Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture (post 1)

I'm currently reading Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture - Bridging Teen Worldviews and Christian Truth (W. Mueller) It started slow - almost painfully slow, but the goodness is slowly coming…
I’m interested in this book, as my most natural/honest mission is amongst young people – every day has the possibility of engaging and working with young people on issues that are important to them and build genuine relationships. I am young enough to understand and relate to their culture and also keen to see them understand the true message of the Gospel. I want to see them understand the Gospel message in its fullness, in a way that captures them and removes the seemingly massive stereotypical views often held (often rightly so) To see the redemptive work unfolding in their lives is my greatest desire…So I was hoping this book would give incites and application to go with the theory.

Mueller spends considerable time looking at postmodernism and typical youth culture … the following highlights the view I see frequently with the young people I work with,
‘Experience is the currency of postmodern economics’ - that the generations of this period, will increasingly evaluate every product (including faith/church/JC) in terms of their experience of it. It thus leads to emotions being the final judge of right/wrong, good/bad or fair and unfair. It removes absolute truth and replaces it with self opinion.

He discusses the role of the Church/Christian in culture – something I am heapsly interested in, however never seems to get into the detail I am chasing… He talks of adopting an infiltration and transformation technique - Yes I agree, but I want detail…

So far, I agree with most of what Mueller suggests, however still looking for more practical hints/guidance… A few chapters left – maybe the gold will be found in those… A further update once the book is complete.

Perfect Weekend

This was the perfect weekend in footy!
Bring on Sydney...

I don't need to say much about the result, however what was interesting was my trip to the domestic airport Sat night to pick up ma and pa... What I didn't realise was their plane arrived at the same time the Eagles flew in... CRAZY!
I have never seen such a large or such a loud crowd at an airport! - Everywhere was blue and yellow, balloons, posters, painted faces, painted bodies, footies (being kicked inside and outside -blocking up the carpark) streamers, banners, flags, TV crews and millions and millions of teenage girls queing for photos with Juddy, Cuz and Hunter... It only took me 16 hours to find my folks in the crowd - me wearing my Eagles jersey didn't help them find me either!
I must say it seemed like a lot of fuss, however I did enjoy it all, especially knowing the dockers had been kicked out... sorry jeffbo!
Hopefully the Airport will be the place to be next Sat night - it was rockin - as much as airports can!

More stuff made

Latest project, fairly self-explanatory...


Not too original, however it's a very rare TV - Philips Magnalux "the picture that lives!" - sometime 1950's ?

Found out afterwards that in good condition it is/was worth a fair bit of $$$... whoops!

Funtastic

How funtastic is this!
Readers would know that old splitty kombi's are so my favourite car ever.


So recently I had a fairly average birthday...



However two of the most bestest people to ever cross my life gave me the most bestest present ever.
Last month I was soooo close to buying the exact same thing on Ebay, but decided some restraint was in order as it was just a childish lust… And here it is – the perfect gift…
It can now be the big brother of my growing family of kombi's

I shall call him

Ham (in dedication to the wonderful gift giver)

Prodigal World

Prodigal World: How we abandoned God and suffered the consequences.
Phillip Jensen is well known for his faithful Christian teaching, this book highlights his insightful social commentary as a series of short essay's gathered from the journal Kategoria. (Kategoria is a quarterly journal of Christian scholarship, review and comment, edited by author and historian of science, Dr Kirsten Birkett.)
Jensen has written six short and easy to read articles highlighting ways in which Western Society has slowly but surely removed itself from a relationship with God and commonly upheld Christian beliefs and values and instead toiled under it’s own governance in defiance to God. The result – as the title suggests is similar to that of the Prodigal Son – who leaves his father and wastes the inheritance and ends up becoming lost, despairing and hungry – just as western society is today.
Jensen begins with a basic framework – He studies both why and how our society took the steps of rejecting God. From here he explores several key issues – (such as utilitarianism, marriage and relationships) as well as several specific individuals who argued strongly for removing the Christian foundations of our society. (Bertrand Russell, Margaret Mead John Ralston Saul)
In all, it is a well crafted series of short essays that highlight how western society has largely dismissed God’s desires, plans and purposes. We see that as humans have chased a perceived freedom and growth what has really resulted - is loss and much pain for society. It is the biblical model of rejecting God highlighted in a modern context. - A book worth reading.
As I read it, I couldn’t help thinking two things…
A) Would be a good book to give to some friends who are feeling ‘unsatisfied with culture and lifestyles’
B) Where is the chapter that shares the second half of the Prodigal Son story? – when he returns to his loving father, the restoration of the relationship
I guess after my friends read it, then thought B can be discussed together…

Christians and $$$

So recently I have heard yet another sermon on Christians and $$$ …
Now I’m not saying it’s not an important topic to consider in our material/consumption driven culture, however I am getting sick of the basic sermon outline….

Step 1 - Talk about role of $ in culture – how we don’t just adopt this worldly view
Step 2 - Talk about God’s provisions for his children – include $
Step 3 - Explain that $ itself is not the problem – but the love of $ is
Step 4 - Suggest $ is neutral – thus be careful of living under its rule/control – idolatry
Step 5 - Remind congregation that God will provide – sparrows and the like
Step 6 - Suggest the 10% rule – acknowledge it’s an O.T. concept – but still promote it
Step 7 - Prove statistically that Christians don’t give 10% & challenge congregation to
Step 8 - Explain that true riches are stored up in heaven
Step 9 - Challenge congregation to give more and work towards God’s other riches.

Now I wouldn’t disagree with much of the above, and I do think there is good reason to cover such topics… however I do see a problem with limiting the message to just this.
Now I have heard some quality teaching on this subject which avoids these problems – but in my (perhaps limited) experience it doesn’t seem the norm…

Unfortunately it can suggest that a clear spiritual/secular division exists in Christians lives. That giving (10%) is a part of your spiritual life and then once that is done your ‘other’ (secular) life is responsible for how you choose to use the remaining 90%. This same division already creeps into much of the Christian life – how we spend our time, energy, how we consider worship, church, ministry etc – its something I’m considering much more deeply and just don’t see this style of teaching helping Christians to view all of life being a living sacrifice and a spiritual walk.

Secondly and obviously related, this model of teaching doesn’t usually focus on how we might choose to use the remaining 90% … Now a preacher may assume that Christians should be able to make these decisions wisely with a biblical framework to guide them – however I think this is a poor assumption, with the temptations and expectations of being an aspiring Australian being so great at all ages. It’s one thing to happily give the 10% but then to think little about the remaining 90%. I’m convinced that we need to be made more aware of moral, ethical and biblically wise decisions in regards to this 90%. Purchasing this or that, investing in this or that, saving for this or that – those decisions are equally important as whether we give 5% to our local church and 5% to missionaries or the thought that we put into the 10%. I know these are the issues that I need to consider more in regards to $ - how my choices affect others, how they work towards the Kingdom and how they glorify God.
I guess it comes down to helping Christians to make wise decisions based on biblical frameworks – and it’s that reason that the 9-step approach seems to miss the mark and just not equip people all that well...

Emerging Church Discussions

Reflections of today’s discussion with Don Carson, Andrew Hamilton and Geoff Westlake…
Don is a famous evangelical Christian scholar, a Doctor of Philosophy in the New Testament. He has recently written his book ‘Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church’. Andrew is the WA director of FORGE mission training and Geoff is the Director of ReFrame – a network of missional leaders in WA. They are both leaders in emerging missional churches in WA

To begin with - it must be made aware that the emerging church is very hard to define well, it is also rather different in nature and direction in WA as to America/Europe - however there still are several similarites. Don was rather strong on this point - to express that not all the criticism's in his book are as applicable in WA.... So to begin, Don gave an overview of his book.

He spoke of the strengths and positive aspects of the emerging church culture and then outlined some aspects to be cautious of, or resist. This was the framework his book adopts, with an obvious effort to meet the WA context rather than an American context.
Some noteable strengths include the honest missional drive, the strength in being culturally aware/reading the times, plus the awareness and desire to ask questions concerning what, how and why we ‘do/be’ church in certain ways.
Some noteable weakness include the dubious definitions and understandings of modern/postmodern, the lack of strong biblical theology often found in these movements, the lack of personal commitment to ‘truth’ and the connection with social dynamics being a greater driving force than the connection with the Father often is.

After his talk, both Andrew and Geoff took turns to respond, agreeing with certain aspects of Don’s point of view and disagreeing with other statements – all to be expected.

I was impressed with the combined discussion from Andrew and Geoff. Meeting them before and being involved with Geoff on other occasions, I know them to be men of integrity and adherence to the truth of the Gospel. Andrew shared some of his thoughts on emerging churchs in WA, adding some strengths to the movements stance and suggesting some of Don's criticism's which are not necessraily true in our local context. Geoff shared in more detail of the practical workings of his church community. Being careful to demonstrate its authenticity to both scriptural truths and local context. He suggested that 'established' church's and 'emerging' church's can both learn and gain from each other, that neither is necessarily superior, but both have examples of 'good' and 'less good?' churchs within their boundaries.

Check out Hamo's website - 'Backyard Missionary' for a more detailed overview of the discussion, and postings/comments from many who attended or interested in the discussion.

I left with a mixture of feelings – I do feel as though the more I investigate ‘church’ and how I want to do/be it – I seem to feel both uneasy with my current situation – yet still an uncertainty about the direction I want to move in. I want a connection with a stronger missional community, yet not sure in what context to best work towards this…. Grrrrr….

The Don

So Don Carson is in town this week…
I saw him last night and he did a pretty ripper job regarding Revelation 12. Its one of those books in which I read the chapters, can sometimes work out who is who and what imagery is what, and then if I’m lucky can take a wild guess at its meaning and an even wilder guess concerning it’s application…
He challenged us to consider how we align ourselves with a Christian/biblical viewpoint, in a world corrupted by the devil who is obviously working against God’s Kingdom – be it through violence or deceptive teaching. We considered the sufferings of the church and the (somewhat limited) truths in sociologically shaped worldviews. In these times, we are to remain faithful to the Gospel, Christ’s atoning sacrifice, his supreme authority and our proclamation of this – through word and deed.

Tomorrow I’m off to listen to him debate Emerging Church issues with Andrew Hamilton and Geoff Westlake. – If you have read previous posts you can guess Im keen for this discussion.