You Want Fries With That?

So, this is like a peer-pressure blog. Cos Rhett asked me if I had updated at church tonight. And so I'm feeling the pressure. This is the same Rhett who told me that my preaching tonight and last week was like watching paint dry...he was being droll: there has been an artist painting an aspect of the Holy Spirit while I preach.

Tonight it was the Holy Spirit as oil...so it was kind of appropriate in a deep fried kind of way that topic was: You Want Fries With That? This week was all about the Holy Spirit as giver of gifts and so we wandered through 1 Corinthians 12. Actually, it was pretty cool - we had a number of people respond afterwards who came forward to be anointed with oil for healing. There were also a good number of "personal impact" comments afterwards.

The irony was that I have the 'flu. So thank you Holy Spirit for energy and empowering.

Which is the real reason I am blogging: I am home early to rest and recuperate, while the faithful Powell's lock down the PAC. Nice.

This weekend has been significant for the interviews we've been doing with nominees to our Oversight Group. Very awesome people we've been meeting with. I'm sitting there thinking: how cool I get these people to lead me and lead with me. I like the church a lot.

Jonesboogie

Makeover

So I'm trying to get this new template organised...I like the colours and stuff but all my links are at the bottom. This is annoying because when I preview the template, while editing, it all looks fine. Then there's the annoying fact that my comment facility only seems to show if I actually access the post itself as a single page. Unless it shows the enabled comments with this new post which is possible. Annoying. Anyone got any ideas?

Supersized

Sunday night was another cool time with the people of the cessioncommunity. Personally, I felt somewhat dazed after the energy-sapping preparation and execution that goes into a funeral (the day before). But God was good and people seemed to get touched. Had a number of conversations afterwards that left me in no doubt that God was doing what he does. I even got an email the next day which was so encouraging after the week that was:

"Just felt to let you know what a wonderful job you are doing. Last night was incredible and really impacted me with the worship and the message. I just wanted to encourage you by sharing how great last night was."

Six months ago I didn't even know this person and they were not connected to a church community.

There were 2 dramas that just left me gasping for air - one right before the message - it was so well performed and hilarious, I really didn't know what I was going to say - and what's more the guy, who'd been doing this monolgue, just stayed sitting at the table he was at drinking coffee - so I'm like if I pray maybe he'll be gone by the time I finish?! It was cool to have Dave paint a picture during my message - fire - reflecting the Supersize Me series on the Holy Spirit that we're doing.

The funeral. This was one of those mixed experiences. I have never conducted a funeral and so was pleased to be sharing it with the Anglican pastor. But in having to do the message and the committal at the crematorium, I felt that I had the most impacting roles to play. The church was full. People from all kinds of backgrounds. Even some friends of mine from school days who were somewhat taken aback by my role in the occasion. I preached a short, but what I felt was prompted, message on the juxtaposition of Psalms 22 and 23 and the twin poles of hope and despair around which we humans live our lives. And the amazing thing was: many people seemed to be touched by God in this most unlikely of places. Actually, I was overwhelmed at the response. Much to pray about as I continue to journey with these people - old and new relationships with the opportunity to be a part of what God has planned for their lives.

Jonesboy

Blogging Slump

I seem to be in a blogging slump! Actually, I think its just a general slump. Feeling a bit listless and lacking. A few early nights may be in order.

Am in the middle of planning a funeral for a family friend. The big "C". I'm tag teaming with the local Anglican minister. Actually, I'm more than happy for him to carry it, but somehow I've ended up with the message...he's an experienced pastor! It will make for an interesting (read: I'm not sure what to expect) day - this is the church that Claire's funeral took place in. Here's something even spookier - he died in the same room as Claire did at the hospice.

I had the privilege of sharing with the man during his illness. According to his wife it helped him make his peace with God. I hope so.

Today was the day off - spent with Claire's sisters kids - my nieces and nephew. A monster game of Monopoly was the main attraction. They are sharp Monopoly players those kids!

So tonight was to be date night but my wife is sharing it with another woman - our friend is in labour...

A strangely poignant day of life and death. And Rockstar INXS. Yes I know who won but it doesn't stop me supporting the other guy...

Surreality...

Two surreal experiences this week that are drawing me to blog...

The first was a live vasectomy on TV this week. My wife summoned me to watch I suspect to make me feel uncomfortable. However, the experience was more surreal than disturbing. The Dr in question performed the vasectomy using 2 mangos, 2 shoelaces, a brown paper bag and a banana. He proceeded to slice open the paper bag with his scalpel and cut the shoelaces which were inside attached to the mangos at one end and the banana at the other. He did this all with a straight face which made it simply hilarious...especially when he gave the anaesthetic which he described as a "small prick"...

The second was the sight of me working on a Habitat for Humanity building site. I love to help out with these sorts of things but I fear that my building skills take the Humane out of Humanity and put the Rehab into Habitat... Anyway, Ryan Gerten and I took 2 hours to instal a shelf into a wardrobe. We decided that if we were builders we would be poor... Funny happenings included: Ryan drilling a hole through the wall in completely the wrong place - this wouldn't have been funny if I had done it, but Ryan actually had some clue about what was supposed to happen. The Site manager accusing us of installing our shelf crooked - in fact our shelf was completely level - turned out it was the house that was out! These enthusiatic Christians wearing T Shirts emblazoned with: "The Church Has Left the Building: Gone Outreaching". I'm not saying a word. Several pastors posing for photo opps (actually we were just jealous). A fun morning.

Its the day off today on account of a 2 day seminar Friday/Saturday. Caught up on my blog reading...a nice way to waste time: haven't you got something better to do than read this crap?

Jonesbuilder

Sold

Sunday night was cool. Part 2 of "The Great Omission". A Mum, an aircraft engineer, a pastor/missionary and a speech therapist/volunteer shared about their mission/purpose in life. We then had an "unplugged" worship singing slot with stations for prayer/reflection and communion. Had a nice feel and with the dream team on vocals it sounded awesome. Piano player was a bit "off" - actually I think one of the guitars was just a touch out of tune and it put me off a little. Less was more. Check out Jean's blog for the inside story.

We had our our second community gathering for the year with a great turnout I thought (based on past apathy). Some good questions. I've yet to find my own style for these times. I want to be visionary and lead well. But I don't want to come off like a dickhead charlaton. It was cool at the end to see the whole room praying for our future. It has also been cool to receive 4 excellent nominations since then for our Oversight Group.

Yesterday saw a convergence: the sale of our house and the purchase of our new apartment both became unconditional on the same day! Its been something of a roller coaster ride these past 10 days since we listed the house with agents. We found ourselves in 3 multiple offer situations, the last of which was successful. The effect the "competition" had on the price was that we got our asking price! Thats fairly rare...

The irony is that the people who bought the place contacted us because of the ad WE put on the internet before we listed it! But we would never have got that price but for the competing offer that one of the other agents brought. So while we have to pay commission we got the money we were after and in good time too.

We went to the apartment yesterday for a final viewing before going unconditional. It had grown in our head. But never mind it will be a good next step. You'll see from the picture its cute - a Mediterranean feel. We are having second thoughts about converting the garage space back to a garage - it is such a usable room as it is and we'd likely have to remove the false ceiling if we reinstalled the garage door motor and rails.

So, we're at the point of no return. We've both admitted to a few tears already and I'm sure there'll be a few more. This house has so many memories packed into its 4 years. And yet, there has been a discernible "hand of God" in all this that encourages us to stay positive and look forward to this new chapter. Better have some parties I think to send the place off in style!

Time to head off - I'm moonlighting this morning - my brother in law has employed me as a script writer for a safety video he is shooting for a large corporate. I got him the opportunity to pitch for it through a contact and he very kindly hooked me up to write the script. So, off for a site meeting. The cash will mean that we have the missing $$$'s on the hospital bill - not that we've heard anything for weeks since my assertively drafted counter missive was dispatched!

Jonesbrief

Imagine...

The Great Omission - an excerpt from part 1...

"Imagine the moment of your creation…millions of sperm – the Great Emission, if you like - swimming vigourously towards the egg…

Now how you view life, the universe and everything will profoundly shape how you view the next step…

One sperm, one of millions successfully fertilises the egg and you are conceived, created – and it makes a difference which one, a huge difference – cos it makes the difference as to who YOU really are...

Now here’s the question: you’re one in a million whichever way you see it – do you view your life as a miracle of creation – that one in a million creation that God designed just so, right down to the ripe target of your mothers egg and the aquatic skills of your father’s sperm…

Or are you just a victim of chance? Its random. No intentionality. Life by accident. Dad, how come I got your nose?"

Yes this Sunday I turned to cheap reproductive analogies in order to create impact...I was reading an article recently about what it would be like to have an 8 second delay function as a preacher so you could censor as you go - I'm thinking that some of the people on Sunday night wished they had that function, especially those whose first thought was at the macro rather than microscopic level...

The house selling madness is underway in earnest. Lots of interest and an offer apparently coming today. Its been a bit of a roller coaster so far as we've had 2 multiple offer scenarios fall down at the last minute, including one where the couple changed their mind while the agent was phoning us to advise of the offer...

We're still working through due diligence on the apartment we're buying and trying to determine whether to go with it or not. We feel like the space fits us for the moment, but have had just a tiny bit of trouble with the financing and some well meaning advice that we should reconsider buying an apartment at all. I so much prefer the illusion of certainty in life...not sure how to process this whole thing...

Anyways much I could blog about, but feeling strangely uninspired to do so...

So, I'm gonna

Jonesboy

Kaleidoscope

Yeah, so it been a while...random rememberings and ramblings...

> We bought a house. Well thats not exactly true. We bought an apartment. Well thats not exactly true. We have signed an agreement - its conditional on selling our existing house and a few other details. Its a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 offices downstairs and a double garage which is carpeted, lined etc which can serve as a seminar room, party space etc (and a garage). We're hoping that the decreased mortgage and the usable space will be a boost for the church going forward and take some financial weight off us.

> Rhys is 6 months on Friday. We have lots of fun. I like being a Dad. I was reflecting this week on my advanced age and how for most of my adult life the dream of being a Dad seemed improbable. Its nice to be proved wrong. eAGHY00HYUJ. That was Rhys!

> I finally discovered why George Bush is responsible for New Orleans. It took a while for some to appreciate that he didn't actually create the hurricane. Still more time for others to realise the federal government is not responsible for state emergency plans. Some were surprised to discover that George did not order the packraping of women in the Convention Centre. And then the final revelation: he did not exercise mind control over those who chose to stay.

But. He still hasn't signed the Kyoto protocal. Finally nailed him.

> I did some surreal things this past week. I chaired an electoral forum in our area. Richard loves to make me do that crap. I know, I know its socially responsible. Bla bla bla. I hung out with Frank Ritchie in the Green Room on Sunday night - this was cool, being in a radio studio while live talkback is going on. I emailed him (across the desk) my deep comments. I went to the National Heads of Churches Meeting in Wellington. This continues to be a weird experience hobnobbing with the heads of the various churches. The discussions are generally interesting even if we often end up falling prey to the lowest common denomination.

> Its our natioanl elections this week. Its a case of voting for the least detrimental alternative: Labour introduced gay marriage and legalised prostitution. National is racist. The Greens want to legalise dope smoking and gay adoption. NZ First are led by a megalomaniac. ACT is THE greed party. United Future is the slut party - they'll go with anyone. Destiny has no destiny. Alliance is PC rubbish. Now maybe if I'd said this at the Election forum it would have been more interesting!

> cession's path to becoming an Established church is now in place. Feels good. More to follow.

Right. I'm off.

Jonesboy

Back on the Job

So its been a week of leave during the best weather we've had in ages in September! I love it when the seasons change on cue... I think we may have started a tradition based on the last 2 years - taking a week of leave in the week that our anniversary falls (30 August). Speaking of falls, here are the falls we went hiking to during our week of leisure. It was a fair bit of fun - we packed the boy into a back pack we purchased for the purpose (and for international travel) and did the family thing. Rhys thought it was great - I think he could have spent hours playing with the strap in the back of my hat! Check out the Photo Blog for a shot. Altogether a good time. That night we went out to dinner just the 3 of us and then Kristen and I went to a movie while his godmother came over to babysit. A nice Anniversary day.

Rest of the week we've been getting the house ready for sale - we've listed it online to try to get our best price, free of real estate fees. The more we have looked at houses, the more we have appreciated the place we have. It will be sad to leave.

Spent some of my week catching up with people, so had a good chat with Deurty on the telephonic apparatus and a very brief interaction with Nate "Dillon" Smith, who was a little shy (he's like that isn't he?) Also had a chance to catch up with Phil Struckmeyer (Impact church) which is always good. Met with Mike Yates for coffee on Wednesday to do the church planters thing - we meet fortnightly to steal ideas from each other. So a resourcing week in that respect.

All things going well, we will put in an offer on an apartment today. It will be a change! No lawns to mow...relatively spacious for an apartment with a small downstairs office area that I can use for church. Will be another interesting chapter in the whole house saga as there are still plenty of things that could close the door. I think some people are a little bemused at the whole downsizing thing, but we feel pretty sure about the process. This week we saw an amazing house that would have been pretty much as good as where we are but maybe $60K less. It would have been an easy move. But, we have been feeling for a bigger drop in the mortgage, to help us take the next step with our savings goals and also to remove finanical constraints salary-wise in the church reaching for its next steps towards established church status. The option we're looking at could also become the church office in due course. As it says in 3 Ephesians 93: "The Lord moves in mysterious ways"

Right, time to jump into this perfect Spring day! Need to wash the house down and clean up the gardens before our first "open home" at 1pm. We only just got the ad up so not expecting much this time. But our ad has been viewed 15 times already! Here's hoping...

Dial Up Future

Been pondering recently the ways in which God leads us. We've been looking for a house for a little while now. Trying to downsize. And just when we think we might be onto something, it kind of dissipates. Now I'm not complaining about that, because I see it as one of the ways God is leading us. But it IS frustrating...anyways I'm getting back into my journalling as a way of staying more connected with my own processes and what God may be speaking to me...

If I were a painter
I would consume this canvas
But I find that I can barely join the dots
So I sit, pouring myself onto a page
That I might read the black and white of me
And pull up the grey from between the lines.
I try to dial up my future
But I all I get are the intermittent pips of disconnection
It is then I recall:
A prophet is never welcome in his own mind.

I like to help people, but I am really bad at helping myself. Keeps me humble. Well, relatively.

Jonesbard

Geeked

So I hate these things. But I guess sometimes you just have to suck it up.

Age: 37

Family: I am married to the holistically beautiful and ever humourous Kristen and father to the perpetually laughing child Rhys, aged 5 months.

Religion: I was an atheist until age 19 at which point I had a miraculous encounter with God which resulted in me receiving a substantial gift of faith...I have followed Jesus Christ ever since.

Ministry: I am pastor to the cessioncommunity, a recent church plant within the Wesleyan Methodist network of churches. It keeps me out of trouble. For my sins I am National Secretary, which basically means a lot of stuff ends up on my desk...

Education/Work: Completed a BA in History and a Law degree at Auckland University. Practised law for 10 years and closed out that career with some post graduate teaching. Completed an MBA and became a pastor (yeah a common course of study for pastoral ministry...but very useful for church planting). Was bivocational (but otherwise comfortable with my sexuality) for 5 years and went full time in pastoral ministry this year. Currently completing a Graduate Diploma through Carey Baptist College.

Favourite Movies: The Sting, Chitty Bang Bang, The Fifth Element

Favourite Books: Letter to the Ephesians, Enders Game, The Life You've Always Wanted, Renovation of the Heart, Nights Dawn Trilogy

Favourite Webpages: Um none really...

Favourite Other Blog: Servant Geek Dobber until he tagged me. Deurty who I helped church plant with in Michigan. I read a fair few but tend to stream of consciousness surf rather than follow any regulars.

Extracurricular Activities: Hanging with the fam, Watching rugby, Reading, Talking with friends

If I could be anyone I would be: A better version of me

T.V character I am most often likened to: No one, although people often say I look like Nick Farr-Jones (superior Aussie half back). In fact someone said it today!

If I wasn't a Christian I would be stereotyped as: A know-it-all

Biggest Fear: Dying

Biggest Fault: Slave to my emotions

Biggest Mistake: As an atheist teasing my sister about following Christ...feeling better about her gradual re engagement of faith...

Weirdest thing I've done: Too many to name...I once played strip golf...and lost...the penalty was a nude run...I negotiated boxers but I had to carry a large wooden statue of an over endowed male figure with me as if it were the Olympic torch...

Anyways, its done. No tags. You tag yourself if you really want to keep this going.

Jonesbed

Blogging Desert

Hasn't felt like a blogging week. So I didn't...

Sunday night we started the Money For Dummies series. It seemed to go well - actually better than I expected. It was a somewhat practical message which I struggled with a bit in the preparation. I had no end of material but was finding it hard to get excited about the overarching redemptive themes (ie there really weren't any). A new person specifically commented they would be back which surprised me - not that anyone would come back, but that a messgae on money would engender that sort of engagement. This week its Debt For Dummies...

We've been house hunting recently to no avail. I'm actually starting to get frustrated with it just a bit...all these grand theories about how much we'll save with this option etc. Its been instructive so far on trying to understand God's leading in this process. A couple of times we're felt to walk away, once from the almost perfect place (well under the bedroom/price theory we were working at that time anyway). Other times we've left doors wide open to see them close in a way we feel high levels of peace about. Anyways, it will happen - I think we know we can't stay here as much as we'd like to.

Good time hanging with Jeff Fussner yesterday - Jeff is my ministerial supervisor. I'm working on a revamped schedule and he was really helpful. So my life looks great on paper right now. Actually, its also pretty good in rea life but I want my time to count more - there are also some things I hold as high priorities/values that are not in my schedule. So I'm working through how to accomplish things for the long haul. Its a good process. And its all colour coded...

Today is leadership training which I always enjoy - we've had a few defections due to illness, bereavement and work clashes. Bummer. I'm not sure how many to expect! Praying it will impact those who do make it.

Speaking of impact - the car broke down on Thursday - right at a set of traffic lights. The indicator light starts slow down! Its like a UFO was right overhead...then the car stops...so I push it round the corner into a service station and ring the AA (yeah I really felt like a drink). They come pretty quick and its the alternator which has fried. We end up having the car towed (and that ends up being for free!) So, now its like $600 to have this thing fixed on the cheap...hmmm, might go check the account for acts of God!!!

Jonesboy

"You Give and Take Away"

Its been an interesting week, with a few stories to tell.

Remember the glasses? Well it looked like they would cost me around $350 to replace - I mean they were snapped in half! Someone then made a really good suggestion: use the old lenses and just buy new frames - this seemed like a cool idea - in fact it would mean that I could get away with around $150. It felt like God had placed that person's thought in my day. Then I get another idea: maybe they could fix them? So I take them up to the store and sure enough, they can! The estimate is $30. So from $350 to $30 I was feeling pretty good. I went to pick them up yesterday, pull out my card to pay and she says, "Don't worry about it". After I pick my jaw up off the floor I thank her and she says, "I'm feeling generous!" Whats more the old frames have been straightened (I'm a bit rough on glasses), screws tightened and generally overhauled. So from broken glasses to "just like new" in one week. On a pastor's wage I can tell you that "little things" like that feel like huge blessings.

Especially this week - a week of large bills mainly on cars:

Service & Seat fixed $140
Tires $300
Warrant fees $80
Brake Pads $200

Total: $720

But it doesn't end there. Kristen needed to get a light fixed on her car and they did it for free.

But it doesn't end there. What do I find in the letter box yesterday afternoon? $250 in cash left anonymously!

But it doesn't end there. I'm checking our bank accounts yesterday evening and what do I find? A deposit of $500 has been made anonymously. Its titled "ACT II" in humourous reference to a previous anonymous (and very large) donation which is still a compete mystery to us.

So the way I look at it we're $30 in credit! That must have been for the glasses...

Jonesboy

Life Without Sky

Everything I've read about the AB's narrow loss to South Africa makes me glad that responsible (read: boring, killjoy and depressing) financial decision making to lose the satellite subscription has occurred. Saturday night was a frustrating experience as I realised that free to air coverage of the 1am NZ time game would not be replayed until 4pm the next day! That's ridiculous. So I still haven't seen it cos the VCR is broken (see responsible financial decision making above). But I think I can live without a game of dropped ball and intercepted passes.

Had an interesting Friday. First, I ventured out early to have my car fixed (see responsible financial decision making above) and thus to avoid being fined for not having held a warrant of fitness these past 5 months. Its not my fault really - every time I take it in they find something new and then we have to save to get it fixed (see...above). So I don my sunglasses and stride manfully home in the chilly morning temp, my usual glasses in my pocket. I arrive home, well at the reserve immediately adjacent and make a big mistake. Instead of walking down the reserve and up our driveway I decide to jump the fence. I forgot something. No, my athleticism had remained intact. No, it wasn't the wrong fence. No, the fence wasn't fragile. But. My glasses, the ones in my pocket, were. So I am living in a state of semi blindness. I'm very glad I didn't have to preach this Sunday! On the positive side they can be fixed for $30 rather than the $350 I priced out new ones at (see more of the above). Meantime I have learned that the old song "I wear my sunglasses at night" is not as crazy as it sounds - I can actually see much better with them on...

Then it was off for coffee with Frank Ritchie...except he didn't have coffee...we talked bollocks about a range of things sprawled out in sun draped chairs on the Auckland waterfront. I discovered I am a very narrow conversationalist. I need to get out more ;)

The afternoon I went all over the area with Jim Wood looking for potential church buildings - if anyone can come up with a solution it will be Jim - great brain that boy.

Friday night was beer and pizza with the wife, except she didn't have the beer Marcia :)

Sunday night was cool - we ran our latest cafe, featuring the BlairGilesband. Lots of new faces and a typically amazing performance from Blair and his crew. Food was fantastic thanks to our own Jean Wan and her team of chefs. Great fun. I just had re heated spring rolls and salsa for breakfast. Mmmmmm

Anyways better get into the day, I'm rambling.

Top Ten

So Rhett suggested a Top Ten album's thingie and so...

BJ's Top Ten Albums Of All Time

1. Swamp Ophelia (Indigo Girls) Stunning lyrics, amazing harmonies, huge intensity
2. Emergency on Planet Earth (Jamiroquai) Great feel, astonishing musicianship
3. Released (Nina Simone) An album that's all heart and searing lyrics
4. You Grow Closer (Aretha Franklin) Aged 16, previously unreleased and unbelievable
5. Stephane Grapelli Live in Copenhagen - the old master at his best
6. Tourist (St Germaine) Compelling, jazzy, busy
7. Best of Talking Heads - OK so this is cheating...but every song is a winner
8. Love Over Gold (Dire Straits) Guitar hero, cynical lyrics and ambience plus
9. Under the Ice (Blair Giles) Sweet vocals, intoxicating lyrics and very unique
10 = Shaking the Tree (Peter Gabriel) & Temple of Low Men (Crowded House) - Idiosyncratic and brilliant musically/lyrically v Archetypal NZ, melody plus and brilliant musically/lyrically

Now I appreciate this is not exactly a classics of rock/pop etc. And there are some songs that didn't make the list via the album that would if they were in there for the song alone - in that category I include: Rosanna (Toto), Baby Its You (Promises), Blame it On the Boogie, a personal all time favourite (Michael Jackson) and Signed, Sealed and Delivered (Stevie Wonder) I also self-imposed a rule - if this was truly going to be honest I had to own the CD - there is one album that would have made it if I owned it - Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall". Also I decided that only one album per artist was permitted so I struggled a bit there with the Indigo Girls, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone picks. Finally, I allowed myself only one greatest hits/compilation type album - I was very tempted to include the "Commitments I" which is how great soul would have sounded way back when if the recording technology was better.

Interestingly, this reveals some things about my tastes that are probably true - I am first and foremost a soul/jazz lover but also a sucker for tight harmonies and interesting/bizarre lyrics that provoke me emotionally. It also reminded me that music is for me an emotional medium that moves me primarily at the heart level - its lyrics that move me by the way I identify with them that I gravitate to rather than those that challenge me intellectually.

And no U2.

But the Indigo Girls drop the F-Bomb on "Under the Sun" so thats OK...what?!

Jonesboogie