A great crowd in at church today. Despite the fact I am sick sick sick, it was great to be at church.

An interesting comment from a visitor, who normally attends another church.
His comment, you have a real mix of all types of people, and we do.

About 50 kids under 12, a stack of parents, a few (very few) 40-50’s and a good amount of the ‘silver hairs’.
It is truly a generational church.
We try hard to do the blended type service well.
Most church growth manuals tell you that this does not work.
But with our songs, our worship leaders pick a good mix, but they are down in a contemporary style….but this seems to resonate with 99% of people.
This morning I caught a senior lady singing along pre service to one of the newest songs we do. That made me feel great…..
I read a lot, and read widely, and I think there is truth is a lot of material. But somehow our church does not have to follow the rules.

The Roos have delisted Leigh Brown, my former favourite Freo player.

Long Live the Anvil.

Story

Here is the video that Q made up for our upcoming Angus Buchan Mighty Mens conference….
Men….don’t miss it!

“Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”(Benjamin Franklin)

I have started a new Facebook group, entitled, ‘My name is Mark Edwards’. The only requirement is that your name is Mark Edwards, middle name irrelevant….

I started it two days ago, and have six members so far, from all around the world.
I know this says something socialogical….but I dont quite know what, yet. If indeed it says anything.

I watched a facinating documentary last night on networks, and I was particularly drawn to the ideo of hubs of networks, entitled, “How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer“. “We used to think the way in which web pages, power grids and people tied together was more or less random. But recently two young physicists independently discovered that fundamental laws govern networks”

As I watched this fascinating documentary, the theory put foward was that everything in the world could be analysed in the paradigm of networks, and every network had hubs…or as I might designate them, hives of activity. The reference to Kevin Bacon is a throwback to the idea that every Hollywood Actor was seperated from Kevin by only a small amount of degrees.

This theory is fascinating in its application to church work.
Both in the church being a hub of activity within the community, and the leadership of the church. I believe in leadership through influence, consultation, prayer, community.

The position is nowhere near as important as the influence, and being a hub.

Edit: you can download this documentary here

Just some more thoughts….
1. One interesting comment from John Finkelde really resonated with me.
They have planted a new church every 3 years….That sounds do-able to me.
2. Another from Michael Bullard
Like produces like. What is our churches dna, values etc…within reason and creativity, we will likely produce something at least similar to ourselves. That does not mean it wont be different. But as a child is different and similar to their parents.
3. Unless we create ministry and leadership opportunities for young leaders, they will become young leavers….Some may say then that planting churches is a cynical exercise…not at all. In our own home, children grow up and need to lead…and create…for themself.
4. I am favouring, because it suits my dna, the idea of satellite churches. I have seen these work and produce results in Perth.
5. There are some exciting possibilites as I consider the spiritual and physical artery that is Beaufort St…..a church which is cafe culture, almost inner city, and at night…..
6. Without growth, our church will die…we need to consider this now, in our formative years, so it becomes part of our dna moving forward.
7. The senior pastor needs to set the agenda and make it happen. He needs to be a releaser, not a restrictor, and be confident and assured enough, that he can let good things go. He also needs to set the agenda, not have the church set the agenda for him. (yes I said that twice, it bears repeating)