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. My faith had personal experience, and evidence: 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. I got alone and prayed - truly sorry for my sins, relieved and thankful for his sacrifice "for me,” and put right with God.
And later, after more adolescent mis-steps, I read McDowell's book More Than A Carpenter. This 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 that they can have a good relationship with God too. I started a weekly Bible study with 3 friends, which soon became a youth group. Though I still had long way to go, by the end of high school I'd done well enough in studies and football, yet was voted "most likely to become a priest.” Well I still try to introduce others to Truth...
I soon left home for the iron ore town of Port Hedland where I worked as a labourer and trades assistant. I met some street kids, and with the local Baptist church there we started a drop in centre. After a few years God called me to theological studies. In Perth I became a youth pastor, and then sure enough a church minister. Still just a young man I had yet to subconsciously settle who I was at heart regardless of what anyone else thought. I found myself on a performance treadmill, trying to earn acceptance as a worker, pastor, footballer. So I stepped off the treadmill: I went truck driving on a wheat farm. I stopped. I listened. I heard. In Christ I'm God’s child. I’m Loved. Accepted. Not because of my performance. But because God loves and accepted me, because of what Jesus did and does. Back to my roots, I started sharing the Truth and Love of Jesus with anyone interested...
In '97 I joined OACM where I still serve today in outreach and church ministries. Since then I've spoken to thousands of people in camps, halls, schools, homes, sheds and gardens... Some trust God, some don't, some want to know more. Over the years I have found the audiences are as keen as ever to hear why we live as we do. However Australian 'gatekeepers' (governments, institutions, media) have come to allow only a certain reductionist naturalism, which although it virtue-signals tolerance merely patronises spiritual views at best and increasingly excludes us from most forums. This means fewer opportunities for audiences to hear of the Good Life Christ offers. How bad this gate-restriction gets depends on all of us in all our spheres. Can you open a gate for the Good News? Meanwhile I will go wherever I can - for the sake of the audiences, and for Him who sends us.
In '97 and '00 I also travelled USA and UK looking at "churches that don't look like church." My wife and I started a 'simple church' soon after. We explored various ways of doing church and community-development in everyday life - whilst we also had 4 kids between 2000 and 2004. We explored artistic and alternative worship, community development, and discipleship pathways. 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? The simple church & community-development experiences helped us to explore this with the locals, and Cheers Neighbours' Network commenced within a few months with a BBQ which led to a regular prayer meeting. Over the years it's fair to say that most of the good stuff has been inspired in that regular prayer meeting. As our family and the community network has grown, so our toolbox has developed, but we still try to keep it simple, to enable as many people as possible to live and speak the Truth in Love.
Both truth and love are The Big Deal. And ultimately they are not merely concepts nor feelings - they're a Person!
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. My faith had personal experience, and evidence: 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. I got alone and prayed - truly sorry for my sins, relieved and thankful for his sacrifice "for me,” and put right with God.
And later, after more adolescent mis-steps, I read McDowell's book More Than A Carpenter. This 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 that they can have a good relationship with God too. I started a weekly Bible study with 3 friends, which soon became a youth group. Though I still had long way to go, by the end of high school I'd done well enough in studies and football, yet was voted "most likely to become a priest.” Well I still try to introduce others to Truth...
I soon left home for the iron ore town of Port Hedland where I worked as a labourer and trades assistant. I met some street kids, and with the local Baptist church there we started a drop in centre. After a few years God called me to theological studies. In Perth I became a youth pastor, and then sure enough a church minister. Still just a young man I had yet to subconsciously settle who I was at heart regardless of what anyone else thought. I found myself on a performance treadmill, trying to earn acceptance as a worker, pastor, footballer. So I stepped off the treadmill: I went truck driving on a wheat farm. I stopped. I listened. I heard. In Christ I'm God’s child. I’m Loved. Accepted. Not because of my performance. But because God loves and accepted me, because of what Jesus did and does. Back to my roots, I started sharing the Truth and Love of Jesus with anyone interested...
In '97 I joined OACM where I still serve today in outreach and church ministries. Since then I've spoken to thousands of people in camps, halls, schools, homes, sheds and gardens... Some trust God, some don't, some want to know more. Over the years I have found the audiences are as keen as ever to hear why we live as we do. However Australian 'gatekeepers' (governments, institutions, media) have come to allow only a certain reductionist naturalism, which although it virtue-signals tolerance merely patronises spiritual views at best and increasingly excludes us from most forums. This means fewer opportunities for audiences to hear of the Good Life Christ offers. How bad this gate-restriction gets depends on all of us in all our spheres. Can you open a gate for the Good News? Meanwhile I will go wherever I can - for the sake of the audiences, and for Him who sends us.
In '97 and '00 I also travelled USA and UK looking at "churches that don't look like church." My wife and I started a 'simple church' soon after. We explored various ways of doing church and community-development in everyday life - whilst we also had 4 kids between 2000 and 2004. We explored artistic and alternative worship, community development, and discipleship pathways. 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? The simple church & community-development experiences helped us to explore this with the locals, and Cheers Neighbours' Network commenced within a few months with a BBQ which led to a regular prayer meeting. Over the years it's fair to say that most of the good stuff has been inspired in that regular prayer meeting. As our family and the community network has grown, so our toolbox has developed, but we still try to keep it simple, to enable as many people as possible to live and speak the Truth in Love.
Both truth and love are The Big Deal. And ultimately they are not merely concepts nor feelings - they're a Person!
