child reject what you wholeheartedly believe in. I'm sure there will be more changes as we journey through life together, but I pray that we will always agree on the things that matter most in life - a love for God and a love for others.

Just a thought.

A Church of the Cross

a Biblical thought...
And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty was with him. (1 Chronicles 11:9)

a Book thought...
Young people are facing a candid, sexually diverse world, often without assistance or biblical counsel from their churches or their parents. (p103)
a Dave thought... by Tim Chester
The great Reformer Martin Luther spoke of theologies of glory and a theology of the cross. Theologies of glory look for the revelation of God in his mighty works: creation, miracles, spiritual experiences. But this kind of knowledge, said Luther, only puffs people up. Instead God has chosen to reveal himself supremely in the cross. And that means revelation is only discernible by faith. Only by faith do we see in the weakness, foolishness, and shame of the cross the power, wisdom, and victory of God. Theologies of glory lead to pride. The theology of the cross leads to humility—or, in Luther’s language, humiliation.

Now apply the same idea to our churches. Churches of glory will put their confidence in mighty works: stage performances, big budgets, large numbers, powerful arguments, charismatic preachers. A church of the cross will be characterized by power in weakness, wisdom in foolishness, victory in shame. Its confidence will be in the sovereignty of God, the presence of his Spirit, and the power of his Word. Jesus said the kingdom of God has been given to “my little flock.” Most of the time it will be under the radar. But, like yeast in dough, it will grow unseen to fill the earth.

Just a thought.

Josiah

a Biblical thought...
These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. (1 Chronicles 6:31-32)

a Book thought...
Sometimes we believe the greatest Christian virtue is leading someone else to Christ. Scripture teaches followers of Christ that they should love their neighbours and make disciples along the way. (p89)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday we celebrated two years of life for our youngest son Josiah. He is a beautiful child and we thank God everyday for entrusting us with the privilege of bringing up another son. It was fun as a few of us gathered to eat well and open up his presents, even though the person whose life we are gathered around the table to celebrate is too young to even understand what is happening! Although Josiah may not ever be able to recall this day it reminded me of a piece of advice I heard Kevin Gerald give who tries to live life like: "Every day's a holiday, and every meal a feast." As much as I enjoy holidays and feasts I also want to make sure I do my best to invite others not so fortunate to join our family along the way.

Just a thought.

Cyberslacking

a Biblical thought...
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. (2 Kings 23:25)

a Book thought...
Obeying the command to make disciples does not give us license to offend people, especially when those offenses are actually inhibiting us from fulfilling that very commandment. (p71)

a Dave thought... from The Age
Internet-surfing workers relax: employees who regularly sneak a peek at Facebook or shop online during office hours could actually be boosting their productivity.
Melbourne University's Dr Brent Coker says workers who surf the internet for leisure, known as 'Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing' (WILB), are more productive than those who don't.
A study of 300 employees found 70 per cent of people who used the internet at work engaged in WILB.
"People who do surf the internet for fun at work - within a reasonable limit of less than 20 per cent of their total time in the office - are more productive by about nine per cent than those who don't," said Dr Coker, from the university's Department of Management and Marketing.
"Firms spend millions on software to block their employees from watching videos on YouTube, using social networking sites like Facebook or shopping online under the pretence that it costs millions in lost productivity. However that's not always the case."

I know this a hot topic in my workplace but my personal opinion is that those that want to work, regardless of other things they may do or look at on the net during their hours, will work. Surely blocking certain websites is avoiding the issue, the employee is either bored or just needs a break. I'd rather some flexibility, creativity and productivity in the workplace than lock downs, rules, and formality any day.

Just a thought.

All Melbourne Matters

a Biblical thought...
'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' (2 Kings 20:6)

a Book thought...
A large building with little connection to the streets is essentially empty. (p65)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday I attended the Transforming Melbourne conference 'All Melbourne Matters' at New Hope, here are a few facts that were shared:

3.8 million people in our city and it takes all denominations to be in step with Christ to be able to do this. We are one body.
23% of church attenders are over 75, while 53% over 55
One third of leaders are over 55
Population is increasing at 90,000 but the churches are losing 4,500 a year
520,000 Melbournians are regularly involved in church
79% of people living in Melbourne have confidence in charities but sadly only 35% have confidence in churches.

Mark Sayers also shared about the challenge isn’t gathering young people but rather discipling them. While Brendan Nottle that a sermon is like a half time footy address but if you are not going back on the field there is no point revving up the troops. His challenge to get out of the building and meet peoples needs was simple yet so impacting. It was interesting turning up to an ecumenical gathering only to find out by a Salvo how to do church more effectively.

Just a thought.

Performing Communities

a Biblical thought...
But the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies." (2 Kings 17:36-39)

a Book thought...
The unChristian faith - hypocritical, judgmental, and full of empty moral striving - is what Paul warned his readers about! And it is part of the reason we are known as hypocrites. (p52)
a Dave thought...

I came across a fabulous new blog this week from Mark Driscoll who I've added to my blog roll to the right where I read this fascinating post by Tim Chester.

I was recently asked to speak on communities of grace. So I got to thinking: What is the opposite of a community of grace? And I came to the conclusion that it's a community of performance. Communities of performance may talk a lot about grace, but they value performance—Christians who have it all figured out, churches that run smoothly, meetings that are accomplished. And so they communicate that what matters is that you perform well.

Communities of Performance

The leaders appear to have it all figured out
The community appears respectable
Meetings must be a polished performance
Failure is devastating, because identity is found in ministry
Actions are driven by duty
Conflict is suppressed or ignored
The focus is on orthodox behavior (letting people think they have it all figured out)

Communities of Grace

The leaders are vulnerable
The community is messy
Meetings are just one part of community life
Failure is disappointing but not devastating, because identity is found in Christ
Actions are driven by joy
Conflict is addressed in the open
The focus is on the affections of the heart (with a strong view of sin and grace)

In performance-oriented churches, people pretend to be okay because their standing within the church depends on it. But this is the opposite of grace. Grace acknowledges that we're all sinners, all messed up, all struggling. And grace also affirms that in Christ we all belong, all make the grade, all are welcome.

I'm not sure about you but I have to admit I've been a part of some performing communities over the years. I understand the word and love the idea of a community of grace but it is hard in our stage driven model of church today.

Just a thought.