Advice for Joe Hockey

Joe Hockey, put out a tweet for advice regarding what he should do regarding the current Liberal party turmoil. (He also had lunch with his old boss John Howard, I suspect, John dosn't use Twitter, thus the advice was face to face)

Here is the advice I Tweeted back::
"JoeHockey it the right thing to follow through on the agreement. Climate change is here to stay. Good on you supporting your leader. A+"

Interestingly on JoeHockeys friend list on tweeter is a "KRudd". I wonder what advice he gave...

Yarra Valley Coffee 2/10

Our coffee supply has been a source of anxiety since moving to Phillip Island. We were relived when we found a supplier for Yarra Valley Coffee. After a week its been pretty disappinting 2 ot of 10. Very weak, you get a stronger taste from the milk.
I suspect it could be the age of the coffee. Even though the package says "freshly roasted", I suspect with a "best before" date of May 2010, this may not be the case.
I don't think it's because it's decaf either. I've had exellent decaf, from differnt companies in the past.

Our next try "coffee snobs"

Restlessness in the Coaltion ranks

Malcolm has called a leadership spill. No tweets from Malcolm or Joe on the matter.

The Challenger is Kevin Andrews. Known for the Haniffe scandel as well as the well written anti Euthanasia legislation (I've actually heard him speak on this).

Its interesting that I think reason that Malcolm was voted in as leader was that there was a realization in the Liberal party that new ideas where needed, that the party needed to be seen as at the center right. (I think Howard was initially perceived by the public to be in this position. But ongoing legislation and time proved this wrong).

The problem for the liberal party and Malcolm is that members keep looking over there shoulder. To how things were, the glory days of Howard. It is this type of thinking that will cause the liberals to stay in opposition. As Joe Hockey said and I paraphrase 'The liberal party dosn't do opposition well but in government we do very well' .
Overall I think that Malcolm was doing a pretty good job, with a tired bunch of old horses. How old is Wilson Tuckey?

Frank Viola, Re-imagining church, Chapter 9, Reimaging oversight

There was some interesting observations in this chapter....

Elders whose function was overseeing and shepherding the members of the church.

Very interesting was the claim that

"...The Bible unshakably demonstrates that a plurality of elders oversaw the activity of the early church. No church in the first century had a single leader
Consequently, the common accepted notion of sola pastora (single pastor) is at odds with the New Testament. The bible knows nothing of a person who stands at the helm of a local church, directs it in the world, officiates its Communion (or Lord's Supper), blesses civic event, marries the living, and buries the dead. No such person exists in the entire New Testament."

This paragraph certainly rocks who is seen as traditional 'Church' in regards to structure. I cannot help but think though it is a natural tendency for people to look for an individual for leadership. But maybe as suggested by Viola it should be a plurality of 'Eldership'
Interestingly Ranges is currently working in the manner at the moment, and as far as I'm aware not really interested in changing.

Also of interest, Viola claimed the only time when there was a single leader as such, was when it was getting started, the 'apostolic worker' such as Paul.

online reading

There has been a few bits and pieces that I've been reading and think, worthwhile to share::

42 million 'Solar City', in Bendigo (My home town) has been opened. Supplying enough electricity for 150 houses.

Bob Garbet, who used to go along to Ranges has writen a pretty good piece comparing some of the theological differences between Piper and NT Wright.

The good old Anglicans in Canberra have written a report of when Brian Mc Claren was in town. Well worth a peek.

Is there another way...

I've been pretty much part of the Vineyard movement in Victoria since its inception over ten years ago. I have been part of two church plants and one established church. One of the Church plants was one which Christina and myself planted. So I think I could say that I've seen a bit.

Out of these eight churches that are running only two churches have the resources to employ staff at full time or more.
The rest of the churches only employ pastors part time.
That Vineyad in Victoria have planted three Churches which have failed.
Starting, maintaining and growing a church on limited resources is incredibly stressful, not only on pastors but their families and other leaders.
I suspect other states would mirror the Victorian experience.

My question is. Is there another way?

I would say that there is. But mindset of what Church looks like needs to change. Or in other words there needs to be creativity and innovation to the approaches to creating Christian communities of faith.
Does it need to have a 'worship leader', meet every Sunday at 10am, have home groups, self help groups, constant conversions, help out at the local school...? All these things are good but if you want to start with a bang like this, you need a team of 50 and a budget of well over $100,000 for the first three years. Mindset is the first thing that needs to change.

The Prom

I love Wilsons Promontory. Accommodation is very basic. The majority of sites are unpowered so its fuel stoves and lamps. Yet I think this is what give it it's charm. For me I'm taken away from technology, phone calls. Just time with friends, family and my own thoughts. It's been our second year in a row and I think it will turn into a bit of a family tradition.