Truth in Love
Growing up in 1970's country Warrnambool, I was happy riding my bike or kicking the footy with my brother. In early 80's suburban Werribee, with both parents working, we ran amok a bit so they sent us to a good high school on the other side of Melbourne. This meant a 3-4 hour daily commute, and in my final year I lived in a caravan outside a friend’s house near the school. But I had a good community of parents, teachers and church. And as a preacher’s kid I had a bit more info about God to work with.
With Jesus as my reference point I knew that we were made for a good relationship with God. I had personal experience and evidence: Experience - one day, while a speaker simply described the Easter events, Jesus “looked" me in the eyes and spoke to my soul: “for you.” I was simultaneously convicted and forgiven, and given new life. I got alone and prayed - sorry for my sins, relieved and thankful for his sacrifice "for me,” and that he put me right with God. Evidence - after some adolescent mis-steps I read McDowell's book More Than A Carpenter. That evidence made me more serious about following Jesus. I thought, if He really is "the Way, Truth and Life,” then everyone needs to know so they can have a good relationship with God too. I started a weekly Bible study with 3 friends, which morphed into a youth group. I'm still trying to introduce others to The Truth...
In Port Hedland I worked as a labourer and trades assistant, hooking up with the Baptist church there. We started a drop in centre for some some street kids, & Jesus worked on us. God called me to theological studies, then Baptist ministry where I served in two churches. I had my own run-in with the black dog - turns out I inherited depressive physiology which I have to manage - and I found myself on a performance treadmill trying to earn acceptance, as a worker, footballer, pastor... So I stepped off the treadmill to farmhand for a while. I stopped, listened, and heard: I'm God’s child in Christ. Loved. Accepted. And not by my performance. I started sharing my experience of that Love...
In '97 I joined OACM where I still serve today in Outreach And Church ministries. I've spoken to thousands of people in camps, halls, schools, homes, sheds and gardens... Some trust Jesus, some don't, some want to know more. These days, audiences are as keen as ever to hear about Jesus, but the gatekeepers (institutions, governments, media) increasingly restrict exposure to anything but naturalist concepts only. They exclude supernatural concepts in the name of inclusion. Fewer opportunities to hear means reduced understanding and less-informed opinions about God. So if you can open a door for us so that people can hear the Good News, I don't mind risking my reputation on sharing it. I'll go wherever I can, for Him who sends me, and for the sake of those potential hearers.
Meanwhile, back in 1998 & 2000, I also researched "churches that don't look like church" in USA, UK, and Australia. After observing scores of different expressions of church, my wife and I started a 'simple church,' for a friend, in their house. Together we enjoyed various ways of doing church, artistic, alternative worship, community development, and discipleship pathways. Our kids were born during this time too. In 2003 we moved out to Banksia Grove with the mindset, "what is God already doing here, and how does he want us to serve Him?" Discussing this with locals, a few months later a regular prayer meeting led to the Cheers Neighbours' Network. Over the years it's fair to say that most of Cheers' good action has been inspired in that continuing prayer group. And as our family and the community network has grown, so our toolbox has developed... but we still try to keep it simple, empowering as many people as possible to articulate and live the Truth in Love.
Both Truth and Love are critical, as seen in The Core Stuff. Ultimately these are not just concepts, nor feelings, they're a Person! A person to worship with our lives.
Growing up in 1970's country Warrnambool, I was happy riding my bike or kicking the footy with my brother. In early 80's suburban Werribee, with both parents working, we ran amok a bit so they sent us to a good high school on the other side of Melbourne. This meant a 3-4 hour daily commute, and in my final year I lived in a caravan outside a friend’s house near the school. But I had a good community of parents, teachers and church. And as a preacher’s kid I had a bit more info about God to work with.
With Jesus as my reference point I knew that we were made for a good relationship with God. I had personal experience and evidence: Experience - one day, while a speaker simply described the Easter events, Jesus “looked" me in the eyes and spoke to my soul: “for you.” I was simultaneously convicted and forgiven, and given new life. I got alone and prayed - sorry for my sins, relieved and thankful for his sacrifice "for me,” and that he put me right with God. Evidence - after some adolescent mis-steps I read McDowell's book More Than A Carpenter. That evidence made me more serious about following Jesus. I thought, if He really is "the Way, Truth and Life,” then everyone needs to know so they can have a good relationship with God too. I started a weekly Bible study with 3 friends, which morphed into a youth group. I'm still trying to introduce others to The Truth...
In Port Hedland I worked as a labourer and trades assistant, hooking up with the Baptist church there. We started a drop in centre for some some street kids, & Jesus worked on us. God called me to theological studies, then Baptist ministry where I served in two churches. I had my own run-in with the black dog - turns out I inherited depressive physiology which I have to manage - and I found myself on a performance treadmill trying to earn acceptance, as a worker, footballer, pastor... So I stepped off the treadmill to farmhand for a while. I stopped, listened, and heard: I'm God’s child in Christ. Loved. Accepted. And not by my performance. I started sharing my experience of that Love...
In '97 I joined OACM where I still serve today in Outreach And Church ministries. I've spoken to thousands of people in camps, halls, schools, homes, sheds and gardens... Some trust Jesus, some don't, some want to know more. These days, audiences are as keen as ever to hear about Jesus, but the gatekeepers (institutions, governments, media) increasingly restrict exposure to anything but naturalist concepts only. They exclude supernatural concepts in the name of inclusion. Fewer opportunities to hear means reduced understanding and less-informed opinions about God. So if you can open a door for us so that people can hear the Good News, I don't mind risking my reputation on sharing it. I'll go wherever I can, for Him who sends me, and for the sake of those potential hearers.
Meanwhile, back in 1998 & 2000, I also researched "churches that don't look like church" in USA, UK, and Australia. After observing scores of different expressions of church, my wife and I started a 'simple church,' for a friend, in their house. Together we enjoyed various ways of doing church, artistic, alternative worship, community development, and discipleship pathways. Our kids were born during this time too. In 2003 we moved out to Banksia Grove with the mindset, "what is God already doing here, and how does he want us to serve Him?" Discussing this with locals, a few months later a regular prayer meeting led to the Cheers Neighbours' Network. Over the years it's fair to say that most of Cheers' good action has been inspired in that continuing prayer group. And as our family and the community network has grown, so our toolbox has developed... but we still try to keep it simple, empowering as many people as possible to articulate and live the Truth in Love.
Both Truth and Love are critical, as seen in The Core Stuff. Ultimately these are not just concepts, nor feelings, they're a Person! A person to worship with our lives.