Into Australia

Sent-ness and Radio

Lori asked about how the commissioning went.  First let me explain that this commissioning called "Sent-ness" is done every Sunday evening. 

I decided I'd keep it about the things that seemed to be consuming much of my energy at the moment.  I talked about my children and the "issues" we were dealing with.  I'd like to say that I am super involved in volunteer work, etc.  But that has not been established yet.  So I talked about the things that I do on a day to day basis and the group responded by telling me how I imaged Christ in my setting.  Then people offered prayers to send me to do the work Christ has put before me.  Interestingly, the radio people were there and I ended up being on radio.  It was probably quite jarring for most Australians to here a Texan accent.  It was quite jarring for me to hear myself speak. 

Rachel Kohn came up after the service and asked if she could ask a few questions and so we talked for a few moments.  She asked about my background and I talked about coming from a Southern Baptist upbringing.  I didn't have any time to think about answers and when she asked about the church I came from I instantly thought about the church in which I grew up, First Baptist Athens.  I'm not sure why, I think because I see more commonality between FBC Athens and Small Boat than I do between Fellowship Church and Small Boat. 

Here are some things that stood out to the Radio commentator about the service:

• Small Boat has made egalitarianism a big issue.  And there is a definite emphasis on having a very flat leadership structure.  She asked if this was a stretch from my Southern Baptist upbringing.  I don't think it is, Baptist have traditionally placed a great deal of emphasis on the doctrine of the Priesthood of the Believer and they have always held to the local autonomy of the church.  I've always considered traditional Baptists to be more libertarian than conservative in there thinking, but that is just me.
• Small Boat is much more concerned about Social Justice than the churches I have been a part of, though FBC Athens has definitely moved more in that direction since I was a member.  Probably one of the main differences is Small Boat's eagerness to call politicians to action.  This would simply not be done in almost any church I've been a part of.  I think there are several reasons for this, but I'm not going to get into them for the same reason that I don't think that most American churches want to involve themselves in politics.  It's quite messy,  Anyway, quite often and more and more churches in the States do take part in humanitarian aid, after school programs, mission work, etc. 
• We meet and eat on lounge type furniture during the service.  I'm not sure why this was such a big deal to the radio commentator, but it was.

I do want to stress that the Radio interview is about Michael Frost and his book.  He is a former pastor, and he is now a professor at Morling College (a Baptist seminary) here in Australia. He believes that we are now living in a era of Post-Christendom.  Such a belief is hard to grasp in Dallas, Texas, but quite easy to do here, where very few people go to church and little regard is given to Sunday worship.

Radio Interview

Our church was recently featured on the program The Spirit of Things on Australian National Radio.  It isn't the entire service, but certainly enough to get a feel for what is being said and done. 

Boomama's blog

Boomama always asks the best questions.  Here is the latest.  As usual, I'm a little behind.  And while I was just going to comment, after typing and typing and typing, I just decided to write my own post.

When Eric and I were considering a move to Australia (we are not missionaries in the sense that we were sent by a board of missions, etc.) we heard a message that greatly influenced our decision.  Irwin MacManus spoke at our church and talked about taking risks.  I think most of what he said is in his book Seizing Your Divine Moment. 

But if you want, I can just sum up:  He took issue with those who were just waiting for a call.  He used the example of Paul in Acts 16:6-10 who HAD NO IDEA (and this is Paul we are talking about) about where God wanted him to go, but he did know what God wanted him to do.  Paul doesn't just sit there.  He tries to go a number of places and is prevented doing so by the Holy Spirit. 

MacManus writes in his book, "For a lot uf us the most spiritual thing we can do is to do something--to turn to the right when we want to turn left.  So we must move beyond simply choosing between right and wrong.  We must resolve not only to leave the path of doing evil, but also passionately pursue a life of doing good."  When we heard that, with this offer on the table, Eric and I prayed, sought the advice of family members and friends, and honestly it was only after we'd begun to make plans that we saw the hand of God in what we were doing.  Both of our families gave us their blessing, our house sold in three days in a market that had slowed dramatically, we found a church that is challenging us in new ways to grow in our walk, Eric has been blessed in his job.  All that being said, I believe that blessings are also tests, and God wants to see what we are going to do with all that we've been given. 

This week I will be commissioned at our church.  I will give an account of what I do during the week that reflects Christ to others around me.  The idea is that we are all commissioned to go and tell in some way or another, that there is not a "special" calling for some to do global missions while others get "regular" callings to stay at home.  Foreign countries exist at schools, in work places, at playgroups.  We all have a harvest.  I was thinking about the parable of the talents.  In that parable the master gives talents, but it seems to be up to the workers to determine how those talents are used.  Rewards are given for those who use their talents to earn more talents.  While I've been trying to decide what I will say, I've been convicted about all the things I could be doing.  I've left talents on the table and Eric and I need to remedy that.  But anyway, Pray for me, because not only do I have to speak in front of a crowd, the Australian version of NPR will be taping (Reason being one of the members of our church is a Baptist seminary prof. and he has written a book.) 

In reading Boomama's post and comments I was reminded of a discussion my sister and I had while in college.  She had met a couple that had gotten engaged after two weeks when the boy told the girl that God had told him that they were to be married.  I'm not sure I'd have been that excited over someone that felt "called" to marry me.  "Look, I hardly know you, but during my quite time, I felt God saying 'marry her', so here's to suffering for Jesus.  What do you say?" 

I think I'd rather have someone that was just really excited to marry me. 

Perhaps the question bears the wrong perspective.  Are we wondering how best to achieve God's plan in our lives, or how best to achieve God's plan?  If our hearts towards Christ are right then would we live lives just waiting for God to tell us where to go or what to do?  He's given us a commission, perhaps part of the freedom we enjoy in Christ is being allowed to partner with him in order to fill in the details.  I guess what I'm saying is that God's plan isn't going to be thwarted because someone who is really excited about Christ and his kingdom decides to do something radical like move to China and drag the kids along, or take a two week mission to Zambia, or talk her husband into allowing her to spend a week in New Orleans refurbishing a church.  For that matter there are those who decide to adopt a child from China, or devote part of their business to building orphanages in Guatamala, or open up their lives to share about Christ's comfort during difficult times.  Maybe you sponsor a child in a third world nation.  Or decide to homeschool your own children.  If Satan can't thwart God's sovereignty then neither, by doing good works, will we.

Spiritual Journeys

At last night's Sunday Service, Jon Callow spoke during the Learning portion of the liturgical practice (read here for a good discription on what takes place during one of our services).  Jon spoke on Spiritual Journeys and gave some reading material if you are interested in the Spiritual Journeys of others.  In particular he mentions the spiritual jouneys of those who have influenced Philip Yancy--one of my favorite authors.

The other reason I am thinking about spiritual journeys is because I read of Mel Gibson's drunken tirade.  There are all manner of sins we believe God would be better off just sweeping underneath the rug.  We think it is to his benefit to continue to allow us to deal (or most likely not deal) with our sins in private.  Of course if that were the case then Moses would have gone unpunished for his usurption of God's role in fulfilling the needs of the Israelites.  David and Bathsheba and Uriah's murder would not have come to light.  Frankly, a good publicist would never let these incidents see the light of day, but God gives them top billing by placing these unholy acts in his most holy written word.  God's not interested in the outward appearance of His church (of whom I believe Mel to be a member) if it is nothing more than a facade.  He is in the business of genuine regeneration of not only his church but of his entire creation.  While this can be a painful process, most of the pain resides in our dread of what God must do to complete His regeneration within our lives. 

Anne Lamott said that faith is about letting go and that everything she has let go of has claw marks on it.  I am the same, it just seems much easier to just dress wounds rather than really treat them.  Treating these wounds involves seeking help, admitting weakness, admitting wrong, hurting others (well, this last one is Satan's lie.  Being a wounded part of the Body is always far more detrimental to the whole than being healed.)  It is a sign of God's love when he does not allow us to maintain our self righteous facades to hide that which is rotting away underneath.  Bad parents do such things.  They step in to "protect the family name."  But God is good and he cannot be mocked.  It will be interesting to watch Mel Gibson's spiritual journey unfold and if he is truly desiring to be like Christ, he will be able to tell of Christ's work in his redemption.

One of the great benefits of blogging is the ability to read of other's spiritual journeys.  I've listed a few people below who have shared honestly about their journeys.  I am thankful for them.  Their honesty and bravery encourages me in my own journey with Christ.

Sarah writes here, here and here.

Toni writes here, and here,

Boomama writes here.

She lives writes here.

These are all posts that I have read, and there are others, that have stuck with me and taught me about my own Spiritual Journey.  Thank you.

Back from Camp

Friday we packed up the bags, the bed linens, the towels and toothbrushes, Elise's pacifiers, clothing for the hot, clothing for the cold, clothing for the rain, the sun block, and three road maps; stuffed all of it and the kids into the rental car; and after a come-to-Jesus drive through downtown Friday five o'clock traffic in Sydney we finally headed down the coast out to Stanwell park for camp.  Church camp. 

It was great!

This particular camp was organized by a group from the church and it focused on spiritual direction. The group brought in Sister Anne (I don't remember her last name) from the Paramatta Catholic Diocese to lead us in the sessions.  Let me just say that I've been looking forward to camp since I'd first heard about it.  They offered childcare during the sessions.  Frankly, they could have also told us that camp was also the time of the annual live chicken sacrifices, and as I chased down the unlucky hen with a sharpened ax, I'd have probably thought it a refreshing break from the kids.  So, suffice to say, I was a great candidate for spiritual direction training, but it is getting late and I'll have to save the spiritual directions stuff for another time.

But there is so much I could write about.  This small church has really opened its arms to Eric and I and our children and we are so grateful.  Caleb found playmates and it was fun to hear the unbridled laughter of children at play.  And when Caleb, following his new friends lead, shouted, "Yea! It's morning Tea!" I felt a little more a part of our surroundings.  Eric and I found a group of people that really seek after Christ and endeavor to put Him on display to the world at large.  And wow!  The means God has at his disposal in this church--Eric and I have wandered into a very talented group of people.  Nadia, for example, who leads a wonderful playgroup that meets three times a week at the church, has brought some of her work for display in the sanctuary.  And Eric and I were blown away by one of the members who had written, composed, and recored a beautiful song that she shared in the service.  These are just two examples among many.  More than their talent we have been impressed by their warmth.  A couple has offered to babysit our kids.  When I expressed a need for a more manageable stroller, one was offered.  They have taken us in and we are humbled and grateful.

On the way back from camp we stopped off at Bald Hill.  We had hoped to either see hang gliders or whales but all we saw was this.