Multicultural Ministry Matters

Found an excellent website with resources for church planters. http://www.churchplantingvillage.net/

Gordon Cheng has posted his notes from Mark Driscoll's talks on Monday. You can order CDs and DVDs from the Ministry Training and Development dept: mtd@sydney.anglican.asn.au ; +61 2 9265 1585. * * * * * On an unrelated note: Driscoll writes that Rick Warren recently gave him this advice about handling his critics: Turn your critics into coaches by hearing what they are saying and humbly considering if there is any truth in their criticisms to learn from. Never engage the critics on their terms because it only escalates the conflict and is not productive. Be very careful with firing off emails or leaving voicemails and responding out of anger in a way that you will later regret. Shout louder than your critics to define yourself and do not allow them to define you. From http://www.acts29network.org/acts-29-blog/a-great-few-weeks/

On Monday, I heard Mark Driscoll at a pastor's training conference - along with some 800 ministers, of various ages & stages of life & ministry. Among other things, Mark said Sydney lacks a zeal for evangelism, the denominational training & appointment systems stifle innovation, and single men shouldn't lead a church plant. I'll post some ruminations on Driscoll later. For now, here's some links to some good posts from his Acts 29 church planting network: What is a missional church ? Characteristics of a wise church planter. A checklist: am I a church planter ? Ed Stetzer provides a theology of missional church . Darrin Patrick on the emerging church - talks delivered at the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute. Driscoll's UK talks . How to be an assistant pastor.

How's this for God's providential care! Mum's been suffering from the 'flu all last week. She wound up in hospital yesterday because of dizziness & nausea. The medical scans discovered a clot in a blood vessel leading to her brain. But the dizziness was actually brought about by the 'flu virus lodging in her inner ear, not the blood clot. If we didn't pick up the clot now, mum might have had a heart attack or stroke sometime in the future. But now, having discovered it, we can deal with it. So, she's now resting in bed & drinking chicken soup - the usual 'flu remedies. Once she kicks the virus, we can deal with the blood clot calmly. Praise God for the 'flu, eh?

A quick prayer request. My mum wound up in hospital today. One of the blood vessels to her brain had a block - I think it was a clot - causing dizziness & nausea. Don't worry - it's not life threatening - she's home now. But we don't know what the ongoing problems will be. She's cancelled speaking engagements for the rest of the week. Shall keep you all updated.

STOP PRESS! A website with comments on commentaries! http://www.bestcommentaries.com/ YAHOO!

If I may tout myself for a moment: I've got an article in the latest issue of the CASE journal, Case 16 . This issue is about God and creativity, and links in with the upcoming New College Lectures by Professor Trevor Hart . My article's about civil disobedience and revolution. How does that work? Guess I was disobeying, revolting against the trend...