Adventures in Paradise: Week 1

We moved into our new home on Monday morning, and out of our old home a few hours later. By 7 p.m. we were set up at our first stop - Adare Caravan Park, Victor Harbor.

The trip itself was uneventful, but had been punctated by some anxiety. After twenty minutes travel I discovered that my wallet was not where it was expected to be. Some frantic searching, attempts at mentally retracing my steps, and some phone calls to friends did not reveal its location, so our visa card was cancelled and we continued on our way. Hopefully inconvenience and my personal sense of frustration will be the only lingering effects of that loss.

The past few days have been spent organising the caravan and trying to organise our lives. After the chaos of moving everything out of a home and putting it into boxes for storage or our much-reduced

living space there are still a couple of small containers that require sorting. In the midst of this process time has been found to share with family, to play golf, to watch cricket, and to wander along the beach.

It is a tough life, but we are managing!

Weekly Worship 3

The plans that we make do not always come to fruition.

While we intended to share with others in worship together every week this week my worship took a different form. With the final deadline approaching, and the work to be done diminishing all to slowly, our Sunday was far from normal.

We took time to share with others - and enjoyed hospitality and shared our journey with people close to us. We planned to do so over breakfast - we shared over lunch, and God was present.

We took time to order our lives around that which was important. This week it took the form of physical ordering, storing away that which was not needed, and entrusting much of our 'stuff' into the hands of others.

We took time for some cleansing. This week it included a trip to a physical rubbish tip- getting rid of the junk and giving away some useful stuff that could be used by others. Worship includes focusing on that which is important, and getting rid of the rubbish in our lives.

We took the time to hear the Word of God. On the way I listened to Walter Brueggeman speak on Acts 1 "The risks of truth telling"

Some quotes:
"Easter news challenges and subverts and overthrows all settled arrangements, all power grabs, all assumptions about entitlement, and privilege and advantage."

"By its words, by its acts of generosity and emancipation the church opens up new possibilities that makes all old possibilities impotent."

"And as the story goes the powers of death did their best on that Friday, but they could not prevail. They are shown to be helpless before God's power for life, and so the church continues to mock death and to celebrate God's will for life that will not be defeated."

And we are to give testimony "....that the future is open and death cannot win."


"The church is surrounded by people who lie. .....
They say, assuming the power of death, that violent force will make us safe. It is a lie.
They say, assuming the power of death,that more stuff will make us happy.It is a lie.
They say, assuming the power of death,that more cleaver techniques will make the church more faithful.It is a lie.
They say, assuming the power of death,that more cosmetics will keep us young.It is a lie.
They want us to gather around the still power of death in order to stay in control, and it is a lie.
They lie and we in the church are called to tell the truth about Easter that opens the future."

This Sunday was different - but fellowship was shared, encouragement gained and shared, and challenge received from God's word.

I am called to tell the truth, by my actions and my words to challenge the lies about who is really in control. Brueggeman suggests that this is always risky work (the Greek word for witness is marturion from which we get our word for martyr)- but the practice of this truth gives eternal life, beginning now."

Weekly Worshp 2

Geelong is a delightful city not far from Melbourne. Located on Corio Bay, and close to ocean beaches, it is a good place to live. We were privileged to live and serve there for nine years. Returning last Sunday to share in worship was almost 'coming home'.

The most noticeable change was the decor and furnishings. Despite the limitations of architecture some minor internal works, new carpets, new seats, and some changes in colour created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that was matched by the response of the people.

For us there was a strangeness about the visit, however, and it was the farewell of the officer at a Corps that was not 'ours'. We know both the officer and the Corps reasonably well, so I almost felt a little like a voyeur as we shared in the farewell segment. Still, it was good to be there.

Once again music spoke most strongly. 'Blessed be that name of the Lord' by Matt Redman reminded us that God gives and takes away. God is to be praised when things are good, and not so good.

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

A much older song "It is well with my soul" by Horatio Gates Spafford was also used - and it was a reminder that ministers or officers not only lead their congregations, they also share their journey with them. God is revealed in how we face the experiences of life, perhaps even more than in what we try to do in organising and leading others.

We shared a rich time of worshipping together - and again I was encouraged by the faithfulness and enthusiasm of those with whom we have shared in Geelong, and by the new faces that we saw amongst the congregation.

It is good to worship the Lord together.

Cricket - it's time for Hayden to go!

If Matthew Hayden was just beginning his career he would be dropped from the Australian side. That would be right, since in his last 5 matches he has failed to give Australia the start they need. As a young player he would have the opportunity to rebuild his confidence, accumulate some runs and force his way back into the side.

If Matthew Hayden was aged 25 it might be worth giving him a few more matches to get back into form. At 25 he would have another 5 or 6 years of good cricket ahead of him, so it would be worth perservering.

But Matthew Hayden is 37, and at most has only a year or two of cricket top class cricket left. Is it worth perservering for another match or two? Should he go to South Africa, and perhaps to England? NO!

If Matthew Hayden does not retire after this game and open the door for a younger player to be blooded in Sydney the selection should show him the door. Sorry Matthew, but it's time.
Should the selectors keep you in the side then put aside your pride, announce your retirement as at the end of the Test, and go out with your head held high.

For Cricket Australia the choice should be clear - either Hayden goes, or the selectors do!

What to see in Africa?

Our African destinations are determined - Tanzania and Zambia, and we have some idea of what we will be doing for some of the time. But having got to Africa we have to opportunity to visit other places on that amazing continent.

The island of Zanzibar and Victoria Falls are two places that have been suggested, and we would not want to miss the wildlife.
What else should we make sure we experience while in Africa? Any ideas?

Weekly Worship 1

Ringwood Salvos.

The Salvation Army is very familiar to us, and Ringwood Corps is part of our past. For 3 years we were part of that congregation but that was over 15 years ago.

Today we returned there to worship with family - so there were some familiar faces. It's holiday mode and things were a little different, but we expected that. So how was it?

Words are an inadequate substitute for any experience - but there was a connection and God 'showed up' for me. There was nothing dramatic, no 'wow' experience, more a quiet 'yes' and a gentle affirmation that things are going to be okay.

I was reminded of the importance of music in worship. Both old and new hymns affirmed that all will be well. Yesterday we shared with some families who had experienced great trauma - today we sang "Crown Him the prince of peace" and "The Heavens shall declare". Yesterday we felt the sorrow, today we were gently reminded to "Give thanks".

The message was on the Characters of Christmas - and the alliteration gets a bit tough here... but may be helpful in remembering the message. Today the focus was on the responses of four 'characters' in the nativity : Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. Why did God choose them as key players in the drama? We were reminded of their backgrounds - which are varied, but the focus was on their attitudes.
Mary - contemplation; Joseph - cooperation; Shepherds - celebration; Wise men - consecration.
The challenge: how are we going to respond when God invites us to adventure?

We were welcomed warmly, met some friends from recent and not so recent days, and enjoyed the hospitality afterwards. It was good to be there, good to share, good to be part of the Church.

The theme at Ringwood has been "Growing the church seven days a week." Worship on Sundays is often our focus ... but we worship in the way we live seven days a week, and growth in individuals and the church takes place seven days a week. God shows up always, maybe it is just that on Sundays we make time to tune in a little better.

Weekly Worship

Meeting together...

We are part of the Church - and belong to a church.

For many years we have been involved in leading a congregation. That means planning and organising worship, and being involved in the lives of all the people who are part of that worship experience. We have been involved in the 'production' of worship experiences, seeking to help people connect with God in ways that will help them grow as followers of Christ.

For the next twelve months we will not have that responsibility, but desire to continue to meet together with the Church wherever we can. We will become 'consumers', as we seek to experience God in and through a worship experiences others have organised.

Weekly worship with the church has been part of our lives. It will continue to be part of our lives in days as we meet with other 'churches'.