There’s a good discussion just started on SydAng trying to explore some of the reasons why clergy are burning out in Sydney…
Have a read here: http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/forums/viewthread/3334/#84276
Rev. Tim Foster puts the question like this: “But the issue is, what are the underlying issues here, and what is it about our church culture that sees a dozen guys go in 12 months.”
From a recent article by John Frame (from http://www.frame-poythress.com/):
“The task of the church is The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), to make disciples, teaching them “to observe all that I have commanded you.” By God’s grace, we train believers in obedience. That obedience inevitably transforms culture, as it has done now for nearly 2000 years. Christians have made huge contributions to learning, the arts and literature, the treatment of women, the abolition of anti-biblical slavery, the care of the poor, the sick, the widows and orphans. Sin, of course, has impeded our mission; but the grace of God working through his people has accomplished amazing things.
Now some have argued that cultural transformation is the work of Christian individuals, but not of the local church. They argue that the latter should be limited to the area of the “spiritual,” the preaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments. But the spiritual/secular distinction is not biblical. The gospel as proclaimed by John (Matt. 3:2), Jesus (Matt. 4:17), Philip (Acts 8:12), and Paul (Acts 19:8, 20:25, 28:23, 28:31) announces the coming of the kingdom of God, a new order of righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom. 14:17). In the kingdom, we do all things (not just “spiritual”) to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), all things in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:17). It is plain that care for the poor, orphans, and widows is part of that.
Is a failing school system, then, for example, the responsibility of the local church? Education is part of our kingdom responsibility (Deut. 6:6-9, Tit. 2:12), part of the gospel of the kingdom. This may mean encouraging believers to educate their children at home, or in Christian schools. It may mean advocating a new commitment to excellence in the public schools. It is better that schools not be administered directly by the church: that is not necessary and it can be a distraction. But where there is no alternative, yes, the church may start a school, bringing to its children (and even to children of non-Christian parents) the riches of human knowledge within a kingdom-centered worldview. There are legitimate questions as to how best to handle such matters in different localities. But the question is not, whether the church has a responsibility, but how should it undertake that responsibility. The gospel of the kingdom is comprehensive—good news for every aspect of human life.”
Here’s a thought-provoking article from a guy who I quite like to read, James K. A. Smith. In it, he affirms the goodness of embodiment, something which I’m quite keen on. Viewing the Christian person as a whole person who is saved. Breaking down those sneaky platonic dualisms between body and soul, by remembering the goodness of creation and it’s implications. This is where Smith’s pentecostal views (mind you, Smith uses the terms charismatic and pentecostal interchangably to refer to the pentecostal ‘flavour’, rather than any official position -b/g on the article here) meet the Reformed position.
I found this article something which raises questions, affirms important things such as the goodness of embodiment, and challenges me generally to think about how I think about practise within a church gathering. I’d be keen to hear what you make of it!
These little critters are my favourite animals. They’re quite amazing creatures.
So when I saw an article on HowStuffWorks.com entitled “Are Meerkats Altruistic?” I thought I might share it with the world.
Just a snippet:
“For centuries, there’s been a debate over whether true altruism exists among humans. In philosophical terms, an altruistic act is one that a person performs for the benefit of others, but to his or her own detriment. Eighteenth-century Prussian philosopher Immanuel Kant suggested that there’s no such thing as altruism — in every instance, the giver gets something in return for his or her generosity. This benefit can be as small as a sense of well-being for having helped someone else….
Meerkats have one of the most cooperative societies in the animal kingdom. These African desert dwellers are perfect subjects for an investigation into altruism….”
Here’s the whole article: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/meerkats-helpers.htm
For your enjoyment, here’s a great video link to these fantastic critters!http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1213900614/bctid1379245042
I came across this site the other day which has a whole bunch of funny takes on the current buzzwords getting around the traps. Thought you might enjoy some. Whilst I DO like these words in certain uses, I did quite enjoy the tongue-in-cheek satire 
With all the hype around words like missional, incarnational, missio dei, organic, total, emerging …. you know the drill… I thought this was a breath of fresh satirical air!
This poem is called Escape, by F/LT E.G. Bretell dated 12/4/43. Just prior to the poem, it is noted: “Whilst in ‘cooler’ – Stalag Luft III“.
61053 F/L E Gordon Brettell DFC, British, born 19-Mar-1915, 133 (Eagle) Sqdn (shot down 26-Sep-1942, Spitfire IX BS313), recaptured Scheidemuhl, murdered by Bruchardt 29-Mar-1944, cremated at Danzig. Details from this great site on the Great Escape: http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gt_esc/. Note that he escaped, then was recaptured and murdered by the Gestapo.
I think this is amazing – it really captures the thoughts of those who were involved in the Great Escape:
“If you can quit the compound undetected,
And clear your tracks, nor leave the smallest trace,
Then follow out the programme you’ve selected,
Nor lose your track of distance, time and place,
If you can walk at night by compass bearing,
Or ride the railways in the light of day,
And temper your elusiveness with daring,
Trusting that sometimes bluff will find a way.
If you can swallow sudden sour frustration,
And gaze unmoved at failure’s ugly shape,
Remembering as further inspiration,
It was, and is, your duty to escape.
If you can keep the great Gestapo guessing,
With explanations only partly true,
And leave them in their hearts of hearts confessing
They didn’t get the whole truth out of you.
If you can use your “cooler” fortnight clearly,
For planning methods wiser than before,
And treat your miscalculations merely
As hints let fall by fate, to teach you more.
If you can scheme on, with patience & precision,
It wasn’t in a day that they built Rome,
And make Escape your single, sole ambition,
The next time you attempt it you’ll get Home.”
I’ve recently been reading through my grandfather’s POW camp journals from Stalag Luft III in Poland during WWII.
He was an Australian navigator, flying in Lancaster bombers from the 7th Squadron of the RAF’s elite pathfinder group. They would fly at the front of the bomber squadron and drop flare-types of incendury bombs on German targets to light up the targets for the main bombing squad. He was shot down early in the war and placed in the fore-mentioned POW camp until the end of the war. You may have known Stalag Luft III (pictured right) since it was the POW camp where Tom, Dick and Harry were built – the Great Escape.
I thought I’d like to share just a few things from these journals which are simply amazing.
Here’s an anonymous poem, recorded amongst many poems in one of the journals.
Kreigie’s Lament
Here we are at Stalag Three,
drinking in the bar.
With lovely girls to buy us beer,
like “Bloody Hell” we are.
We travelled here in luxury,
the whole trip for a quid.
A sleeping berth for each of us,
like “Bloody Hell” we did.
Our feather beds are two feet deep,
the carpet’s almost new.
In easy chairs we sit all day,
like “Bloody Hell” we do.
The “Goons” are bloody wizard chaps,
their hopes of victory good.
We’d change our places any day,
like “Bloody Hell” we would.
When winter comes & snow’s around,
the temperature at nil.
We’ll find hot bottles in our beds,
like “Bloody Hell” we will.
It’s heaven on earth in Stalag Three,
a life we’d hate to miss.
It’s everything we’ve always wished,
like “Bloody Hell” it is.
And when this war is over,
And jerry gets his bill.
We’ll remember all that’s happened here,
MY BLOODY OATH WE WILL.
A couple of paragraphs stood out to me in this recent interview with J.I. Packer over many things including the state of the church in Canada, and encouragement to those in ministry.
It stood out to me for the simple reason that it was an answer to prayer. Since beginning Bible College and getting used to a new routine, all my devotional discipline has been shot through and I’m trying to work out a new way to keep being nourished by the Word in my week to week activities. I love a good, lengthy, not-running-to-a-clock devotional time, and the 8am starts, church ministries, and studies for subjects is a real test. After praying with some fellas this week about getting the balance of freedom and discipline in devotional life, the following couple of answers really provoked me in this area.
“KS: What would you say to someone starting out in ministry? What guidance would you offer?
JP: I would say that, when you are in the ministry, you must take charge of your own time, your own program. You must discipline yourself. You should make yourself a timetable for the working week and try to stick to it. There are two reasons for that. First, nobody is going to supervise you very carefully. If you allow yourself to be lazy and undisciplined, no one might notice. And the second is that undiscipline, laziness and disorder are, from Satan’s point of view, virtues he values.After 20 years of not achieving very much, the minister will have a nervous breakdown, burn out and so on and have to be laid off work. It’s inner disorder that produces these burnouts and breakdowns most of the time. People who work very hard but have taken charge of their own lives – and their lives are orderly – don’t have burnouts. When you are making the best use of the time God gives you, things are orderly. You are living realistically within the plan you have made for yourself and you don’t have the inner frustrations that bring burnout.
KS: But you might have a lot of other frustrations.
JP: You may have other frustrations. Being a pastor of a congregation is always a demanding and difficult business. If you’re going to take pastoral care seriously, you are constantly thinking and praying how you can get the parish to move forward, this way or that way, people converted or straight with the Lord – that won’t give you burnout. That will exercise your pastor’s heart. I would tell the young minister that this is the way it will be in ministry and to get his life in order. You have to find your own way with God devotionally. I can only say you ought, as a regular thing, to be getting words and thoughts of encouragement and visions of glorious things from the Lord. If you’re not getting those, you are in a rut. If you are in a rut, for goodness sake get help. Become a partner with someone you are accountable to. Walk together.”
Thank you Lord!
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