The Mafia

This relationships bizzo is hard work, especially when there is a tendancy to believe rumour rather than check for fact. I had an incident the other day with some people from another local church who saw something of what we are doing as competition. They may have even wanted to use our success as a reason for their, shall we say, not so success. What was unhelpful though was the way in which the conversation took place. Instead of arranging a time to chat they confronted at a time that may have been convenient for them, but disregarded or perhaps showed that they didn't think how their timing might affect others.
I don't wish to appear vindictive in any way, but I must admit to feeling a little linched shall we say, somewhat like a confrontation that one may experience with the said people from the title. I don't mind talking about what we are doing,even hearing feed back as to where it might not be helpful. But I've always found a 2 way conversation of equals a better way to deal with conflict.
Nevermind lets keep trying and talking.

Signed

someone who is trying to de-mafia the church...

Revelations and Worship

I never thought I’d say this but I’m actually enjoying reading through Revelations at the moment. The fire and brimstone stuff is a bit much, hard to know where it all fits in. I’ve always seen myself as a pan-millenialist (it’ll all pan out in the end). But the images are amazing, incredible, incomprehensible… 1:12-16, talks of one like the Son of Man and talks of robes, gold sash, eyes like blazing fire, and out of his mouth came a sharp double edged sword. Then there are other passages where the living beasts never stop saying: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. And then the 24 elders fall down before Him and say: You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. (end of Ch 4) I’ve just enjoyed getting lost in the mystery of all of this. I think we lose something when we try to explain it down to the last word. Our God is an awesome God beyond belief. I guess too its made me realise that maybe at times I take God and my response to him too lightly. Not that I see him as an evil smiter (smite me oh mighty smiter, says Bruce from the movie Bruce Almighty). But I am challenged to recognise his awesomeness, let my words run out and spend time praising him from a gob smacked position.
Joining you wordless…
Andre

A Psalm (not of David)

A couple of weeks ago we wrote a Psalm together at our Sunday gathering.
It was something we did as part of our worship together, incorporating responses from all ages.
These are the prompters we used:
1) Focus on God as creator
2) When you are in a tough spot, how do you feel?
3) How do you best become aware of God's presence? When do you most experience God?
4) Praise Him for who he is

We all agreed we'd like to share this Psalm here.

God you are invincible and your lightning is cool.
When I look at your mountains and volcanoes, I see you.
You are the awesome Creator,
the power of the waves is nothing compared to you
The detail of you creation overwhelms me.
When things are bad I feel sad and alone,
it doesn't seem fair.
When things are bad I feel confused and overwhelmed.
I feel like hope has gone.
When I pray to you, I feel loved and I know you are there.
I can talk to you anytime and you are listening.
I quieten my mind and I hear the words that you long to say to me.
I sit and breathe deep and know you are there.
You raise me up.
You bring me the hope I thought was lost.
Thank you for each day and all the good that happens.
Thank you for looking after me.
You are awesome beyond my understanding.
The mystery of you surrounds me
I am lost for words.

What's at the heart of the matter?

But until I come, you must hold firmly to the teaching you have. Rev 2:25

I read this verse about a week ago in the midst of an internal struggle, thinking about some of the tensions between ‘big church’ and ‘small church.’ I had one of those meetings on Monday, you know the sort, where you go away not only challenged, but beginning to think slightly differently. At Big House we are about mission and discipleship, and I know I’ve been caught looking at the big church and saying an emphasis on those elements are not there. And its true in many they aren’t. But that is not the case in all. My impressions of the emerging church movement has been that it seemed to say, big church is bad, throw all of its practices and programs out and become more pure so to speak. And in one sense we have tried to adopt that at Big House, however I have always sensed we are not a typical emerging church. I have engaged us in a whole heap of what I hope is relevant mission in our local community, but much of it has been relationships coming out of a program, like Rumpus Room, or the Aspergers group. And there have been some great relationships formed. A challenge to this approach is how do we move these people on their faith journey? And separate to that grow a committed core of people who can be cared for and support the work? Especially considering we started with one family… us. So here where we find ourselves, perhaps some of what I’ve perceived as ‘big church’ tools may actually serve us. Can I mention that word alpha? Will I be banned from future EC meetings? Is it wrong to advertise and try to attract others, not to church, oh God no, but on a journey of discipleship!?? Isn’t the essential element we stay true to the teaching we have, whatever shape and form that takes.

The Gathering

It’s been an interesting journey as we have thought and begun planning to make our evening gatherings more accessible, more public if you like. I’ve found myself defaulting and calling it a service. Yes I want to use language that is understandable and conveys meaning, but service isn’t it!!! Amy and I picked up the City on a Hill worship CD’s. They are a series of 3 CD’s put together by groups like Jars of Clay, Cardoman’s Call, Sixpence None The Richer etc. Not just a band doing a song and then another band doing another song, but the members have mixed themselves up, so they are playing with different people and singing other people’s songs. A great picture of the potential of the church as different flavours mix and work with each other. Anyway… One of the CD’s is called ‘The Gathering’ the idea of God’s people gathering to sing praise to him. That’s what we have been calling our Sunday night experiences, for me it helps articulate the sense of community and connection with God and each other we want to embody. So I think Sunday nights will still be called ‘The Gathering… even if we have to use fine print !!

Partnerships

It's a funny world we live in isn't, and if you are living life to the full, it inevitably has its ups and downs... or maybe I am just schitzophrenic (Is that how you spell it?)

Partnerships; One of the key books for the missional church in the Australian context is 'The Shaping of Things to Come' by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost. Most of you probably know it, but it helps clarify and give language to the things we kind of already know. Like for instance the importance of partnership. This has been a really key aspect as well as a source of some of our greastes challenges as we have sought to make a positive influence on the Pakenham community.

From day 1 or even earlier (ie we started work here before we moved here) I have been committed to finding people of like heart and mind, both from within the church and the social services, schools, council etc. Not only Christian people but also others who share the values of building the community into a place where everyone has the opportunity to be seen and valued for who they are as well as have the chance to contribute. We believe that a community functioning like this is actually a picture of the way God intended life to be. It might sound funny but an important part of being human is about being known by others and knowing others.

Ah in the immortal words of Dolly Parton... Islands in the stream, that is what we are (oh the nightmares I'm going to have because I now have the tune to that song in my head) That may be true, but the in the grand design, those islands are meant to bump into each other, rub off on each other. Young and old learning from each other, experiencing life together, young being mentored by old. Some of the best youth workers I've seen are elderly men and women who love the kids and just want to be there to serve them.

I digress... Had a great time yesterday with a local cafe manager who is exploring opening her venue to us, to use as a drop in centre. Speaking of partners... a business lady who has been an events manager, who is emmersed in the arts and creativity. She is running the business to connect with young people who just need encouragement to express who they are. The partnership between Big House and the cafe, what an awesome combination, God is setting up. Still in the early days of conversation, but I'm pumped about the opportunities.

I find it easier to connect with her than many churches as we talk about mission in the community, moving outside of our walls and programs, etc, etc I understand that it is hard to break old habits, but it would be nice if there was a willingness to at least try. To me it is about better positioning ourselves to reflect God's grand design. Or maybe I should just shut up and sing the hymns (I know, I know - stereotyping!!)

What do you think??

My First Ever Blog

Hey Everyone

I started writing this last night, but didn't get very far. So welcome to my first ever blog, there is a certain novelty to this, which I hope will not wear off. I know this is by no means the first time anyone has blogged, but I'm looking forward to conencting with a whole lot of new people through this and the website. Which if you haven't seen it, check out www.bighousecommunities.info

The subtitle of this blog could be; 'The Arrogancy of the Emerging Church' (tongue in church, oh I mean cheek) How dare we propose new things, new ways of seeing the world. New understanding of how the church works, or how mission may work best in our context. And the minute we suggest a different agenda, suddenly we are throwing the past 10 years of ministry away, calling it ridiculous. Can't there be new ways, without the defensiveness of the old. Where are the open minded and open hearted ones who can see and celebrate the past as well as embracing the new.

Our dilemma seems a bit unique in the emerging circles. My history has given me the desire to work with the whole church community in our area. Seems to me to be a good reflection of the Kingdom of God, when his people, who are called by his name can put their differences aside and work together to draw others closer to the Kingdom, and I don't mean church!! However there are challenges as you can see from the above paragraph. A recent phone conversation, left me a little cold. I guess it was kind of arrogancy meets arrogancy. Or paradigm meets paradigm... Why do minister type people become possesive of 'their' people? I understand investing your lives into others, but when opportunities come along for them to be discipled in ways that you cant't, wouldn't you want that for them?

But from their point of view they could say the same about me - 'hey look we're doing all this wonderful stuff, why don't you join us and do it with us...' I'm sorry it just feels so narrow, it's not all about you and your church. Isn't it more to do with how we can build the Kingdom? How others get to experience the message of Jesus? I'm getting a bit tired of these battles, but I'm still keen to work with anyone who wants to build the Kingdom, wherever that might be.

Welcome to BigHouse Communities

Welcome one and all to our new blog site. Come back often to see whats new here at the Big House.