Heading out to India for a couple of weeks. If you don’t hear from me assume: 1. I’m sick or, 2. I don’t have internet access or, 3. Both of the above. Hope to learn what I can about church planting movements in what will soon become the world’s most populous nation.
Monthly Archives: September 2008
Uniting Church acts to prevent offense
26 September, 2008 – 6:49 PM
foto An update on the sad story of Francis Macnab and St Michael’s Uniting Church. The Uniting Church Synod voted today to request St Michael’s remove freeway signs and other media related to its “new faith” advertising campaign because it causes “deep offense to many Christians, Jews and Muslims”. The denomination is in a dilemma. [...]
Back from the dead
25 September, 2008 – 12:23 PM
This time last year I was washed up. God is good and I’m well and truly back in the game. Here’s a recent email from a good mate and my response that sums up what God has done. Hi Steve Was aware of the hard year. You know, Steve, I just don’t get life and [...]
Where are the children?
24 September, 2008 – 7:32 AM
Apparently only 3% of Australian children are in church each week. The figure for all ages is just under 9%. But the age of the Australian church is heavily weighted towards the elderly. Then the penny dropped. I’ve been collecting data on church participation in Australia. Nobody’s counting the children anymore. Or if they are, [...]
A new faith for the 19th century
16 September, 2008 – 9:18 AM
Francis Macnab. Photo: John Woudstra Posing for photographs in front of a 19th century church organ, Francis Mcnab proclaimed a new faith for the 21st century. Apparently a new faith was necessary because the old faith (orthodox Christianity) no longer works. Out goes Abraham—a concoction. Out goes Moses—a mass murderer. Out goes the 10 Commandments—one [...]
The therapeutic captivity of the Church
15 September, 2008 – 10:16 AM
Some more wisdom from James Hitchcock. This time on the “triumph of the therapeutic”. Following Philip Rieff he describes the shift in Western culture from “inhibitory” to “remissive”. From a society whose dominant symbols carry religious and moral affirmations, which include prohibitions, to a culture which systematically grants permission to the individual to transgress these [...]
Growing leaders by the Book
12 September, 2008 – 10:43 AM
I sat down with a church planter yesterday. He’s done an outstanding job. Now he’s ready to really make a difference by growing leaders who plant churches. So Steve, you’re the “expert” how do I put a curriculum together for training church planters? Who says you need one? Forget about the classroom and make the [...]
Inventor of the iPod
11 September, 2008 – 8:57 AM
Apple didn’t invent the idea of the iPod. A British furniture salesman named Kane Kramer did—thirty years ago. He was 22 at the time. The point? Breakthroughs in fashion, technology, science, art, warfare, sport—in every sphere of life—and most especially in the renewal and expansion of the Christian faith. . . . breakthroughs ALWAYS occur [...]
Southern Baptist decline? Maybe.
10 September, 2008 – 1:11 PM
A final quote from Roger Finke on the success, plateau and possible decline of the Southern Baptists. Historically, the low start up costs of SBC churches have allowed them to move with the flow of the population. The preachers came with the people, because they were the people, and a church could begin with only [...]
The futility of football
10 September, 2008 – 8:10 AM
Some light relief from a meaningful life. . . Pre-Game Coin Toss Makes Jacksonville Jaguars Realize Randomness Of Life Shades of Monty Python’s Philosopher’s Football. . .
