2020 Best of...

How do you sum up the dumpster fire that was 2020?

Frankly, aside from the last few weeks when the Northern Beaches of Sydney were placed into lockdown, this year, for me, was COVID uneventful.

I studied university full time this year - knocking off the majority of my geography minor - getting 6 distinctions and 2 credits.

Aside from that... my work was nearly unaffected.

This year, like last year, blogging was down depending upon my study schedule, nonetheless here’s the Rambling highlights of 2020...

You must have a plan for the orphans

The two things you listen through

The paid person must be the face of the controversy

Should the code be the minister’s middle name?

Why you should send the words of your prayer

Can celebrating the past show our one-ness?

Why everything must keep touching on the Corona

My first Tiny Bible Bit video

The four audiences of a sermon

Knowing how the church sausage is made does not make you a good eater

Breakdown of a healthy church budget

Nepotism questions which must be answered

The challenge of getting people back in the habit

Why a theology of space and place matters

Summer goals update #1

Four weeks ago I set myself 7 Summer goals.

How am I going?

1 - With my part of Sydney now going through another round of COVID lockdown, my gym has been shut. When I started my goals at the start of the month I was 83kg. My health app thinks that I got down to mid-82kg, I’m now post-Christmas back up to 84. My gym is scheduled to open in another week. Of course, twisting my ankle at work would mean that my gym activity would have been restricted at the moment anyway.

2 - I’ve currently recorded every Tiny Bible Bit going back to the start of 2016, including a three month sabbatical which I’d completely forgotten. So, I’m around 800 posts down...

3 - Duolingo still has 13 topics to complete... well on track for the end of next month.

4 - I just finished reading the Horrible Histories of the two world wars - fitting for a future history teacher who did no modern history - and I know the book (fiction!) I’m planning on reading next.

5 - Initially I ceased gnawing my fingernails for a good week. And then lockdown struck. As I’ve had to enter hot zones every day, my children are within a restricted zone and our Christmas plans were thrown into chaos, the fingernail preservation was put on hold.

I never thought that my chomping had to do with stress (I always thought it had to do with boredom), but anxiety may be a larger contributor than I assumed...

6 - Blogging has gone up ever so slightly... but not too much.

7 - Finally, every medical duty is still on the to-do list...

Hopefully, by the end of January, numbers 1, 5 & 6 will be back on track, numbers 2 & 3 completed and numbers 4 & 7 halfway through...

The shift of sex advice

Every so often I’ll have a chat to a young guy about sex. Usually, it will be in the context of marriage and the expectations of the first night/week/month.

I wonder how these kinds of conversations have changed over the years.

I suspect, the tone of the conversations has shifted from education to myth-busting.

In the past - especially before the prevalence of movies, trashy magazines and porn - the experience of sex would be filtered with mystery. Now, the filter is not only torn down, but a false image of sex magnified.

And, this projected picture colours our view and expectations of sex.

Generations ago, facials were not considered as a regular sexual act. Now, if you’re entire sexual diet has been fed by porn, it’s commonplace. It happens every time. 

Every. Time.

This could make for an awkward wedding night.

Now, I would like to think that “good Christian men” would never know of such things or dare expect them on their honeymoon but the torrent of porn (especially being exposed in your early teens) necessitates the shift towards painting a more realistic picture of sex.

Our young men deserve it.

Our young women deserve it.

Their marriage deserves it.

Leading singing or singing on stage?

 Last Sunday, restrictions on singing in churches were eased in Sydney and I’m curious how this resumption will effect those who, for the majority of the year, have been singing on stage without congregation participation.

I’ve written a bit about leading singing in church, including what I learnt when I had to leading singing once back in 2012, and I suspect that I will never be in a position to lead singing again (very much by choice!).

But I have the strong sense that some churches will now be led by those who will be conditioned to sing in front of a church instead of leading singing from the front.

How would you know the difference?

Simply, if no one sung, there would be no difference.

If the band can hear themselves over the congregation, then they are, most likely, singing and not leading.

If the congregation can’t hear each other over the singers, then the band are, most likely, singing and not leading.

With the resumption of singing, many churches will rekindle their fondness for congregational singing. I suspect, their appreciation for its importance will greatly magnify.

Now, I wonder, will those up the front be able to make space for this practice to occur most effective, transitioning away from the practices which they have been forced to develop during restrictions?

Why a theology of space and place matters

Over the last few months I’ve been periodically leading a bible study at my church. In doing so, a month ago I took my group through an exercise which was significant for the denomination I used to work for.

Since this denomination was an unification of three existing denominations - with subsequent amalgamation of facilities - it was important to allow space for elder members of the congregation to grieve what combining created and ended.

For some, they lost buildings full of memories.

They saw the place they got married sold.

They saw the place their kids got baptised demolished.

They saw the building they grew up in redeveloped.

And, this resulted in hurt.

Furthermore, my previous denomination was very active within the indigenous peoples and indigenous theology.

In many ways, they sort to acknowledge the pain caused to and the work required by/with the indigenous communities. 

In short, I grew up in and worked in an organisation which had a highly developed theology of space and place.

For, every believer holds to a theology of where they have been and what they have experienced.

They have places of significance.

They have spaces where they’ve strongly felt the presence of God.

In regards to the bible study I was leading, in order to begin to recognise the devastation of the Jewish exile, when we start to identify our own theology of place and space, then we can begin to empathise with what was lost in the exile.

As a middle-class Anglo, the more developed our personal sense of space and place is, then we the more we are able to relate to both those sent to Babylon, but also those within our own boarders who have been dispossessed of their lands, memories and significant places.

Summer goals

Full time uni = no time blogging.

Well, with the University year now concluded, I can get back to doing all the things which have been absorbed by the study monster.

Frankly, while my marks will indicate that this year has been fairly manageable, my sleep patterns would suggest otherwise.

In a post-uni Summer I’m going to do a few things which have been thrown off kilter in a two full COVID university semesters.

1 - Get back to the gym. When I started going to the gym regularly a few years ago I was 78kg. By the end of last year I was 81kg. While I didn’t blow out too much  during the COVID lockdown, I’m now 83kg.

Notice a trend?

My aim, over the summer, will be to get back to 78kg. Hopefully less. 

And getting back to a 32 inch waist, while only a 1.5 inch reduction, will be nice.

2 - Do an audit of the near 1400 Tiny Bible Bits posts from the last 9 years. I’ve never kept track of the passages I’ve used or the points I have made. So far, I’ve done 2 years worth of posts and... it’s taking a while. With a handful of hours each week, I should be done in a few months. I’m looking forward to seeing the results and discovering what points I’ve unknowingly recycled and what has been the places/themes I’ve touched on the most.

3 - Complete the German Duolingo course. I’ve been learning German, being now married to a half-German, since March 2018. I’ve only got a few dozen topics to completely finish and I’ve already got my next language in mind...

4 - Read 2 non-fiction books. I’ve now actually got time...

5 - Stop bitting my fingernails. I’ve tried to do this before, and was actually doing ok at it pre-COVID, but I used the global pandemic as an excuse to stop trying.

6 - Blog twice a week. I’ve got lots of topics up my sleeve. 

7 - Do all the health things which I’ve been putting off - general checkup with the GP, dentist, optometrist, skin check & actually finding out what my private health coverage entitles me to.

The aim will be to provide an update each month. Hopefully that will provide further inspiration to actually achieve some of the goals... and have a productive summer. Uni starts back at the end of February.

The challenge of getting people back in the habit

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Last weekend my church restarted in-person church services.

We didn’t go.

This Sunday I have an assignment due, so we may not attend this week either.

We are now, due to COVID, out of the habit of church attendance.

I feel that this will be an unforeseen result of the pandemic - People will have forgotten how to “do church.“

After months of online services - probably a year+ for some - previously consistent and committed attendees will have gotten used to staying at home. Now, they will be in the habit of cooking a roast dinner (which I’ve loved doing every Sunday night this year) or doing the odd jobs which get them prepared for the week ahead.

The challenge for church leaders will be to remind people of the value of physical church attendance.

In part, they will need to contradict the massages they have been giving all throughout the pandemic - that online church is genuine church and that you can be a healthy believers without physical church attendance.

While these messages are still true, in a post-pandemic world - more Christians than anticipated will need to be re-convinced that it is worth getting into the car each Sunday, just like they used to.

Nepotism questions that must be answered

The offspring of ministers, can be, some of the most talented, committed, faithful and knowledgeable young believers within a church.

When it comes to hiring new staff members, I’ve seen plenty of positions, rightfully,  go to those whom share the surname of the senior minister.

So, how do you avoid the accusation of nepotism once a minister’s kids gets a gig?

Primarily, no single minister should ever have the sole power to hire anyone. Ever. 

No staffing decisions should ever be conducted within a vacuum. If this is the case, and a minister’s relative gets a job, then the charge of nepotism will always hang over that appointment.

But, if the panel - inclusive of a related minister or not - is doing the hiring, what questions should they be able to answer?

First of all, they should be able to point to a group of candidates that were potential hirings. 

Second, those on the panel should be able to clearly articulate why a minister’s kid got the job. They should be able to identify their skills, talents and experience and why this was superior to other candidates.

Finally, they should feel comfortable, having hired the minister’s progeny, to keep them on staff if there is a falling out with the senior minister or the minister amicably moves on. 

If this is not the case, and the above explanations can’t be satisfactorily provided,  then the smell of nepotism will (and should) thickly linger...

Should I really be asked about my injustices?

I am white.

I am male.

I am middle class,

I am married.

I am from a country which is adored globally.

I am a member of the largest religion in my country.

I am one of the least persecuted people on the planet.

Day to day, injustice barely touches me personally.

So, I wonder, when it comes to topic of injustice, how does my privileged situation colour my views?

How different would they be if I was a victim of injustice?

Frankly, I don’t know.

Hopefully - selfishly - I hope I’ll never know.

Yet, in far too many church sermons and bible studies, white-middle class-comfortable-privileged people wonder about injustice.

I did last week.

And, frankly, when the first question asked me to consider the injustices in my life... I found barely any.

Because I’m not a victim of wage thief.

Or sexism.

Or racism.

Or bigotry.

Or even religious persecution.

When it comes to the biblically significant issues of injustice and inequality, it would be far more powerful to put a name, face and voice to the issue.

Bringing in someone who is comfortable to share their personal story is a far better way to begin a discussion about injustice with well-meaning, but ignorant, people.

Thanking God for adult monotony

Currently, I’m in a prayer group at my church comprising the elders of the young adults. Frankly, we’re not really “young“ adults. We are just adults.

As such, I suspect that our prayers are slightly different than some of the younger groups.

Why?

Because, as people residing firmly in the routine of adulting, our lives are slightly less adventurous.

Now, we are genuinely thankful for routine.

Did you get fired from your job (particularly in the current climate)?

Did you have a massive fight with your spouse?

Are you on the verge of getting evicted?

Did a large bill come in the mail?

Did you have a car accident?

Did your family fall ill?

Did anyone you personally know die?

No?

THANK YOU JESUS!

We survived another week of being a productive adult!

PRAISE THE LORD!

As adults, seemingly, our prayers of gratitude now revolve around prevention and avoidance of catastrophe.

In practice, this is how the monotony of adulting works.

Why adding - as much as you are able - matters

Whenever someone at a church, or any public gathering, gives physical instructions, there is a powerful addition which should be added...

As far as you are able.

Stand for the prayer...

Raise your hands...

Kneel down...

The reason is simple, it communicates safety and acceptance. 

It allows people to participate as far and long as they are comfortable and capable.

Because churches should be a place where people with any ability are welcomed and included.

So they can stand. Or remain seated if they can’t. Either is ok.

They can raise their hands. Or lower them once they get tired. Either is ok.

They can kneel. Or not. Either is ok.

As long as you add the freeing instruction that they can be included as much as they are able and comfortable.

Breakdown of a healthy church budget

Between working at four churches and being a part of numerous church consultations, I’ve seen plenty of church budgets.

Usually, they breakdown in similar ways...

45% Operational - The nuts and bolts of church life. Insurance, utilities, admin, maintenance.

35% Staff - Ministers for all ages of life.

15% Missions - Outreach locally, global, personal and institutional.

5% Sinking Fund/Debt repayment.

These rough figures are, of course, dependent upon one thing - property.

Your overheads will be higher with property.

Housing and payment of your minister will vary greatly if you provide a manse.

Having a space you can rent out will dramatically increase the funds available to your church.

But, approximately, these ratios keep a church in a healthy financial position and give a congregation an appropriate idea of how much they can spend on staffing.

If you want to pay your staff an appropriate salary, let’s say 70k for a minister, 40-50k for a full-time worker and 15k for each additional part-time placement, then you can work out the healthy budget required.

From the figures above, a senior minister, youth or children’s minister and an admin assistant would cost around $135,000. In order to spend approximately 35% of your budget on staffing, then you’d need a budget of around 385k.

Alternatively, if you have a total budget of around 200k, then you only have around $70,000 to spend on staff.

Now, you don’t have to stick with these ratios. A church with a quarter of a million dollar budget could outlay 120k, or nearly 50%, of their income on staff.

But, it will come at a cost.

Either, mission funding will be squeezed or the church will be vulnerable to financial pressures.

At times, this can be deemed appropriate or manageable but, long-term, messing with these figures will cause pain for the staff members, treasurer and, ultimately, congregation.

How much pressure would amnesia add to your gospel presentation?

Over the last few months my small group has been doing a study on evangelism, which triggered a tremendous research proposal.

As far as I can tell, no one has seriously looked into the effects of amnesia upon faith.

Do those who loose their memory also “forget” the gospel?

If so, what would this mean for hardcore Calvinists? Assuming the assurance of election and salvation, this would surely mean that those who were authentically saved, even after their brain injury, would again accept the gospel if/when it was presented to them.

But, imagine the pressure...

You know, in the past, that someone with memory loss has accepted the gospel. Now, you’re going to present it again... 

What if they’re not convinced this time?

Frankly, I would feel like an absolute failure. 

Could you, potentially, tell the person that they have believed this in the past, or would you just start anew? 

Would the first technique be manipulative? 

Would you be extra watchful on their reaction, genuinely knowing, that this is the first time they had heard the story of Jesus?

Christian, or otherwise, I haven’t been able to find any data on the faith retention of amnesia sufferers, but I would be very interested...

The two controversies concerning church mission finances

Whenever a church makes their budget, a tension surrounding missions will linger - geographical and personal.

Do they support local missions or beyond?

Do they support people those they know personally or larger organisations?

The tension - born out of the expanding geographic locals from Acts 1:8 - exists because the mission of God exists on many levels - local, regional and global.

But, like all tensions, they are to be balanced.

And, managing the tension is yet another reason why church treasurers deserve a special place in heaven.

Knowing how the church sausage is made does not make you a good eater

Anyone who has been exposed to the inner workings of an industry has their perception of that industry forever changed.

They know how the sausage is made.

They know the ingredients.

They know the hidden stresses.

They know the pitfalls.

They know the hacks to make things run smoother.

This is true for those who have worked for the church.

And it can poison the way they view church.

For, former sausage makers make for rubbish diners.

I think the problem for former sausage makers is that they struggle to maintain the balance between thinking and feeling.

Those who are unaware of the perils of the kitchen, they are able to enjoy the dinning experience more.

They aren’t interested, never mind looking for, the details which make up a service.

Instead, they are there to enjoy the food.

I think a similar dynamic works for the church.

The challenge for those who have experience in putting church services, worship sets, songs, sound or sermons together, need to find a way to disconnect the logistical element of their brain and, instead, enjoy and experience what is happening before them.

Where are you hearing that from?

 We all hear voices.

Voices which say how well we are going.

Voices which say, frankly, how shit we are.

Everyday we hear their call.

When we, or others, hear the internal small whispers/overwhelming shouts we need to ask ourselves an important question...

Where are the voices coming from?

Are they from inside our head? Is this a message you have developed independently?

Are they fed by those who know us - friends or family?

Are they influenced by strangers - those who don’t know details about you or your past- for example, teachers or those on social media? 

Are they fuelled by the world around you - culture, advertising, music, movies, websites?

Is the voice aligning with what the bible says?

When we examine the source and content of our and others internal dialogue, then we can begin to expose the roots of the messages and expose any miss-truths which may be bouncing around our minds.

What were the results from dozens of appeals?

A little while ago I was in a bible study which was discussing evangelism. During that discussion I realised that I could recall no fewer than 10 gospel presentations off the top of my head.

I realised while wondering about the times, over the decade-plus I was in youth ministry, that a gave a gospel presentation.

Although I’m familiar with two handfuls, I would usually stick with one gospel outline. Unsurprisingly, it’s the one I developed.

But, as a consider my ministry years, I wonder how many responded.

Frankly, I can think of three people I know who, at that moment, made a faith commitment for the first time. I’m aware that there’s around a dozen more who made a decision subsequently to my talk (this is what I usually encouraged people to do).

But, a dozen conversions doesn’t seem like a high strike rate from, I’d guess, around fifty appeals.

Of course, every person matters.
Every decision is both life and heaven changing.

Potentially, lots more people - completely unknown to me - made important steps of faith. Speaking at camps, larger events, school chapel services, scripture classes or at other youth groups would give these results. 

Furthermore, advances or recommitment to faith often go unrecorded and the majority of The young people in my ministry (and those in the congregation) were already believers.

And yet... I have the nagging inclination (which I guess a share with many) that my appeals, far too often, were unfruitful.

I think it was... who said...

C.S. Lewis
G.K. Chesterton
John Piper
Billy Graham
Jonathan Edwards
A.W. Tozer 
Charles Swindoll
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Constantine
Augustine

“I think it was (insert any of the names above) who said... (now insert whatever wisdom you desire).”

There are people within genres, in the above case Christianity/Christian culture/theology, who hold enough influence and have such a depth of literary content which makes attaching a quote to them both weighty and useless.

I could say they same thing about the historians Herodotus, Xenophon, Livy, Tacitus or Suetonius.

Really, you just need to avoid outright foolishness. After that? You can say whatever your heart desires...

The four audiences of a sermon

Whenever someone makes a speech or does a sermon, especially one which is recorded, there are four audiences...

The first is those who are in the mind of the speaker, which the elements of the talk are crafted towards.

Second are those who are physically present when the talk is delivered live.

Third are those who access the talk from a geographic distance, be it through a recording at a later time or electronically live.

Finally, there are those who will be the second generation recipients. These people will hear the content of the talk though the recollection of another.

Each of these audiences need to be kept in mind of the speaker since they influence and are influenced differently.

Obviously the first audience influences the content of the speech. But, it is luck or coincidence if they ever hear the words intended for them.

The second audience is influential because they get the physical traits of the speaker and can, through their reactions, influence the flow of the speaker.

The third audience, while not the primary audience, should remind the speaker that their words travel further than the room they are speaking in and the people they are before. Electronically, their words could live forever.

Finally, the marker of an impactful talk is judged by the fourth audience. Can someone else convey the crux of your talk or display the change you were communicating?

Far too often a speaker, especially if they are giving a sermon in a church, only thinks of the second group. 

If anything, due to Covid, they will now be both increasingly aware of the third audience and better at communication to the electronic ear.

Memories over method

I have just completed by first semester of full time study. It’s my third year of study, but the first one with a full load.

Fortunately, in a covid19 world, increasing my studies was done at the perfect time. No in person lectures or tutorials. No in person exams. 

But, I’m aware that I’m getting further and further away from my time in vocational ministry. 

Obviously, this is how chronological time works.

But, it is also clear from the amount that I blog.

The reason, in part, has to do with the climate the world is in. Due to corona, I haven’t attended a church service in around three months and, frankly, online church isn’t as blog-inspiring as in-person services and bible studies are.

But, another reason I blog less is due to the way I think about ministry and church has changed.

I now think about memories over method.

Sure, method still matters and I’ll recognise when things are askew, but I no longer have an active reason to focus on it.

Now, I think of the past.

I remember people.

I remember the good times.

I regret my mistakes.

Now, the major percentage of my ministry thoughts look back, not forward,

My first Tiny Bible Bit video

Last week I posted my first video on Tiny Bible Bits.

In reality, it was a devotion I did for the young adults at church, but I also posted it on my other page.

Truthfully?

The message was decent.
The execution was horid.

After doing so many talks in person, I butchered this one on film.

I... Spoke... Soo... Slowly.

I know why.

Usually, when you speak in public, you need to slow your pace down. 

On this occasion, I overcompensated.

And, on camera, the same pace just seemed silly.

So, if you want to watch the video then you're more than welcome to. I think it sends out a pretty good message about the time we are in and the time we are going to enter into.

But, be warned.

It's not my best work.

But, as someone on the young adult church group commented, it did display my strong bookcase game.

Killing the cloak of anonymity

With social distancing restricting people meeting, like many churches, our groups have all gone online.

One of the new initiatives the young adults at church have started is posting an online devotional by one of the members once a week. 

Now, doing a short thought about a bible passage isn’t anything new to me. On Facebook, through Tiny Bible Bits, I’ve been posting a spiel three times a week for years - since October 2011 - equalling roughly 1300 posts.

But, of the 867 people who like the page, only 82 are my friends on Facebook. I assume that many of those 82 remember that I am the author. To the rest of the people, some who interact quite faithfully, I’m a mystery.

They will know a few details about me. 

They will know I’m a Christian.
They will know I’m Australian. 
They will probably know that I’m married and have kids.
They will have picked up that I’ve worked at churches in the past.

But, they couldn’t recognise me in the street.

In a few weeks that may change.

I’m currently wrestling with the option of posting the short video I’ll be making for church.

In reality, it’s not that scary.

But, it will dissolve some of the anonymity I currently have.

People will now know my face.
They will know the sound of my voice, speech impediment and all.

I don’t know if that will be a good thing.

Because, in part, i don’t consider my Tiny Bible Bits as a personal sermonette. It is not about me. 

Due to social media, I am currently just mysterious words on Facebook. 

I wonder, if I change from written content to video - and it will only be a one off - how that will change the dynamics of the post?

Why everything must keep touching on the corona

I’m sick of hearing about the ‘rona.

Maybe you are also.

I’m sick of writing about the ‘rona.

Yet, here I am doing it again.

For weeks, every Tiny Bible Bit has been linked to the virus or connected to lockdown.

Frankly, for me, my world hasn’t changed that much.

Sure, my eldest isn’t at school, but my ex is at home from work and, for the last fortnight, Hanna would have been on school holidays anyway.

Work wise, I’m busier than normal, being given additional work/tasks. In this way I’m very fortunate.

My study, which has always been done via distance, has only had a workload increased because I’m now doing a full-time study schedule.

While it’s inconvenient that my gym is shut, it’s not that bad and my church/small group interactions have now moved online.

So, why am I continually stuck in this coronavirus content loop?

Because this is the context the world is in. And, like it or not, this is the world that faith is currently being lived out.

It would be inappropriate and insensitive to ignore it.
It would be foolish to not learn the lessons from it.
It would be silly to produce nothing, depriving yourself of the reminiscing of, what is, a historical time.

While it seems that everything we produce at the moment, even incidentally, will connect with the pandemic, we must remain mindful that for some - many even - wading through our unprecedented predicament is a weight they need help bearing.

Everyone is not as fortunate as me.

And, frankly, not doing vocational ministry at this moment isn’t something I’m regretting.

Remember the percentage of your life calendar

If you live into your mid-eighties, which is approximately life expectancy, then you’d live for around 1000 months.

Today I heard someone on a podcast, when talking about a significant event, mention the place it fell within their life calendar.

I like the concept of having a life calendar.

I’m a fan because this viewpoint can give you important perspective.

For example, your years of schooling - 13 years - on your life calendar, take up 8 weeks of an annual life calendar.

A university degree encases around 3 weeks.

In light of current world events, when viewed upon the framework of an annual life calendar, we are in the midst of a bad week.

When it comes to calamities, how would we view them if we transferred our problems to a life calendar perspective?

Do we, in our current life, think that our life will be irreversibly damaged due to one bad week?

Do we imagine that things will never improve?

Do we, in the middle of a busy month of life, think that their won’t be rest or a payoff at the end?

When we remember that current events, which seem large at the time, are relatively small when viewed against our life calendar then this perspective can help us get through and see that there’s a lot more living to do on the other side.

Where should we place our sins?

With Easter being here, I figure that now would be a good time to post about sin and the cross.

Why do we say that we are placing our sin “at the foot” of the cross?

Surely, we should be putting our sin UPON the cross.
Or UPON Jesus.

Theologically, this is far more accurate.

As a metaphor, we can come forward to the front to leave things at the base of the cross, but this, in most cases can be just as well represented by attaching it to the cross.

I know, it’s not the most pressing matter in a Coronavirus world, but I’d always wondered why we stick with placing things at the foot of the cross when, in reality, this isn’t where they belong.

Who is the blackest sheep?

Who is the black sheep of the family???

When we usually refer to the pariah of a family it normally has something to do with a long-standing disagreement, moral failing or extended douchery.

But I wonder, when one member of a family has a different spiritual position to everyone else, who suffers most?

Is it the believer or the atheist?

Is it harder to be an atheist in a Christian household or a lone believer in a family of atheists or agnostics?

Who is treated more like the black sheep?

Who misses out more?

I suspect, frankly, it may be the atheist amongst believers.

They are, or could be, excluded from major religious gatherings, which happen to also coincide with the secular holiday periods.

They, potentially, will feel judged - Especially if they publicly left the faith.

For those who are children of ministers, their actions will, by some, be a reflection upon the parent as a family leader and spiritual guide.

It doesn’t really happen in the reverse way. This was my experience.

Families aren’t really judged if their child, cults aside, become religious.

Holidays look and feel much the same if these’s only one religious observant person.

In a time when we may be too quick to play the “persecution card,” I wonder if a “persecuted” believer considers what it may look like being in the opposite position?

Do you think about the REAL future of the tomb?

I was always under the impression that Jesus was placed in the tomb OF Joseph of Arimathea. According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John, I am wrong.

It turns out that Jesus arranged to receive the body of Jesus from the cross and placed him in a tomb which he arranged.

there’s nothing to indicate that Jesus was placed in the tomb labelled J Arimathea.

Nonetheless, I wonder what happened to the tomb after the resurrection of Jesus.

Was it used again?

Depending what you think of first-century burial rituals, after a while the bones from the tomb would be relocated into a collective family burial site.

Thus, it was routine for tombs to be recycled.

So, does this mean that the tomb that Joseph arranged was reused?

I ask because, on occasions, we elevate the nature of the physical tomb.

It is eternally empty...
The stone is always rolled away...

Romantically, we sing out these words.

But, chances are, they are incorrect.

Sure, it isn’t the most important theological point, but I wonder what it says about the way we mythicise biblical events.

Can celebrating the past show our one-ness?

Ephesians 4:3-6 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirt through the bond of peace. There is one baby and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

One.

I wonder, in light of this passage, how should this shape the way Christian denominations treat each other’s practices.

I can think of numerous practical reasons churches have split. When I say this, I’m not referring to elements of belief - even though these will affect our practices - but the activities we do and the way we do them,

Baptism.
Communion.
Church governance.

These are the trinity of division.

We have split over the age and method of baptism.
We have split over the frequency, elements and significance of communion.
We have split over the eligibility, authority and longevity of leadership.

But, we are meant to be one.

So, do we show this in our practice?

Do we acknowledge the faith practices of other denominations? 
Or do we belittle them?

Do we insist that things are done “our way?”
Do we insist that they are done the “right way?”

I’ve been baptised, confirmed and married - twice.

Each of these things in my past can be challenged, even discredited, by those of different denominations.

I wonder, what message the church would send about the overriding unity we have in Christ if we openly acknowledge, celebrate even (!), the meaningful steps of someone’s faith journey in the past, just done within the tent of another denomination?

Are you with me? Do I really want you to answer?

I haven’t been at a church where the preacher regularly asks the congregation for affirmation that they are “with them.”

I am now.

I wonder how sincere the question is.

In the past, I think I’ve only used the enquiry when trying to describe a concept I’m probably doing a rubbish job of communication, like the Trinity. 

But now, every sermon I hear is punctuation with the question “Are you with me?”

I wonder, what if I’m not?
What if the congregation isn’t?

Would the preacher be prepared to describe the point again? 
Could they explain it in a different or simpler way? 
If they could do the later, why would they not have done that the first time?

Furthermore, how many people would need to respond no for a redo to be instigated?

Then again, that’s the danger of putting the question out there from the pulpit...

Why you should send the words of your prayer

I’ll share with you the biggest lie that christians tell each other... 

I’ll pray for you.

Truth be told, you probably won’t. 

Life is busy.
You have your own problems.

Forgetting to pray for someone isn’t an act or malice. Usually, it’s merely due to forgetfulness or as an avenue to show care for someone else, but commit a short timeframe.

Frankly, we can and should do better. 

One effective way to convey the concern we have for others and show someone we are actually praying for them is the following...

Show them the words.

Send them the prayer you pray.
Let them know what specifically you prayed for.

Aside from showing the person that you’ve actually kept your word, this can also be a source of encouragement for the immediate timeframe and, by the physical keepsake, an encouragement for the future.

When the person holds the words you pray, these can be really impactful.

How do you respond to the statuesque response?

A sermon which doesn’t have any application is one of the four easy steps to give a bad sermon. One great way to land the sermon plane is to provide a time of response.

I’m always intrigued when there’s a response time with two options, but only one with a physical action.

Once the options are explained - say to pray/reflect quietly in your chair or stand/come down the from of the church - what happens if no one accepts the later choice?

I’m intrigued because, in theory, no one moving should be a perfectly fine response.

But, this reaction usually results in a desperate reiteration of the options and a prompt that they can now make a physical response.

Again, in theory, this makes perfect sense.

Maybe people were confused by the initial instructions.
Perhaps they were waiting to be allowed to move.

Nonetheless, it gets awkward when, in these statuesque response times, the leader gets progressively more desperate or disappointed.

The one thing a leader can use to sooth their ego is the rationalisation that everyone in attendance is just an introvert...

A church must have a plan to send well

I sometimes feel that this blog could be titled “Ramblings about Youth and Young Adult Ministry Drop Out Points.” I write about them a lot.

Some drop out points are initiated by life change alone.

No underlying animosity.
No awkwardness.

In fact, some drop out points should be celebrated like getting married or the birth of a child.

In light of this, every young adult ministry must have a strategy for these transitions. 

In short, they must have an aim to send well.

If it’s sending them to another church, be it down the road or the one that their new spouse already attends...
If it’s sending them abroad to study...
If it’s releasing them from some of their ministry commitments due to full-time work or a fresh newborn...

Send them well.

Bless them.
Pray for them.
Celebrate them.
Tell them that they will always be welcomed back, even if only for a visit.

Is there a pastoral mid-life crisis?

After a minister has been preaching for a decade, usually in his/her 40’s, they’ve hit many of the “high notes” of the scriptures.

They’ve preached through all the gospels.
They’ve preached through their favourite books.
They’ve preached through the major books.
They’ve preached about the major characters.

In a church which follows the lectionary, they have completed three cycles.
In a church which follows the liturgical calendar, they have mined all they can out of the seasons of Lent and Advent (themes, characters, symbols).

What do they do next?

Potentially, the minister falls into the pastoral mid-life crisis.

They attempt to be creative with the worship space.
They try to take a “fresh” approach to familiar bible passages.
They experiment with innovative technology.

One of the causes of the chronological mid-life crisis is boredom. 

Does a long term minister inevitably face the same thing? 

Should the code be the minister’s middle name?

There’s a lot of things at a church which require codes. 

Security systems.
Access doors.
Computers.
Door locks.

It’s not unusual that the code on some of these devices will be set by a minister.

But, I wonder about the wisdom of a minister setting the code to something with personal significance for them.

It doesn’t matter if it’s their birthday, middle name or childhood pet.

What happens if the church is then stuck with this code?

As nice as it may be for the minister to type “fluffy123” to gain access to the church computer, reminiscing about the kitten they had as an eight year old, I expect that the charm will be lost on the next minister.

Sure, most passwords can be easily reset, but for some things, like security systems, it may not be such an easy process.

Furthermore, should a new minister be expected to reset passwords in order to not remember the first mobile number of their predecessor?

I admit, this isn’t the biggest transgression going around in Christendom, but these personal encodings may well expose shortsightedness because a minister wanted to be cute or memorable.

Surely a mixture of the suburb, church name, postcode or last digits of the phone number are better, longer-lasting, options for churches.

Can you judge worship moves like a dance floor?

After many years of trolling nightclubs, alongside wisdom ”discovered” through reading magazines, I’ve learned that it’s generally accepted that the degree of proficiency someone shows on the dance floor is matched in the bedroom.

The better the rhythm on the dance floor, the better the rhythm between the sheets.

I wonder, can a similar comparison be made in worship?

I know. It’s not right. It’s not PC. It’s fairly inappropriate. It’s not a question you ask out loud.

But, is it valid?

Does the way someone engages and moves in worship equate in a similar way someone moves on a dance floor?

In reality, no one will probably know. No one, most likely, would ever attain a valid sample size across various denominations and worship styles to accurately know.

But, the question does raise one query...

Do, in general, Pentecostals expect to have better sex than Anglicans/Baptist/Conservatives due to their more expressive worship style?

Is church growth the norm?

I grew up in the third largest Christian denomination in Australia.
I worked in the same denomination, for over a decade, across four churches.
Additionally, I’ve regularly attended three other churches over two denominations.

My first church had a children’s and youth ministry which grew for around a decade, but nothing which I would consider explosive.

I’ve never been in a church which has had sustained growth of their primary congregation.

I wonder, is this normal?

I suspect, for many western christians, the answer would be the affirmative.

No matter the publicity which megachurches receive, these are not the norm.

The norm is... stagnant. Maybe a slow decline.

I wonder what affect this has.

Does it affect the way modern Christians relate to the book of Acts?
Does it affect the way western Christians respond to churches which are growing?

The best name for a young adult ministry

Even though I’m no longer in vocational youth ministry I’m still a member of a number of youth ministry related Facebook groups. 

Usually they throw up the same topics every day. Game ideas. Sermon ideas. Funny videos. Requests for prayer (usually when someone is going to preach at “big church”). Advice about difficult situations.

One thing which I’ve noticed, with the group being quite America-centric, is a title occasionally used for young adult ministries... college and career.

I like it a lot.

I like that this title gives space and value to both options after high school.

This matters because, let’s face it, every young adult won’t go to university. Everyone shouldn’t.

All too often those who don’t go to uni are left out.

Hopefully, if you intentionally include those who are pursuing a career in the ministries name, then it will influence the things you do and speak about.

The one unfortunate thing is that we don’t call higher education in Australia college. 

I have no idea for a title, aside from calling it university and workers, which will have the same impact.

I’m guessing that university and underemployed isn’t an option...

The paid person must be the face of the controversy

Way back in 2010 I wrote a post explaining some of the advantages a ministry receives when it is headed up by a paid employee. 

One important thing I didn’t include was PROTECTION.

Alongside identity and accountability, when navigating decisions which may stir up controversy, the leader must be prepared to provide protection.

Because, with controversy comes confusion and/or pain.

And, if you’re prepared to accept money from a church to lead a ministry then you must be prepared to own the decisions of that ministry.

Even if they aren’t popular with everyone.
Especially if they are decided in partnership with volunteers.

A true leader will be prepared to wear the fallout of a controversial decision they were a part of or they indirectly oversaw. Better yet, they will stand in the place of those who are volunteers so they don’t need to face any blame or criticism.

No matter if it is within a church or community organisation, any body which runs on a base of volunteers, these unpaid people should feel valued enough by the employee (who is in a privileged position) to be protected by them.

For, with the pay check comes the heat of any controversy. 

They should be the face.
They should make the announcement.
They should answer questions.
They should be shouted at online.
They should stare down criticism.
They should hear and acknowledge any pain.

In part, this is why they are paid.

The two things you listen through

Are not your ears... SURPRISE!

The two things which will determines how much attention you pay to someone, especially if they are speaking to you in a setting like a sermon or lecture are your ass and your stomach.

These two have loud voices which will drown out and distract from the one entering through your ears.

Why?

Because if your not comfortable or are hungry, then you’ll stop listening.

Ideally, the person speaking or teaching will have stopped talking before your ass or stomach start to complain.

But, as most are painfully aware, this isn’t always the case.

So, this reality has three consequences for any speaker.

First, the speaker should be mindful of the space they are speaking in. How is the seating? How long could you comfortably be expected to sit?

Second, are you presenting immediately before a meal? Will a lack of sugar effect their levels of concentration?

Finally, this establishes the ideal time to speak. The first session after breakfast. This is the speaker’s prime position for this is where the asses and the stomachs will be their most ready to listen and least likely to distract.