Emerging Churches

Or was that "fresh expressions of church".... anyway that doesn't matter because we only label stuff so we can domesticate it or consign it to the model/theory basket!!

This post is actually about a very good book in a readable style that canvasses some history, comment from people involved and some simple explanations of what does or might shape the future of the church...

More as I continue to read...

Book available from Martin at Kentigern Resources
http://www.kentigern.com.au/

"No worries mate!"

"So Where the Bloody Hell are You?"

So how come there's an outcry at a bikini wearing model asking this question in an Aussie OS advertising campaign compared to the blokey "If you Drink and Drive You're a Bloody Idiot!"
More on this in coming days... and in the words of several ute driving aussies...
"Bugger!"

Brilliant Sojourners Article

Following on from the "Conversations with Brian McLaren" last weekend and the release of his new book about "Jesus Secret Message".... is an article on Sojourners website!!

Lat year I used: Jesus "Who Do You Say That I Am?" and "What Jesus talked most about" as central to a number of talks, camps and resources.... I am excited to read aspects of McLaren's latest work which looks even more accessible than Ched Myers "Binding the Strong Man"!!

Read the article here:
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0603&article=060310

Bono article in Last Saturdays SMH Good Weekend

For those in Oz there was a decent interview of Bono in the SMH Good Weekend [not online]. It was a catch up phone call between Bono and his recent journo author collaborator Machka Assayas, on the book of rolling intreviews of him... a laboured and self indulgent book on the part of the journo... yet a couple of gem quotes contained within!!

39 Sleeps until U2 in Sydney!!

Lara Croft

Meet the new Lara Croft
By smh.com.au February 15, 2006

Karima Adebibe has been chosen as the new international face of Lara Croft.
Move over Angelina Jolie.
An unknown sales assistant has been chosen as the new face of Lara Croft, the action hero and possibly the most recognised name in video games.
Karima Adebibe, a 20-year-old from London, was chosen from thousands of hopefuls, and will now embark on a gruelling training programme to prepare her for the role.
The announcement was made in London on Valentine's Day - Lara Croft's birthday and the the 10th anniversary of Tomb Raider.

Are They Splitsville!!

Amongst the earth shatteringly vital topics we're following here... are Tom and Katie finsihed all bar the birth of their child?

47 Sleeps to U2 in Sydney!!

Compilation CD in the Car!!

Ken Gets a Makeover

Millions of teenage girls distraught when the news broke that Ken and Barbie were having time apart will have renewed hope after Ken returned during the major US Toy Fair this week.
Effected by the massive popularity of the Bratz dolls [let me tell you they are hugely popular despite their disturbingly removable feet] Mattel hope this move will liven up sales in the coming year.
No news yet on a reconciliation though Barbie is reportedly appreciative of Ken's new buff and fashion conscious appearance!!

atu2.com Interview with Eugene Petersen

There's a great interview with Eugene Petersen [author of 'The Message'] having agreed to listen to U2s two latest albums and discuss why he sees them as prophetic and terrific despite not really being into their music.
Check it out here:
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4232

There are also plenty of places to catch the transcript or footage of Bono's input at the US National Prayer Breakfast [CNN, Sojourners]

Unrelaible Ideas # 28 Day Camping

Day Camping is about building on all the value of temporary Christian community with the need to necessarily travel to a venue and pay site costs for staying over. It aleviates night supervision leadership needs and allows for attenders who can't be part of the whole program.

A day camp could be a one day program packed with activity or anything up to four days or more with individual activity planned for each. For example with the luxury of something like the Gold Coasts Theme Parks, some groups have visited 3 or 4 across a holiday period or weekend.

In isolated or low income areas this is an affordable way to provide programs on a church or community site and can be tailored to suit your group size and context.

A Typical Weekend Day Camp:

Friday Night
Sausage Sizzle and Salads at the Hall
Icebreakers and mixing games
Maybe swimming or go karts

Saturday
Swimming
Wide Games
Speaker
Small Groups or Learning Groups
Meals
Worship if the group will relate to that/Reflection or Focus time perhaps

Giant Pictionary

Theatre Sports

Outdoor Movie

Sunday
Small or Learning Groups
Bushwalk or Team Challenges of Cooperation or Initiative Games
Huge Meal to finish with Photo and Thankyou's
Closing Activity

Each night kids go home rather than stay onsite. You can register for the whole program or individual days or sessions at leaders discretion. This balances community building against making the action accessible to kids who work, do lots of homework or play sports etc.

Many groups still do the individual day where the activity might be rounded out with a sharing of stories and focus time at the end of the day [sometimes but not always a more overt time of sharing faith and chalenging campers to respond].

Other possibilities:
Bushwalk for a Day
Mountain Bikes
Fundraising, Odd Jobs, Slave Auction
Clean Up Australia Day
Piggy back on another event like a Youth Alive or local concert
Abseiling
Lent and Advent Workshops leading to participation in worship
Guest Speakers
Sports Clinics
Playstation or X Box party
Cooking
Craft
Drama, storyteller, magician
Chalk Chase
Scavenger Hunt
and ...

Row M Seat 30 "Keeping Mum"

SPOILERS BELOW
This carefully cast black comedy was a great choice for Sydney's OpenAir Cinema in January.
Rowan Atkinson plays the dithering and preoccupied local vicar [Rev Goodfellow] in a village of 57 residents. Meanwhile his wife is being swayed by the local golf pro [Patrick Swayze] and his kids are travelling under the radar. His daughter has a string of unique boyfriends whose names he muddles up and his son is being mercilessly bullied at school.
Thats all until the arrival of 'Grace' the new housekeeper!!

Some will find the film slow or lacking in good hearty laughs... but it is funny, its just black!
Transplanted from an original screenplay set in the US, this film only works because of the british stiffness so funnily evident.

It's a very clever look at: relationships; family; transitions; and more subtly the nature of grace.
The impact of non judgemental affirmation and a few slight of hand solutions pave the way for this family to come back together in unexpected ways!!

I felt the audience at large were comforted by and amused by this snapshot of 'the church and faith and their interplay' while I found an extra level of sharpness in the depiction.

Rated M 103 Minutes

Grammy's Run and Won!!

Check all the results here
http://www.grammy.com/

The Grammys are always an interesting window on US music culture with Kanye West, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blighe featured large alongside Madge herself [Madonna]!!
U2 of course picked up 5 Grammys and you can catch all the live performances on Oz TV Friday Night on TEN!!
Includes U2 backing up Mary J singing 'One' which features on her current album 'Breakthrough"and Madonna with the Gorillaz!!
Pop culture nuts will see our Nicole front and centre alongside winner Keith Urban!!

The 100 Worst Films Ever Made

http://www.thestinkers.com/100stinkers.html

A recent news article reminded me of this website and idea!
Here's the Top Ten Worst Films Ever Made as Voted in an Extensive Poll!!
[I find it hard to disagree...]

1. Battlefield Earth
2. Wild Wild West
3. Batman and Robin
4. Howard the Duck [I did laugh a few times]
5. Spice World [must be a close run thing in the Top 5
6. Speed 2: Cruise Control
7. It's Pat
8. Showgirls
9. The Blair Witch Project
10. Waterworld
11. Jaws 4: The Revenge
12. The "Look Who's Talking" sequels
13. Grease 2
14. The Avengers
15. Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls
16. Stop or My Mom Will Shoot
17. Anaconda
18. Godzilla [1998]
19. Barb Wire
20. Ishtar

If you ask me they forgot:
The Piano
Titanic
Spaceballs
All of Stephen Seagal's films
Eyes Wide Shut
Days of Thunder