tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11082332043868608912024-03-16T12:10:34.316+11:00Ramblings on the WayDISCLAIMER: ALL RAMBLINGS ARE MY OWN. THEY IN NO WAY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ANY CHURCH OR ORGANISATION THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR OR AM CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH...Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.comBlogger2000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-20985143435840268682024-03-13T22:54:00.001+11:002024-03-13T22:56:21.599+11:00Your feelings about being a theologian don’t change the truth<div class="quote_text" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.428571; margin: auto; text-shadow: none;"><h1 style="display: inline-block; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.428571; margin: auto; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;"><span class="quote_sign" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6)">“</span>No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not a theologian in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nevertheless. The issue for Christians is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are going to be good theologians or bad ones.<span class="quote_sign" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6)">”</span></i></span></h1></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">— <a href="https://quotefancy.com/r-c-sproul-quotes">R.C. Sproul</a></span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">Despite what the esteemed Mr Sproul allegedly said/wrote, I didn’t really consider myself a theologian since I left my last ministry position back in 2016.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">I, falsely, equated a theologian with teaching.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">This year, that has changed.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">Now that I’m teaching the senior Studies of Religion subject at my school, I feel like I’m doing theology again.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">For example, today I taught on the Christian persecution of the early church in the first three centuries and then the significance of Emperor Constantine’s conversion.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">Tomorrow, I’ll teach on the difference between the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant denominations.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">This renewed feeling of theological depth is despite the fact that my bible reading has been as regular and consistent over the last two-and-a-half years as it has been over the last two decades.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">This is despite the fact that I was regularly in a small group which studied the bible for the last five years.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">This is despite the fact that I’ve been leading the ministry to the children, including delivering a talk in the service at the church I’ve been attending with my kids for the past three years.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">This is despite the fact that I’ve been maintaining a thrice-weekly devotional on Facebook.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">Nonetheless, from 2024 (and hopefully going forward for many years), I now have a reason to, again, delve into my theology textbooks so I can explain the basics of Christianity (which is one of my depth studies) as clearly as I can.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">The irony is, even without my new theologically-rich subject, if Mr Sproul is correct, my feelings about being a theologian make no difference to my reality.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana;">I was always a theologian.</span></div><div class="quote_author" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.69); margin-top: 16px;"><br /></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-57979149316787194372024-03-02T09:00:00.001+11:002024-03-02T09:00:00.131+11:00When you work out that you’re an island<span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I was alone.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">For much of my Christian life, I’ve also been isolated.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">On both occasions, I’ve been surrounded by a lot of people.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today, I was at a conference with a few hundred people.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I knew no-one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I attended a conference about the teaching of a subject where, at my school, I am the sole teacher.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I attended alone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And went to my sessions alone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And ate lunch alone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, I’ll return to my school on Monday where I’ll be… solely the only one who teachers my subject and the only one who has ever taught my subject within my faculty.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It all feels a little familiar…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, the longer I was a member of the oldest (by average age of the congregation) denomination in Australia, I was progressively isolated.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I entered ministry, I regularly became the top-end of an emerging generation or the bottom-end of a generational abyss.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Within my faith communities, I often felt alone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Few, if any were my age.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even fewer were in my life stage.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the majority of the last two decades, vocationally, I’ve been an island.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I could connect with others online (or lurk in places where those like me hung out), there hasn’t been someone in the coal-face whom I can gaze towards and see someone going through the exact same thing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, while this brings a necessary autonomy, this also breeds a fair dose of uncertainty.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because the checks and balances of a colleague in-the-trenches is absent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The oversight of an older and wiser sage isn’t readily available.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, while I’ll do my best to pillage the best resources and consider deeply how/why I do what I do, being siloed off will just be something which I’ll have to deal with (at least until circumstances change enough to be within another’s area of influence or things develop enough for another to come and join me in my isolated patch).</span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-74447683132497362082024-02-27T22:41:00.003+11:002024-02-27T22:41:40.970+11:00You only get a small dancing window<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last Sunday, during church, it occurred to me that my dancing window has now closed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was reminded of this as a couple of small children twirled around during the service.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now - with my kids being 12 and 8 - the days of twirling around with my daughters, carefree during the church service, and behind me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I miss those shame-free days.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the girls just liked the music.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When they just wanted to jump about.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This blasé dancing is a gift to the church.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a parent, you’re able to catch a glimpse of the joy our a Heavenly Father must have when He watches His spiritual children.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a church, you’re able to see </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">what child-like faith - the kind which Jesus requires - looks like.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, this </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">time, like a lot of things retrospectively in parenting, was fleeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, for me, the window of dancing has creaked closed.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-91824769153967206252024-02-19T22:02:00.002+11:002024-02-19T22:02:42.511+11:00Quality over quantity comes at a cost<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m not massively attached to every word I write.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I do write a fair few of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’d like to think that a decent slice of them are, at least, put together in an okay manner.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, I’m not often pushed against a word or time limit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can, usually, ramble on until I’m done.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, this isn’t the case if you’re submitting an academic response.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it’s not the case if your sermon must conclude before the following service in the same worship space begins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When backed against a fairly firm deadline, sometimes words need to be sacrificed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday, I looked over an essay which could have used a good pruning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was fair in the content, but it always seems had a major way to be improvised.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cut. One. Third.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The task involved a response to the driving question, but with the caveat that they needed to use two examples. This student had used three.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One should have been jettisoned and the allotted words used to strengthen the other two paragraphs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, this would come at a cost.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A cost that you need to delete your work.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A cost that </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">your effort won’t see the light of day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A cost that your your long diatribe can be improved with e shorter, tighter, response.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the context of a sermon, this may come at the cost of words which you feel are “inspired.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may need to set aside words which you worked hard to craft and weave together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, sometimes, pruning is the best thing for your message and your audience.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-29605078763802930152024-02-14T16:30:00.001+11:002024-02-14T16:30:00.125+11:00Teaching losers<span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, to be fair, the vast - VAST - majority of students I teach are wonderful. Truly.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, I also teach losers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the instinct to want to see the best in the students before you, while there many not be </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">many, they are unmistakable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">At least to adults.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">To fellow teens, they may appear cool.</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are the students who skip school.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They talk back.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The are purposefully defiant.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They antagonise other students.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, they are the extreme minority.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact, there’s only a handful of true losers who pop into my mind.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, given enough time - and without a significant change in behaviour and attitude - they will become losers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, they won’t earn the marks to get into university.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They will have few options after schooling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They won’t have developed a work ethic to hold down a quality job.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They will struggle to maintain significant relationships.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And when they are 22 </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">they will look into the mirror and see a loser.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They will wonder how they spent the last 6-8 years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They will wonder how they wasted their start in adulthood.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was a loser.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wasted my time in my senior years of high school.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I didn’t work hard.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I didn’t study effectively.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was more interested in the canteen than the classroom.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">At one point, I seriously considered redoing my final years of high school again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fortunately, after 21, the opportunity to be a mature-aged student at university is a viable option for those with the drive and effort.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those who lose at school, all is not lost.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can commit to study.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can commit to a trade.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can commit to your profession.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, for those who waste their (and everyone else’s) time during high school, they are a loser.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They just haven’t fully developed into one yet…</span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-40500820756175459952024-02-10T20:20:00.002+11:002024-02-10T20:20:30.339+11:00Transferring skills from the old gig<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being the start of the new school year, and teaching three subjects for the first time - including one completely from scratch, I’ve been quite busy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One job I’ve unexpectedly picked up this year is that of transition coordinator (the one who oversees the integration of the incoming year seven’s and organising the peer support program which helps the new cohort).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even though I’m only a week into the new task, there are many things familiar with the job.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Training leaders (who vary wildly in their capabilities).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Setting and enforcing leader expectations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Juggling timetables and conflicting demands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Organising small group input.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Communicating with schools.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Entertaining large groups of pre-teens.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All of these I used to do in youth ministry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of them I also did last week during peer support.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The longer I teach, the more I find that my previous profession bleeds into my current job.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Group dynamics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pastoral care.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meaningful banter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Theological knowledge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Communication strategies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All of these, either intentionally or coincidentally, were gleaned during my time in ministry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, in the secular workforce, they are receiving another trundle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If the direction of expertise went the other direction - secular to ministry - then I’m sure that it would be seen as “tilling the soil for the Lord’s work.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why can’t it work in the opposite direction?</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-45530992483197973542024-01-28T19:17:00.000+11:002024-01-28T19:17:04.966+11:00When a book you’re not inspired by can still be useful<span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m a book hoarder.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My wife hates it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Consequently, I now have three book stashes until we have more space for the collection to be reunited.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of the hundreds of books I own, I’ve read (probably) just over half.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, a significant portion of these are reference books like commentaries - nonetheless - it shows that I love a book.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">If the book is useful beyond looking grand upon my bookcase, all the better.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I write this because I understand the inspiration a book can provide.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, when you’re a part of a preaching unit this literary inspiration can cause problems.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because, if you get fired up by a book outline then everyone else needs to, at minimum, skim over the text.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, hopefully, this doesn’t ruffle any theological feathers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, what do you do if the spark of inspiration isn’t contagious?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">What if someone else outright dislikes the book?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">What if they fundamentally disagree with the book?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the past, I’ve found myself leading a bible study based upon a “theologically progressive” book.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In short, we read a passage each week and then discussed why we didn’t agree.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, you can’t do that productively from the pulpit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Everyone in the pulpit should be (pun intended) preaching from the same playbook.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nonetheless, there is one way a book can help guide your preaching.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Outlines.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chapter division.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Overarching topics.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These can help you segment a passage of scripture without dictating the direction that a sermon will take.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes, the most - possibly only - inspiration you should get is from the contents page.</span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-65178069574359798972024-01-15T21:33:00.000+11:002024-01-15T21:33:07.051+11:00The largest dating gamble in the church<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The minister’s kid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the largest dating gamble in the church.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Because, if it goes wrong… </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You’re highly likely to lose the church in the breakup.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you do stick around then, potentially, you lose one of your primary spiritual supports (your minister) if the breakup is messy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>If it goes well…</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your relationship is under a larger microscope.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There will be expectations on your future together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the risk of dating the pastoral offspring…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-68225432210287145222024-01-12T19:34:00.001+11:002024-01-12T19:34:47.583+11:00The joy and trials of starting something new<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The stereotype is that teachers do very little over the school holidays.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This six week break will be anything but lazy for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, this upcoming year, I’ll be teaching something new.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">New for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">New for the school.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since I’m teaching a brand new subject for my school, this means that there are a lot of things which are not in place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Subject outlines.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teaching programs for the semesters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Assessment timetables.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Assessment tasks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A subject specific </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">student handbook.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Student handouts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Currently, the subject folder for my upcoming subject is empty.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So far… I’ve created…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A 76 page student handbook.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two 40 page teaching programs (basically outlines for the topics with teaching material)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A very colourful subject outline.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Student handouts for the entire first topic.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I’ve still got a heap more to go over the next two-and-a-half weeks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, I’m also loving the task of creating something from scratch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve got freedom to find resources and choose how I’m going to use them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve got the freedom to decide what parts of the syllabus I’ll teach.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve got the freedom to begin plotting assessment tasks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, I assume that I’ll still feel completely out of my depth no matter how much prep I put in during the holidays…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And that my head teacher will have a lot of useful suggestions which will significantly modify my current outlines…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, this is the joy and toil of something new.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Late nights.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lots of books.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thoughts hitting you in the shower.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ideas popping into your mind before you go to sleep.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-17154755898119702822023-12-31T15:21:00.004+11:002023-12-31T15:21:40.198+11:002023 Best of…<span style="font-family: verdana;">2023 was… normal.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">No COVID.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">No study.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just a full year of teaching.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being a husband.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being a father.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Probably, the highlight for me was <a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-ministry-of-accepting-blessing.html">being able to give away my old car to someone who needed it at church</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the last 12 months, here have been the Rambling highlights…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-trinity-who-shape-theology-of-your.html">The Trinity who Shape the Theology of your Church</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/01/how-to-set-expectations-without.html">How to Set Expectations Without Alienating your Leaders</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-new-battleground-for-remaining.html">The New Battleground for Remaining “Above Reproach”</a> (my second most viewed post of 2023)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-secret-sauce-of-mens-ministry.html">The Secret Sauce of Men’s Ministry</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-humility-that-must-come-with.html">The Humility that Must come with Wrinkles</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-blog-killer-20.html">The Blog Killer 2.0</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-experienceappreciation-ratio.html">The Experience/Appreciation Ratio</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/05/confidence-killers.html">Confidence Killers</a> and <a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/05/confidence-builders.html">Confidence Builders</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-ministry-of-understanding.html">The Ministry of Understanding</a> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-to-navigate-tricky-bible-passage.html">How to Navigate a Tricky Bible Passage</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-three-statements-my-kids-need-to.html">The Three Statements My Kids Need to Hear from Me</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-ministry-of-accepting-blessing.html">The Ministry of Accepting the Blessing</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-people-who-must-lead-sunday-morning.html">The People who MUST Lead a Sunday Morning Children’s Ministry</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/09/if-youre-passion-for-pro-life-doesnt.html">If Your Passion for Pro-Life Doesn’t Align with Your Passion for Pro-Birth than Your Actually an A$$hole</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/10/why-i-will-be-voting-yes.html">Why I Will be Voting Yes</a> and <a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/10/how-i-will-be-explaining-yesterdays-no.html">How I Will be Explaining Yesterday’s “No”</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-continuing-ministry-of-your-first.html">The Continuing Ministry of your First Church</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-kids-ministry-challenge-jesus-asks.html">The Kids Ministry Challenge Jesus Asks of Every Congregation </a> (my most viewed post of 2023)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/11/christmas-devotional.html">Christmas Devotional</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/12/you-should-preach-well-worn-path-at.html">You should Preach the Well worn Path at Christmas</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-88152078813848382742023-12-25T12:38:00.005+11:002023-12-25T12:38:40.680+11:00You should preach the well-worn path at Christmas <span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday I did a short kid’s talk in church about St Nicholas. It was nothing extraordinary, I’d used it in various other settings.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In other years I’ve given a short spiel on the importance of the incarnation referencing one of my pets, explained the significance of the symbols of Christmas - like the candy cane or the Christmas tree, or led a trivia congest in order to show that many of the elements we now have of the nativity scene are not actually in</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> the bible.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are my four go-to Christmas talks.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Usually, when it comes to Christmas, there are a few well-worn paths your preaching can follow.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The characters of Christmas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The importance of the incarnation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The advent themes - hope, joy, peace and love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apologetics about the Christmas accounts.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Christmas through the Old Testament.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m sure there’s more common Christmas traits to explore, but with a theme that you need to return to annually, eventually the well will seem dry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, the plain gospel account will always suffice. No tricks. No gimmicks. Just Jesus.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, on a Christmas service when you’ve got a plethora of non-regular churchgoers, the simpler the sermon - usually - the better it is for everyone involved.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, once you’ve preached on Christmas for the fortieth year consecutively, surely you may be tempted to want to step away from the well-worn path.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">If this is the case… don’t.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stick to the simple.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While you may be in the planning stage and seeking a new angle, preach what is both expected and only points people to Jesus.</span></div></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-30056078310298802112023-12-20T12:35:00.001+11:002023-12-20T12:35:14.585+11:00Our leadership demands shape those who are actually able to volunteer<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you become an adult </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the way you get involved in church has to change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You work full time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may be married.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may have kids.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You’ve got financial duties.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You’ve only got limited holidays.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a young adult, these pressures can be far less. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can arrive at church by 3pm on a weekday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can stay late on a Sunday night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can commit to a weekly roster.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can set aside a week for a mission trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part of the reason that church volunteers, especially within their ministries to children and teens, are primarily young adults and retirees is due to the demands that we place upon our recruits.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These don’t work for many adults.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, they need to work long into the evening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They need to be up early on a Monday morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They need to juggle family and extended-family responsibilities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They only have a limited or fixed amount of disposable income or holiday allotment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In short, life isn’t as flexible.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, this inhibits what they can be involved in.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can this be used as a convenient excuse? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should it make churches even more appreciative of their adult volunteers?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Absolutely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most importantly, it shouldn’t come as a surprise - when they consider the demands or restrictions they place upon those who volunteer - the kind of people who are willing or able to step and and actively help out.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-85767379347957478012023-12-08T00:46:00.001+11:002023-12-08T00:46:26.967+11:00Why you need to do the busy work before finishing with the videos<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyone who has ever been a student will know, as a school semester winds down - especially in the final term - the teaching units usually conclude with a string of videos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Ancient China units ends by watching the original Mulan film.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Water in the World unit concludes by watching Finding Nemo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, before we launch into a slew of video lessons to finish the school year, there’s an important task that must be done first.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Busy work.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An important, but non assessable task (since reports are already completed).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A task where the students select from a list of choices and then create something touching on that topic - usually a poster or newspaper.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reason this task is essential is because it incorporates a vital administrative function.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every teaching unit has elements which, at minimum, you must touch on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This final task ensures, through the smorgasbord of choices which you’ll need to describe, that you are honestly able to tick off everything in the unit outline.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, while everything in a teaching outline is not equal and doesn’t deserve the same amount of focus, an open task at the end of the unit allows you to still include the red-herrings of the teaching units and give the students freedom to pursue the untouched elements if they so desire.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-74707242974966364742023-11-30T23:06:00.001+11:002023-11-30T23:06:41.300+11:00The loss which comes from now waking up for church<span style="font-family: verdana;">In general, if you’re young and somewhat independent, the likelihood of you attending church in the evening increases.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the years pass by and you progress through the life stages - especially marriage and having children - your chances of migrating to attending church in the morning rises.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reasons are sometimes purely logistical.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You don’t want to stay out late on a Sunday night since you’ll have work tomorrow.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your schedule over the weekend is more available on a Sunday morning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your young kids can’t stay out too long after sunset.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your church only has a children’s ministry for your offspring in the morning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Due to the point above, there will be others in the same life stage as you in the morning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, the transition from the evening service to the morning isn’t always one that is navigated well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And leaving the later service for the earlier one can come with an associated grief.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You lose connections - both pastoral and friendships.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You lose routine - everything from “your” car spot to “your” seat.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, while you also gain from the transition in the morning - a wider mix of ministry options, a wider spread of generations, usually an increase in attendance - the losses from the evening are still real.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I was in ministry, it was usually unspoken - but expected - that inevitably the young adults who were married would migrate to the morning service.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, often, these losses don’t get acknowledged.</span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-65677949463758154302023-11-28T19:21:00.000+11:002023-11-28T19:21:04.084+11:00The necessary productivity of downtime<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Creating assessments.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Marking assignments.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Writing reports.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Parent/teacher interviews.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a teacher, every year has its regular busy periods.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">School scripture.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Youth group.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday mornings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sermons and talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In vocational ministry, there’s a predictable cycle of work.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, then again, both have their quieter times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Predictably, these mainly revolve around the school holidays.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, these down times serve an important purpose.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Prepare.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Achieve.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This last one is essential.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now that I’ve conquered the report writing mountain for 2023 (with just a lazy 170 reports) I have a few significant tasks to knock off before the term winds down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, now is the time to get them done while I have a little more time on my hands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because it helps downplay the idea that teachers or those in ministry have a limited work schedule and, before you know it, the limited window of downtime will slam shut and the predictable busyness will kick off.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-24741699517183627282023-11-20T23:33:00.000+11:002023-11-20T23:33:28.156+11:00Christmas devotional<p><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica;">Last week I wrote a contribution for the Advent resource the church I attend with my daughters is collating. In short, it’s </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica;">a</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica;"> mash-up of a few Tiny Bible Bits. Here’s my devotional…</span></p><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Where have you seen God this week?</i></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">For the best part of a decade, in every church service I led - which was most Sundays when I was a youth minister - I would ask the following question to the congregation.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">In the big and the small, the extraordinary and the ordinary, where have you seen God this week?</i></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">For the first few weeks the responses would be short and hesitant.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" />But, over time, the congregation would become used to the question and become more comfortable sharing where they had encountered God outside of the weekly church service.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">To be blunt, my agenda behind the question was for those in church to open their eyes.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">I wanted those in the churches I worked for to expect to see God throughout their week and begin actively looking for Him outside of the two hours they were in the church building.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Sometimes the stories shared were inspirational.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Sometimes the stories showed the church in its best light as people wonderfully supported and encouraged each other.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">At other times, the stores were simple.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">A sunrise.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">A conversation.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Something someone saw online.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">And the nature of my question allowed for this.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">For God is seen in both the big and small.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Jesus can be encountered in both the extraordinary and the ordinary.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">We see this in the gospels.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Jesus raises the dead and releases the tormented.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Jesus feeds the masses and heals the sick.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">But Jesus also teaches while He travels.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">He has a conversation by a well while His disciples are off gathering food.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">We see can see this in the Christmas story.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">The birth narratives include lowly outcast shepherds and choirs of angels.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">We find a guiding star pointing towards a filthy manger.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">We meet an unwed mother and the Promised Saviour.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Earlier this year I was lucky enough to travel to Rome.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">As you would expect, while there, I went to a lot of churches (there are reported to be 900 in the city!). Amongst all these churches we visited were the four great basilicas of Rome, including St Peter’s in the Vatican.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">One of the points of a cathedral is to be big and extraordinary.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">They are designed to take your breath away.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">In that place, you are to encounter God by the size and extravagance surrounding you.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">And yet, I’ve also sat in a small church in Seaforth.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">And God was just as present.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">In the big and the small.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">The extraordinary and the ordinary.</div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><br clear="none" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;" /></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Where are you seen God this week?</i></div><span id="yiv9909205002yahoo-rte-cursor-span" style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"></span></div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Regular, Helvetica; overflow-wrap: break-word !important;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word !important;">Where will you see Him in the story of Christmas?</i></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-8487585317524278752023-11-10T22:12:00.000+11:002023-11-10T22:12:37.936+11:00Should a healthy church expect a boomerang generation?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I mentioned in <a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-continuing-ministry-of-your-first.html">this post</a> that I returned to visit my home church a few weeks ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Between the years of 2002 and 2016, the idea of returning to my original church wasn’t a reality. I was in vocational youth ministry. I had my own church services to run.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, I could return back to my spiritual nest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, what I’m going to ponder is context specific.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In some places, living expenses will demand that grown-up youth will - in all likelihood - never be able to return to reside in the suburb of their spiritual rearing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, in a world where housing prices aren’t spiralling out of control, would returning generation be an expectation for a congregation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should some, when they are within easy driving distance, be drawn back to the place they first encountered Jesus?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should a church expect that those who were sent away due to transitioning life-stages, inevitably return?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, this isn’t why you do children’s or youth ministry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, undoubtedly, this is a horrible evangelistic strategy if it’s all you’re relying upon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nonetheless… is a boomerang generation a sign of a healthy church?</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-14182693830167783292023-10-29T22:33:00.001+11:002023-10-29T22:33:58.878+11:00The kids ministry challenge Jesus asks of every congregation<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This morning in church I gave the congregation a challenge during the “kid’s talk.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I write “kid’s talk” because my speaking spot in church isn’t always directed at those still at school.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This morning, the aim was squarely at the adults in the room.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Linking with the passage about young Jesus in the Temple from Luke 2, I mentioned how those who witnessed Jesus’ questions and observations were amazed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I then said, after teaching something like 1500 scripture lessons, one of the enduring lessons for me was the ability of children to understand, question and insightfully observe the gospel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In short, the faith of children can still be amazing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I concluded by reminding the congregation that, if Jesus wants those who’d follow Him to have childlike faith (Luke 18:17), then if they don’t go out of their way to witness the faith of the children around them (be it scripture in school, the church’s ministry to children after school or on a Sunday) then how can they know exactly what Jesus wants them to have?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, if you don’t see the faith of a child, how can you know what Jesus us talking about?</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-6430341709125459732023-10-21T19:17:00.003+11:002023-11-20T19:18:48.814+11:00The continuing ministry of your first church<span style="font-family: verdana;">A few weeks ago I went to a morning service of my home church.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While this was the church I first attended, and held my first youth ministry position in, I haven’t darkened the doors in around a decade.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Needless to say, some things had changed.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A coat of paint.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A renovation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some people had passed away.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, some things were the same.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some familiar faces.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some familiar furnishings.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some ongoing ministries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, as I sat up the back of church, I got nostalgic.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I remembered those who had impacted my youth faith and fledging ministry career.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the ongoing ministry of your home church.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The loving example of Mary and Warwick.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The example of service by Norm and Maureen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The passion of John.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The generosity of John and Nancy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The burning sense of justice by Gwen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The warmth of Samanglee.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The leadership of Derek.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The quiet strength of Heather.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The hard-work of Bruce.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are many more faces who showed me what it was to be a faithful Christian.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They showed me what it was to be a church.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They showed me what it was to serve. To love. To be generous. To care. To give a young kid a change he probably didn’t deserve.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the lasting imprint, and ongoing ministry, of my home church.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-1934569695333132023-10-15T20:26:00.001+11:002023-10-15T20:26:54.465+11:00How I will be explaining yesterday’s “No”<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I anticipated in <a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2023/10/why-i-will-be-voting-yes.html">yesterday’s post</a> about the referendum, the vote was decided in the negative.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having voted yes, I think it’s not the best (if not bravest) decision. But, as of right now, it’s the path Australia has decided.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, <i>how am I going to explain the outcome?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How will I explain it to the students in my classroom? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How will I explain the outcome to my children?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How will I explain it to my grandchildren?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In part, most of my explanation way laid out yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>The</b> <b>government did a woeful job</b> in clearly justifying what they wanted the people to agree to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The government, in light of history, should never have announced a referendum without bipartisan agreement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This, of course, leads to the most important element when discussing the result last night…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">People voted no on The Voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They didn’t vote no on indigenous people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The idea was rejected.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not the people primarily affected.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, as a white person, I’m not in a place to say how indigenous people feel about the outcome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve got no doubt that some, even a large portion, of the ATSI population feel jilted about the referendum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, nonetheless, <b>this was a rejection of an idea of government</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A poorly explained idea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, the people said no.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>This is their right in a democracy</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This would be my final point in the explanation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You don’t have to like the outcome in a democracy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact, quite often you’ll find yourself in the minority after an election.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unless your political seat is constantly being held by the victorious national and state governments, then your vote probably went to the overall “losers” of the election.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It will happen often over your voting lifetime.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You have to be able to deal with that outcome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is how democracy works.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even if you don’t like the result.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even if it makes you angry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Or disappointed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Democracy is bigger than you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And democracy is what people have fought for and died defending.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday what about democracy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Messy, disagreeable, democracy.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-88901769762491501692023-10-13T23:04:00.000+11:002023-10-13T23:04:46.808+11:00Why I will be voting yes<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tomorrow, Australia has a referendum about the recognition of the indigenous people of the nation, voting to include them in the constitution of our country and installing an advisory body to the government called The Voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The offical pamphlet outlining the two positions - yes and no - can be found <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/files/pamphlet/your-official-yes-no-referendum-pamphlet.pdf">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tomorrow I’ll be voting yes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, initially, I wasn’t going to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reason was fairly simple.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The government has done a horrid job in selling the details of The Voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact, they’ve outright said that they haven’t arranged the details.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, understandably, this leaves many unanswered questions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There’s confusion about the nature of The Voice, the makeup of The Voice, the exact powers of The Voice, who The Voice will be able to give advice to, where The Voice will be based, how much The Voice will cost, how The Voice will be able to accurately represent an entire nation of indigenous peoples and how The Voice will effectively “<a href="https://ctgreport.niaa.gov.au/">close the gap</a>” in achieving advancement for the indigenous peoples of Australia. These are only <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/2gb-host-ben-fordham-lists-25-unanswered-questions-about-the-voice/news-story/cc010d0e3bba4bf6a705a51a7e1e8b98">some of the questions</a> left up in the air before polling day. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I said, the government has done a woeful job of selling the affirmative case.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, they were always going to be fighting an uphill battle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For, Australia usually <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/referendums/referendum_dates_and_results.htm">rejects most referendums</a> placed before them (only passing 8 of 44).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unless there is bipartisan support for a referendum question, the opportunity for the opposition to air any weakness of a referendum proposal instantly get a loud sounding board and a significant portion of the population will be willing to listen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More so, this negative message can feed into our individual and communal fear of change and aversion to “being told what to do.” Let’s face it, a government only puts forward a proposal if they want to be be passed. That, in itself, can gear some to rebuff the government’s “agenda.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the reasons above, I was prepared to vote no.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until… I seriously considered the first element of the referendum question.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should we recognise the indigenous peoples in our constitution?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this, we must vote yes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That we need a vote at all is embarrassing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That the oldest surviving culture on the planet requires recognition is a disgrace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyone with a sense of justice or dignity cannot let this go unamended.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In an ideal world, the questions about the recognition and the establishment of The Voice would be divorced. In fact, this is what the opposition are proposing if the negative wins tomorrow and they subsequently get into office.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first question would canter in, just as the referendum did in 1967 to then include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the census.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second element of the question is the major sticking point.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, <i>why am I going to vote yes?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Simply, because giving someone else a louder voice doesn’t lessen my voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Especially since I’m a part of the sector of society with the loudest voice. And, this will not change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do I know all the answers about The Voice? Definitely not.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will it fix every problem for our indigenous peoples? Probably not.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, something needs to change. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our indigenous peoples deserve better.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even if The Voice is a disappointment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It will be a disappointment which can then be tweaked and, hopefully, improved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately, if the <a href="https://au.yougov.com/politics/articles/47566-final-yougov-voice-referendum-poll-no-increases-lead-to-18-points">polls hold true</a>, I will be in the minority tomorrow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And Australia will find itself on the wrong side of history. Not to mention justice.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-83976241340083273912023-10-11T16:00:00.001+11:002023-10-11T16:00:00.135+11:00Why you should do your private business in public<span style="font-family: verdana;">Now that I’m back in the country, I still have some work to do before the next term kicks off.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like when I was in ministry, as a teacher, there’s a prevailing idea that there’s a lot of time off.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those in ministry only work on Sundays…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Youth group only lasts for two hours per week…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teachers only work 9-3…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teachers get 12 weeks of holidays per year…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One way to combat this mindset is to do your “hidden” work in public.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mark papers or do post-youth group admin in the library.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do term preparation or sermon research in a local cafe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In doing this “off the clock” work in the eye-line of others, then the mindset that teachers or those in ministry “only work” a limited window of hours may begin to fade away.</span></div>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-31054438107024223982023-10-08T00:14:00.001+11:002023-10-08T00:14:57.419+11:00How do you effectively do ministry in a basilica?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just got back from a holiday in Europe, including a ten-day trip to Rome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Needless to say, I saw a lot of churches and ruins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Among the 900 alleged places of worship, the majority were very old and very large.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While we were there we saw a few church services - a baptism, wedding and an ordinary church service. Unsurprisingly, none packed out the space.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When your in a hundreds-year-old basilica, capable of holding hundreds of people, the churches were sparsely populated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Frankly, a similar thing could be said about most Sydney churches on any given Sunday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I did wonder how modern ministry would happen in an ancient building?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What challenges would you face in a 1500 year basilica?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For an ancient building even logistical elements like electricity or technology availability would be a challenge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, very few ancient buildings have a space appropriate for youth or children’s activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How do you run an effective ministry to the young in a church full of ancient relics?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How do you keep a church ministry legislative compliant when your ministry is running atop a 500-year-old mosaic or the gravestones of deceased saints?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Is there any space where you could play games without endangering heritage relics (no church appeared to have halls attached to their buildings)?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The more I think about it, the more the challenges arise…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How do you conduct services with a continuous stream of gawking tourists? </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surely this couldn’t remain child-protection compliant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How about the challenge of holding a service in such a vast, but primarily empty, space?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I suppose the secret is to leverage the advantages of such a vast, old, church.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You link heavily to the awe-inspiring nature of the space.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You emphasise the links to centuries of history.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While you may not have a space to play basketball inside, there are no churches in my entire country which are as old or large as many of the churches I entered while in Rome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe those in Rome would be pondering how you could do effective ministry in a place which doesn’t take your breath away when you enter and isn’t centuries old…</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-85424617359413614152023-09-29T19:45:00.001+10:002023-09-29T19:45:00.143+10:00Could a church have a booty-call ministry?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Marriages need time to remain healthy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of that time may result in… adult cuddles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, children will encroach on this time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Obviously.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With this in mind, some churches are willing to provide babysitting so parents can periodically have a date night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s a tremendous idea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, what if, instead of seeing a movie or going out for dinner, the parents used the time to… cuddle?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spoken or unspoken, how would the church respond if this use of a “dating-window” emerged?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should they be all for it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps even encourage it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Could it be an unofficial booty-call ministry?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve never heard of this ministry actually occurring, but maybe that’s the point. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You don’t ask. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You just provide an opportunity…</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1108233204386860891.post-16772894806229006352023-09-26T19:17:00.001+10:002023-09-26T19:17:00.142+10:00If you’re passion for pro-life doesn’t align with your passion for pro-birth than your actually an a$$hole<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week I was asked my opinion on abortion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I was walking out the door, I quickly mentioned that, as a contraceptive device, I’m against it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nothing too controversial there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, I could have gone further.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could have elaborated on my answer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could have said that, with the plethora of better options, a pre planned abortion is a bad idea. It’s potentially harmful. It’s needlessly complicated. Depending on the wishes I’d both sexual parties, it can get immensely messy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, I suspect I was actually being asked if I was, as a concept, for or against abortion. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, the conversation couldn’t have occurred properly due to the mere seconds I had to respond. For example, there was no change to the <a href="https://grahambaldock.blogspot.com/2012/02/suicide-afterlife-abortion-disclaimer.html">abortion disclaimer</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If I did have a longer discussion, I’d raise two points.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First, I’d ask if someone’s start of life aligned with their definition of ending life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Brain function? Heartbeat? Independent survival?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If these are your markers for continuing living, then how do these compare with your stance on abortion?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More so, if anyone is pro-life, no matter to what degree, it must be determined if they are actually pro-life or pro-birth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In short, does someone’s stand on abortion align with their stance of what happens after birth?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Are they as strong an advocate for neonatal care? Or adoption services? Or postpartum care? Or early childcare? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do they give a single thought to what happens to the child and mother once the child is born?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If not, then the person isn’t pro-life. They are pro-birth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They demand a birth, but not the systems to support the new life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Frankly, this is the action of an uncaring jerk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">if you push for a child - no matter under what circumstances - to be born, then you absolutely must ensure that this life, and the mother, is provided for.</span></p>Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10701675993909208817noreply@blogger.com0