Pacing yourself in ministry/ life/ work

Easy to remember wisdom from Rick Warren on pacing yourself in ministry:
Divert Daily 
- have a daily break/ diversion/ recharge point or activity - a walk, or something pleasant that you enjoy
Wander Weekly 
- enforce that weekly day off by planning to wander away into some refreshing activity
Away Annually 
- get completely away from church/ your locality/ your city for a physically separate break 


What do you get up to in each of those three categories?  I try to walk the dog or go for a run each day - which is hard to do with a young family!  So it doesn't always happen.  
Each week, I plan for at least an afternoon or morning to myself, which is my introvert's time alone.  Typically I end up working in the garden if the weather permits, or reading a big book for a few hours.  Planning some hospitality and doing all the shopping and cooking is something I enjoy too.  It's alone time in the shops and kitchen, capped off nicely by time with  people.  
I suck at planning annual holidays.  What about you?

Why you should belong to a church

I thought I'd post this piece of pastorally-edgy theological reflection by Peter Adam of Ridley Melbourne, because I've just had cause to use it again! twice!  Peter doesn't blog, but if he did...   

I first came across this as a little pamphlet in the back of St Jude's Carlton in the mid-90s, and its relevance has not faded since.  Every now and then, I still hear someone declare that they don't really need to join a church, or that church the way it is today doesn't work for their faith.  If that's you, or if you've come across that thinking before - read on!

Why you should belong to a church

Because you need the regular support and encouragement of Christian fellowship.

The Christian life is not designed to be lived in isolation, and those who try it that way are likely to crash!  (see Hebrews 10:25)

Because fellowship provided by Christian friends is no substitute for belonging to a church.

You choose your friends because their ideas and style are similar to your own, God puts different people in a congregation so they can learn from each other.  (see Titus 2:1-10)

Because gifts can only rightly be used by someone who is a member of a congregation.

Gifts are primarily for the congregation, not for the individual and are rightly used to build up the church.  The picture of a church as a body tells us that our various gifts complement each other.  You don’t see a foot or an eye wandering around by itself!  (see 1 Corinthians 12)

Because God’s basic unit is the church, not the individual.

The story of the Bible is that of God making, shaping and refining his people, beginning with Abraham.  The lives of individuals like David, Isaiah, the Disciples, and Paul have their meaning because they are part of God’s continuous community.  It has tasted c.4,000 years – and there are no signs that God has changed his plan!  (see Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; Romans 4)

Because you are not paying the price of being a Christian.

The ‘solo flight’ is a very attractive style of Christianity for some, but it evades a basic element, the cost of Discipleship.  Jesus called his followers to serve their community of faith… to be ‘slave of all’.  (see Mark 10:35-45)

Because you cannot understand the New Testament properly unless you belong to a church.

Most of the New Testament is addressed to churches.  If you only read the Bible privately, then you will not be in the right place to hear God’s word.  You will ‘privatise’ its message, and so misunderstand it.  (see most of Paul’s letters)

Because basic maturity in faith and knowledge is only found in the church.

The Bible clearly teaches that immaturity is found in those who cannot cope with the church ‘system’ (Titus 1:5; 3:10), and that maturity and fullness of faith is a corporate experience of the Christian community.  (Ephesians 3:14-21; 4:13-16)

Because sharing in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper is basic to Christian obedience.

We share in these sacraments because of the command of Christ.  They are not private rites but corporate actions of the body of Christ.  A ‘grab and run’ approach is wrong; sharing in them means belonging to a church.  (see 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17-34; 12:13)

Because submitting to Christian leadership is integral to New Testament Christianity.

'Going-it-alone' is okay in the short term, but eventually we err if we imagine that we do not need structures and human authority. God's provision of order and authority  in the church is his realistic way of helping us. (see Hebrews 13:17)

Because fellowship-groups, evangelism teams, Christian societies are no substitute for churches.

Special groups and teams are more exciting than churches, because they attract people of similar aims, ideas and abilities.  They do good work but are not the same as churches, because they are limited in membership and task oriented.  Churches have to accept everyone, gifted or not, and so they more accurately reflect God’s free grace.

‘...not neglecting to meet together … but encouraging one another.’

Hebrews 10:25 (R.S.V.)

Sarahs' small group

Yup, that's not a misplaced apostrophe.  There's a St Alf's small group with multiple 'Sarah's in it.  Tom nearly got his name changed by deed poll just to fit in.  I visited last night to lead the discussion/ study on singleness.  I think the group had fun and a useful, encouraging time.  If you're in a St Alf's young adults' group and would like me to come along to do this, just ask!  I'd be more than happy to.

Daily Bible Reading

I've been asked three or four times in the last two weeks about daily Bible reading, how to hear God speaking through the Scriptures, and resources for regular Bible reading.  Here's a one-stop-shop website that has a lot going for it.  http://bible.org/

It has a Daily Reading Plan that you can bookmark and access daily: http://net.bible.org/daily.php and heaps of other resources, including one on women's mentoring which I found quite helpful.

Among its contributors is Darrell Bock, who has written probably the best commentary on Luke's Gospel available today.  It's a two volume monster!  The very model of clear exegesis and application.

Another favourite resource is Don Carson's For the Love of God. It's gone to three volumes, and there's probably a fourth coming soon!  But you can get it FREE from another great web resource: The Gospel Coalition.  You can subscribe to the blog feed via RSS or email, so you can get it emailed to your portable email communications device every morning and read, mark and learn on your way to work.

Happy daily Bible reading!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Melbourne Anglicans and abortion

Victoria is currently reviewing state abortion laws. It has called for community submissions on this issue. The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne (ADOM) has sent in a submission. You can see it on the Melbourne Anglican website at:
www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/main.php?pg=download&id=10497

The ADOM submission says:

1. "Our consensus view is the gradualist position which argues that while the embryo/foetus is fully human from the time of conception, it accrues moral significance and value as it develops."

2. "The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, even within the diversity of members' views, supports the provision of safe and affordable abortions with appropriate safeguards for women who, for whatever reasons, request them."

3. Archbishop Freier's Introduction to the Submission states: "Their report constitutes, in effect, a consensus opinion."

BUT...

1. Many Melbourne Anglicans do not hold to the gradualist view, and would see it as contrary to biblical teaching, and the historic and worldwide Anglican view on this issue.

2. Many Melbourne Anglicans feel rightly outraged that the Diocese has represented them in this way.

SO...

The letter below has been prepared. The idea is to express our collective response to the Diocese and to the State in a firm and measured way.

If you'd like to participate in this, please print out the letter, collect signatures as appropriate and send them to:
St Jude's, 235 Palmerston St, Carlton Vic 3053, by February 6.

As drafted, the letter is addressed to the editor of The Melbourne Anglican and is from members of the ADOM.

>>

To the editor,

We the undersigned members of Melbourne Anglican churches strongly disagree with the position on abortion outlined in the ‘Submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission Inquiry on the Law of Abortion from the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, 9th November 2007’ as posted on the Melbourne Anglican website at www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/main.php?pg=download&id=10497 and referred to in the December 2007 edition of The Melbourne Anglican.

We do not hold the ‘gradualist’ position with respect to the moral value of developing embryos / foetuses. We believe that the Bible teaches that all human life has absolute moral value irrespective of race, gender, wealth, education, age (including the unborn) or level of disability. We are therefore generally opposed to abortion as it seems to us to be a form of killing – and killing of the most vulnerable members of our society at that. We believe our view is in line with historical Christian teaching and the official position of the worldwide Anglican Communion as expressed at the 1930 Lambeth Conference, a position that has never been overturned.

We do understand that occasionally the moral considerations are more complicated – eg., when a mother’s life is directly placed in immediate and exceptional danger by a pregnancy or birth (not being merely the normal dangers of pregnancy or childbirth) but could be protected only by destroying the unborn child. Because of such complex cases where a decision to terminate may be morally justifiable, we do not advocate a blanket-ban on abortion. Nevertheless, we believe that such situations are exceptional, must be addressed with appropriate gravity and do not cancel out our general opposition to abortion.

We agree that abortion is an extremely sensitive issue that must be discussed with great discretion and care. We recognise that in a fallen world many people, including Anglicans, will have personal experiences of abortion. We affirm that in Christ there is unqualified forgiveness for all who repent and that the Church must proclaim and embody that message. We accept the responsibility to deal lovingly and compassionately with all members of our Church and society, including those who have been party to abortions.

We are seeking to make our strong objections to the content of the original Submission, including its moral position and recommendations, known to the Victorian Law Reform Commission.

Faithfully,