The Return!

Back from our late summer holiday today...we had a great time - the weather was perfect the whole week. The first 2 days we were in a small apartment with a view of the crashing surf from the vernadah. Did a lot of relaxing reading. Went on a cycle ride with Chris - he is a cycling maniac (he actually bought a bike on the Kiwi Ebay so he would have a bike to ride here!) We attacked this massive hill which I have to say I was proud to conquer without resorting to walking!

We then moved venue to a more conventional house, again near a beach, but with a wider variety of activities. We walked to the top of one of the fortified hill "pa" sites - a Maori fortress, hiked to Cathedral Cove (45 mins each way), complete with natural hole in the rock cathedral, and journeyed to Hot Water Beach, where hot springs under the sand can be accessed by digging holes about mid tide! I got to bond with the boy throughout by carrying him in this wee pack arrangement that has him travelling in front. Read the majority of "Breakout Church" which was an interesting application of Jim Collins "Good to Great" to the church scene. Dipped into "Pastors at (Greater) Risk" which had some practical ideas. Looked at some changes to my "Rule of Life" - looking forward to implementing some of that. So enjoyed the relaxation, holding hands with my wife, the physical exercise and the stimulating reading and reflection.

Got back just before midday, raced off to do a dedication. Then back home for cessionIcore meeting. We had an industrial psychologist work with us on Myers Briggs, looking at team issues that arise from different profiles. It was very interesting and enlightening. I will publish my MBTI results another day - any guesses?

While I was catching up on blog reading I came upon this test that places one in various theological traditions. I was interested in how I might go so did the test! Here are my results:

1: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God (100%)
2: Eastern Orthodox (90%)
3: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic) (88%)
4: Presbyterian/Reformed (88%)
5: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England (85%)
6: Seventh-Day Adventist (85%)
7: Congregational/United Church of Christ (83%)
8: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.) (81%)
9: Lutheran (78%)
10: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene (77%)
11: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist (75%)
12: Roman Catholic (49%)
13: Church of Christ/Campbellite (45%)

I find my results highly amusing and really have no insight into the results! I will console myself with the thought that John Wesley has been named by some as the father of Pentecostalism (I think Grandfather is probably more accurate) and that he too was influenced by Eastern Orthodoxy... I know my answer on baptism pushed me in one direction. Some of the multi choice answers were really not satisfactory, but it was kind of fun none the less...

Finally an extract from an email I received while away from a new couple at cession - some major church burnout issues and a long period outside church:

"We have really enjoyed coming along to Cession. The two weeks that we have been has been fantastic. You have a church that is fresh, real and focused. We have been looking for a church for a long time. We have tried a wide variety but have not found our place in one until now. We love the fresh approach to church. We really enjoy the whole package. For "X" to stay focused during the speaking and be looking forward to next week says it all. I want to thank you for the way you have welcomed us. It has been an answer to many months of prayer."

There are worse kinds of emails to return home to...

Anyways, time for bed - off to a wedding tomorrow...

Jonesback