On Being Australian

Today is Australia Day.

It is earily quiet here in the city. Almost silent. But it is early in the day. All this will change later in the day.

I wrote a series of posts a few months back called: 15 Minutes Around Postcode 2000. A group of us at York Street are trying to work out who it is that we are trying to reach. And so we came up with 9 things we think characterise Sydney-siders.

Three that apply to Australia Day:

BEING AUSTRALIAN:

Sydneysiders belong to 'multiple, highly-motivated global tribes which exert influence, not control'. Like most Australians, they are passionate about being Aussie, without any substantial understanding of what constitutes the national identity (unlike many Americans). Sydneysiders don’t know Australian history; they only know some Australian stories. Traveling brings out some sort of essential Aussie-ness, and so young people travel often and regularly, with families often holidaying overseas.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Sydneysiders pride themselves in community spirit, helping fellow Aussies when in need. They value time to socialise, and they like crowded summer events (e.g. Cricket, NYE, and Australia Day). They have numerous social connections but often few deep friends. They are often sexually active, with the assumption that something is not right if they are not.

LIFESTYLE:

Sydneysiders choose pleasure over pain; beauty over ugliness; simple over complicated. They are comfortable and maybe even indulgent. They love the weekends over weekdays, knowing that Sydney is its own heaven. They have unusually good water skills, and they are into personal time, sport, sun, socialising, weather, concerts, movies, and the SMH. They care deeply *where* they live. They are green, but only when convenient.

Thought I'd repost this today.

Any thoughts?

Have a day of joy. We're having a BBQ in Mascot with 2 other families.

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Pic on FLickr by robyngeeringphotography.

Fear and love (Tomorrow's Sermon)

Tomorrow's Sermon Preview:

How can I learn to love God more?

Two ways from Deuteronomy 6 and 1 John 4:

1. Tremble with a Fear that leads to Love.

2. Enjoy a Love that banishes Fear.

We'll see how we go.

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Help me with Fear

I'm preaching this Sunday on the Fear of the Lord.

Here is my text: Deuteronomy 6:13-19:

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.

16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers 19 by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.

Lots of great stuff there. Lots to talk about. But you can help me:

• Why fear?
• How does the dynamic of fear help you to love God?
• What is your testimony of the Fear of the Lord?
• How does this message become evangelistic?
• Who is good to read on Fear? (Besides Kierkegaard... I don't have the time... :)

Any other thoughts or reflections on fear would be great.

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Celebrity, wash thy hands

About the funniest thing I've read in a while. Nice.

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Attention Moore College Student Ministers: Can you serve in two congregations?

Quick Questions for any Moore College Students reading this:

• How do you feel serving two congregations (if you are a Student Minister)?
• Do you give weight to one gathering, and not the other?
• Would you have a preference to serve at one? Why? Why not?
• Does it change if one congregation serves one purpose, but not another (e.g. Morning Church, then Youth church?)
• Does it change if you have a family?
• Positives? Negatives?

I'm just trying to work out how it feels working in a church for just one day.

Help me, if you can.

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Pic from Dan's Blog.

York Street 2010 Developments: #1 Podcasts

York Street Anglican is podcasting again. Early stages yet, and we'll get better at it. Bonnie is our office person here, and she is putting them up.

• You can go to our SERMON Page.
• Or THIS link (hopefully) takes you to the iTunes page.

There are just three sermons there at the moment.

Two from our Advent Series:

• Simeon — We need a Hope that Satisfies our Longings (25 minutes)
• Jesus – We need a Son to show us his Father (21 minutes)

The first of our Summer Series:

• Begin Again to Love God. (21 minutes)

Hope they help.

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After Church on Observatory Hill

I may try to post some of my favourite summer pics. This one was taken with an iPhone after Church last month on Observatory Hill, just above our home.

You can click on it to make it bigger.

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Cool Lego Commerical

Love this commercial:



Love it on so many levels.

H/T Dan Philips.

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Sermon Series: New Beginnings for an Ancient People

York Street Anglican has this one simple irony going on:

It is the oldest parish in Australia, and yet it has this new feel about it. We are small, but full of potential. Love this space.

Therefore, Deuteronomy 6 is perfect series for Summer: An Ancient people on the Edge of Promise, with a History, but with New Possibilites and New Beginnings. Plus, during summer, it is nice to only spend time in a few verses at a time.

It's too hot for large tracts of text, right?

Here is the Series:

New Beginnings for an Ancient People (A Series in Deuteronomy 6)

• Jan 3: Begin Again to Love God – Deut 6:1-9
• Jan 10: Begin Again to Remember God – Deut 6:10-12
• Jan 17: Begin Again to Fear God – Deut 6:13-19
• Jan 23: Begin Again to Tell God’s Story – Deut 6:20-25
  

8:30AM (Book of Common Prayer)
10AM (City Church)
3 York St, Sydney.

May God be with you.

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My Favourite Picture on New Year's Eve

Love this one.

Twittering New Years Eve in the City

We live right at the base of the Southern Side of the approach to the Harbour Bridge. So, we are right there in the thick of it for New Year's Eve in Sydney. Should be noisy and fun.

Last year, Michael Winram and I hacked it out in Time Square in the cold. No such suffering this year.

It's 4PM on the 31st now. It's 77F, 25C, and we going to stroll the City with the kids now until maybe 6-7PM. Then we'll cook up a BBQ on the deck here, while watching the mayhem begin.

I'm hoping my kids don't learn any new words tonight -- maybe put them to sleep in the more 'sound-proofed' rooms. We may head out to the apartment of a couple who go to our church. And I could be climbing the Church Bell Tower or York Street for a view of the fireworks at midnight.

Will be Twittering HERE.

It should be interesting to be in the middle of it!

Enjoy your New Year.

Justin.

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The Cost of Sin in Dollars

Click HERE.

Hooley Dooley.

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Christmas> Would you prefer to bury him? (Herod's thirst)

Service Times are HERE.

And this is the introduction (basically) for our 11PM Service tonight:

Questions for you this evening…

• How far will you go to find your creator?
• How willing are you to beat a path to his door?
• How thirsty are you to discover him? To locate him?
• And then to love him and pay him reverence?

That is the question of our text this Evening (Matthew 2:1-18). The Wise Men go and find Jesus. They beat a path to his door.

But, in contrast, Herod sees how much this baby affects his life. And he goes to dark lengths to get him out of his life.

See, all of us –We live and we love and owe our existence because we were created by God to live and love and exist. I breathe because God allows me to breathe. Will I seek after my creator? Will I seek him with all that I am, and all that I have?

There is a verse in the Bible that goes like this:

'God determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

Have you thought about this?

God has placed you here in this city for a reason: That you might seek him and perhaps reach out and find him. He has you in this room to seek him and perhaps reach out and find him.

How is your heart? Is it reaching out to discover him?

I suspect – because I know my own heart – that many of us are lethargic in this one area. Except maybe on Christmas time. We are lethargic to God, and Christmas is like caffeine for God: A season – oiled by carols and traditions.

That’s not true in other areas in our life: Many of us are willing to beat a path to other things: Like the better job.

We are very thirsty –

• For affection,
• Or for approval,
• Or for beauty,
• Or for a child,
• Or a spouse,
• Or for a life of joy and ease.
• We know how to track down a bargain.

And yet – if there really is a God-- and I know many of you think that there is – Then, surely, God must consume your heart and mind and actions.

There is the alternative question this morning with respect to God…

• Would you prefer to bury him?
• To make God go away?
• Maybe even to find him in order to bury him.

(This is why some come to church)

That is what is going on in our text when the King Herod tries to find Jesus.

Now, I know you don’t think that you can actually do that: Bury God. But functionally, is that your preference? In terms of the way you operate your day, is that how you live?

That is: “I don’t want him running my life, and so I’ll find a way to make him go away.”

So in our text today (Matthew 2:1-18), we one who searches (Wise Men) and one who buries (Herod).

Which are you?

.................

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In Defence of Schoolies

I'm won't, but Adele Horan writes in defence of Schoolies Week HERE. She says of those who won't go:

Unless your Year 12 son or daughter is ...

• a strong-minded non-conformist,
• a loner,
• a Christian,
• or a super-nerd...

... chances are that some time soon they will pop the question.

['Can I go to Schoolies?']

What do you make of that list?

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Praying for Healing

There are at least three people I know how are right now undergoing treatment for cancer. I am praying for two things: total healing of the illness and that all glory goes to God. These two are not synonymous. He may not heal (now), but he will receive all glory. That being said, these are my two prayers.

God knows who they are.

York Street Advent Preaching Program

Christmas is what you need. We need:

• a Prophet who Challenges
• a Song that Magnifies
• a Hope that Satisfies
• a Judge that Redeems
• a Fear that Drives away fear
• a Messiah who Saves
• a Son who reveals

And so here is the preaching program through Advent and Christmas, starting SUNDAY

This Sunday, 6 Dec (Advent 2) -- Luke 3:7-18
John: You need a PROPHET (that challenges your Life)

13 Dec (Advent 3) -- Luke 1:46-58
Mary: You need a SONG (that magnifies your God)

13 Dec (Carol Service 7PM) -- Luke 2:22-40
Simeon: You need a HOPE (that satisifies your longings)

20 Dec (Advent 4) -- Luke 1:67-80
Zechariah: We need a JUDGE (to redeem our world)

24 Dec (Christmas Eve) 11PM -- Luke 2:8-20
Shepherds: You need a FEAR (that takes away your fear)

25 Dec (Christmas Day) -- Luke 2:1-11
Jesus: You need a MESSIAH (that saves you from your sin)

27 Dec (Sunday After Christmas) -- Luke 2:41-52
Jesus: You need a SON (to show you his Father)

Now, anyone know where I can find Eggnog in Australia?

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Live Out Loud: Tickets at the Door...

TONIGHT (FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER, 2009)

Buy your tickets at the door.
DOORS OPEN: 6:30PM
www.loudevent.com

Blogging London #5: The Lunchtime Business Partnerships

St Helen's began in the 1960's with a ministry to the London Business Community. I'm glad, because one of our 6 communities is the Sydney Business Community. So we have a model, then.

In 1961, Dick Lucas was preaching to the business community (mostly men) who worked in London. St Helen's was a (mostly empty) 13th Century church near The Bank of England, Lloyds of London etc. But it was a tiny community on Sundays ('a few people and 2 cats'). Apparently, the main income of the church was brass rubbings!

But there were keen partnerships in place that allowed both the Lunchtime Ministry and the Church to grow. From the partnerships, the Sunday Ministry grew.

I saw the big Tuesday Lunchtime meeting, which was good. Mark O'Donahue (top guy) leads the ministry there. I was able to visit with Chris Fishlock (ditto Mark) and his team at the Fleet Street Talks. At the Fleet Street Talks, I was able to get under the 'scaffolding' to see how they do it. And it is about prayer and teaching the Bible. Sure. But it is more that that: it is about forming partnerships to reach their colleagues.

So -- what have I seen that would be helpful at the York Street Forums?

Partnerships.

I saw deliberate, prayerful, passionate partnerships in the Business Community. They invite people specifically to partner with them in reaching the city.

We haven't really developed partnerships of prayer and passion at the York Street Forum. Not this year. Sure, we preach Christ at the York Street Forums, and we teach the Bible (with interaction and Questions etc). All good. That's our job. But we need more.

Now, here is a confession. I plead grace in this: we have been in Sydney for 10 months etc. But we haven't included the *actual* business community in our plans and prayers. Can you believe it? We've just got a preaching program, and a time and a space.

I've been wondering why good men and good women (who are passionate about Christ) have come to the ministries for a month or two, and then we never see them again. Truth is, we haven't invited people to partner with us: in prayer, support, evangelism, training, care and support for their colleagues in the office.

I've got more thoughts. But this is all Ill say right now.

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Pic on Flickr by Kevin Danks.

Blogging London #4: 'I'll fight the battles'

Heard this great story while in London about the early days of St Helen's:

When new Rector Dick Lucas came to the city to begin his work in the early 1960s (he was just a little younger than I am now), he had some very faithful and committed people who persuaded him to step up and do the work. They were evangelists; they were givers, they were bringers of friends. And they supported Dick all the way. It was great to hear that. I heard this great report of one of them. A Colonel (now departed) from World War 2 came up to Dick one day and said to him:

"Dick, you are the Bible Teacher. I am the soldier. You teach the Bible. I'll fight the battles."

I am praying for more saints like that here at York Street, and all over Sydney.

I have three more posts on 'Blogging London', that I'm hoping to post today. Three topic areas:

1. The Lunchtime Business Ministry

2. The 'Read, Mark, Learn' Bible Study Program

3. The Associate Program (MTS)

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Are you British, or are you American?

Are you British, or are you American?

As in, which do you choose if you had to?

Ich Bin Ein ________________?

Make your choice. You can't say 'both'.

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