a Biblical thought...
As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out." (Mark 1:7-8)
a Book thought...
In many churches, even small churches, we set up hierarchical structures that dampen any younger person's desire to help bring innovation and change at a higher level. (p82 Kimball)
a Dave thought...
Last night I was responsible for our 6pm service. As it was in the middle of our holiday season I took the opportunity to shape the service a bit differently. As Sunday has been approaching people asked me who was leading worship, who was preaching and when I tried to explain what I was doing no-one seemed to get it.
We set up the back hall in a round with cafe tables so no-one could sit at the back, with a centre stage so you continually needed to do circles while speaking. We had no worship music or no preacher, but for an hour and ten minutes, we shared experiences, reflected on our journeys, and spoke about our hopes for 2008 with others on our table. Some of this was done with the attention at the middle of the room highlighting certain peoples experiences but other times just around the seven tables.
Well we had over 50 in attendance and even though it was a version of stunt church it certainly kept me interested and I believe helped build our community of faith as we move closer to Him. But for those that only like church when we are facing the stage, singing songs and listening to preachers it probably wrecked their week.
Just a thought.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Church Planting
a Biblical thought...
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
a Book thought...
We may be embarrassed about Christianity but we don't have to be embarrassed about Jesus. (p60 Kimball)
a Dave thought...
The following ten basic skill sets are the kind of skill sets and traits that church planters need to have in order to be effective in their church planting mission. They are based upon a study of scripture (see Ephesians 4 and Matthew 28), a major research project by Dr. Charles Ridley and Robert Logan and extensive conversations with Church planting leaders.
The Competencies they think are necessary are...
1. Visionary Leadership Skills
2. Starting-Gathering Skills
3. Communication Skills
4. Evangelistic Skills
5. Discipling Skills
6. Equipping Skills
7. Team Building Skills
8. Group and Leader Multiplication Skills
9. Knowledge of Church Planting
10. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
On Friday Kylie and I did an assessment with two competent facilitators for 7 hours to discover how we fit when it comes to these competencies. In a week we will have a report given to us with our strongest areas and our work areas displayed, and a recommendation whether we are fit to plant a church. I am very much looking forward to the results and hope one day this door will open for us. I am a big believer in assessments but yes they do fail and in the end nothing beats determination, passion and God.
Just a thought.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
a Book thought...
We may be embarrassed about Christianity but we don't have to be embarrassed about Jesus. (p60 Kimball)
a Dave thought...
The following ten basic skill sets are the kind of skill sets and traits that church planters need to have in order to be effective in their church planting mission. They are based upon a study of scripture (see Ephesians 4 and Matthew 28), a major research project by Dr. Charles Ridley and Robert Logan and extensive conversations with Church planting leaders.
The Competencies they think are necessary are...
1. Visionary Leadership Skills
2. Starting-Gathering Skills
3. Communication Skills
4. Evangelistic Skills
5. Discipling Skills
6. Equipping Skills
7. Team Building Skills
8. Group and Leader Multiplication Skills
9. Knowledge of Church Planting
10. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
On Friday Kylie and I did an assessment with two competent facilitators for 7 hours to discover how we fit when it comes to these competencies. In a week we will have a report given to us with our strongest areas and our work areas displayed, and a recommendation whether we are fit to plant a church. I am very much looking forward to the results and hope one day this door will open for us. I am a big believer in assessments but yes they do fail and in the end nothing beats determination, passion and God.
Just a thought.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Managers kill innovation
a Biblical thought...
The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, "This has to be the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54)
a Book thought...
I think Jesus wants the church to offer an apology to people when needed, and I think Jesus wants those who like him to forgive the church if she has wounded them. (p58 Kimball)
a Dave thought... from The Age
Just about every employee I speak to says managers kill innovation. The ideas are there, they're just not drawn out, nurtured and developed. Whether it's linear chains of command, closed-minded executives, no time for the new, pathetic incentives or just plain old clumsy execution, ideas don't stand a chance in most organisations.
This should ring alarm bells for business owners. Innovation is centre stage when managers talk about where growth in the future will come from.
So what's going on? Is there any hope for innovation in organizations? How exactly do you create an environment in which innovation can flourish?
I think it comes down to the way organisations operate. As innovation guru Gary Hamel writes in his new book The Future of Management, a CEO resurrected from the 1930s would feel right at home in just about any corporate meeting today. The stiff hierarchy of command and control has barely changed since the day it was created, and that was way back in the months following the American Civil War.
Compare this rigidity with the fluidity of the market. How much has the competitive environment changed in the last 10 years? With such outdated models it's no wonder organizations struggle to come up with new products and new solutions.
Michael Tchong points out in his Fast Company Blog that it is a bit of freedom and autonomy that sets companies like Google apart from their slow and clunky brethren. The ability to make decisions quickly and act on instinct is key. With middle managers "typically grid-locked in political battles with other divisions to get their flawed, focus-group-research-imbued opinions heard", Tchong writes, me-too products inevitably flood the market.
The sooner managers realise that internal processes, rather than the ideas themselves, need to be freed, the better.
Internal processes in The Salvation Army also need to be freed, and as the church is generally 10 years behind the business world when it comes to new models of management it may take us a while yet. I strongly believe it is going to be new models of ministry and innovative ways of being the Salvation Army that will help us grow but like the writer above suggests unless we can make decisions quickly and act on instinct we will continue to be bound by a system we thought would help us grow.
Just a thought.
The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, "This has to be the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54)
a Book thought...
I think Jesus wants the church to offer an apology to people when needed, and I think Jesus wants those who like him to forgive the church if she has wounded them. (p58 Kimball)
a Dave thought... from The Age
Just about every employee I speak to says managers kill innovation. The ideas are there, they're just not drawn out, nurtured and developed. Whether it's linear chains of command, closed-minded executives, no time for the new, pathetic incentives or just plain old clumsy execution, ideas don't stand a chance in most organisations.
This should ring alarm bells for business owners. Innovation is centre stage when managers talk about where growth in the future will come from.
So what's going on? Is there any hope for innovation in organizations? How exactly do you create an environment in which innovation can flourish?
I think it comes down to the way organisations operate. As innovation guru Gary Hamel writes in his new book The Future of Management, a CEO resurrected from the 1930s would feel right at home in just about any corporate meeting today. The stiff hierarchy of command and control has barely changed since the day it was created, and that was way back in the months following the American Civil War.
Compare this rigidity with the fluidity of the market. How much has the competitive environment changed in the last 10 years? With such outdated models it's no wonder organizations struggle to come up with new products and new solutions.
Michael Tchong points out in his Fast Company Blog that it is a bit of freedom and autonomy that sets companies like Google apart from their slow and clunky brethren. The ability to make decisions quickly and act on instinct is key. With middle managers "typically grid-locked in political battles with other divisions to get their flawed, focus-group-research-imbued opinions heard", Tchong writes, me-too products inevitably flood the market.
The sooner managers realise that internal processes, rather than the ideas themselves, need to be freed, the better.
Internal processes in The Salvation Army also need to be freed, and as the church is generally 10 years behind the business world when it comes to new models of management it may take us a while yet. I strongly believe it is going to be new models of ministry and innovative ways of being the Salvation Army that will help us grow but like the writer above suggests unless we can make decisions quickly and act on instinct we will continue to be bound by a system we thought would help us grow.
Just a thought.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Planetshakers
a Biblical thought...
When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." (Matthew 26:40-41)
a Book thought...
Mahatma Gandhi summed up similar feelings in a well-known quote of his: "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." (p37 Kimball)
When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." (Matthew 26:40-41)
a Book thought...
Mahatma Gandhi summed up similar feelings in a well-known quote of his: "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." (p37 Kimball)
a Dave thought...Last night I attended the Planetshakers conference at Vodafone Arena where there were over 3000 teenagers passionately worshipping God. The service went for 3 hours with an incredible production team, talented musicians and humorous preacher. Russell Evans began the conference in 1995 when 300 attended and this January they are expecting 25,000 across 4 venues so the growth has been quite exceptional.
When I was youth pastor at Box Hill 8 years ago we used to take bus loads of our teenagers across to Adelaide for this event and God did do some amazing things through the conference that greatly impacted our guys. My dilemma as I sat through the event again last night is that the hype and emotion of this worship rally no doubt helps our young people find Jesus but how long will it last? We have literally heaps of our young people that have been planetshaker saved but only last in our discipleship groups for a few weeks but then would turn up next year again for the big event experience.
I know Russell and some of his team and know they have great hearts and want to see so many young people won for Jesus across this nation, but unless we can go the journey with these guys and teach them about a Jesus that loves the poor and worships his Father even when the lights aren't up and the show isn't on are we really shaking the planet?
Just a thought.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wedding Anniversary
Well as from yesterday we have been married 15 years! So last evening we spent a romantic night in the city with our 2 children:) I promised my wife that I would not get up early and blog so here I am at the end of the day posting an entry for my everyday readers.
The average marriage in Australia lasts 7 years, so I can confidently say our marriage is more than twice as good as a normal marriage. But seriously I do love being married to Kylie, she is a wonderful woman and I'm sure we will continue to smash more records together going forward.
Just a thought.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Smoky France
a Biblical thought...
'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'
"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'
(Matthew 25:44-45)
a Book thought...
Christians are now the foreigners in a post-christian culture, and we have got to wake up to this reality if we haven't. (p30 Kimball)
a Dave thought... from The Age
One of France's most iconic institutions - the smoky cafe - is set to become a hazy memory.
The extension of France's smoking ban to bars, discotheques, restaurants, hotels, casinos and cafes on January 1 marks a momentous cultural shift in a country where thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir once held court while clutching cigarettes in Left Bank cafes.
If you haven't caught up with the news France has banned smoking in all public indoor venues from yesterday. As a quarter of the french are smokers this is a massive move towards making public spaces a lot healthier. It seems if a habit brings any negative physical consequences it is best to outlaw it in society. Our quest as humans for all to live as long as possible has again been enhanced and it is amazing how a decision so massive can be implemented when lives are at stake. So whats next - ban driving on roads?
Just a thought.
'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'
"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'
(Matthew 25:44-45)
a Book thought...
Christians are now the foreigners in a post-christian culture, and we have got to wake up to this reality if we haven't. (p30 Kimball)
a Dave thought... from The Age
One of France's most iconic institutions - the smoky cafe - is set to become a hazy memory.
The extension of France's smoking ban to bars, discotheques, restaurants, hotels, casinos and cafes on January 1 marks a momentous cultural shift in a country where thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir once held court while clutching cigarettes in Left Bank cafes.
If you haven't caught up with the news France has banned smoking in all public indoor venues from yesterday. As a quarter of the french are smokers this is a massive move towards making public spaces a lot healthier. It seems if a habit brings any negative physical consequences it is best to outlaw it in society. Our quest as humans for all to live as long as possible has again been enhanced and it is amazing how a decision so massive can be implemented when lives are at stake. So whats next - ban driving on roads?
Just a thought.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New format for 08
a Biblical thought...
"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
a Book thought... from THEY LIKE JESUS BUT NOT THE CHURCH by Dan Kimball
They told me they guess that three-fourths of graduating high-school seniors leave their church as soon as they are free from their parents' making them go. (p17)
a Dave thought...
Happy New Year to you all!
"Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
a Book thought... from THEY LIKE JESUS BUT NOT THE CHURCH by Dan Kimball
They told me they guess that three-fourths of graduating high-school seniors leave their church as soon as they are free from their parents' making them go. (p17)
a Dave thought...Happy New Year to you all!
AS we begin 08 I thought it was a chance to adjust my blog slightly so as you can see the Jesus thought is now the biblical thought just to reflect my wish to read the NT in 08 rather than just the gospels and the second change is a book thought instead of Godly & Leading thoughts so the topic will vary depending on the book I am reading at the time.
It is interesting how we all take the beginning of the year to make changes and adjustments in our lives. Lets make sure the things we are endeavouring to do in 08 are in line with God's kingdom and worth the time and effort they are going to take to achieve. For those that are yet to put in place some goals or hopes I encourage you to try BODY, MIND & SOUL. I blogged about this a few months ago but it has certainly helped me exercise, read & pray everyday in 07, and although some days were easier than others I am lot healthier in these three areas than I was 12 months ago.
Just a thought.
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