Why do we make this statement, “I rarely watch TV but I saw this show on how Brooke split up with Taylor etc etc…’
What is it within us that makes us apologise for watching TV…or feign guilt about it?
You don’t hear people say, “I rarely go to the movies, but I just happened to catch Hugh and Nicole and she was so wooden….”

All things in moderation I reckon.
At present, with the non ratings rubbish on, thats pretty easy! But there is still some good stuff on. For me, Prison Break and Heroes. Lately I have got addicted to both of them, sometimes recording them when I am too bombed to stay up that late. Also ‘Top Gear’ (the UK version) on Monday nights.
And….with the ‘Spicks and Specks Christmas Special’ being essential viewing…enjoy your zone out time…in moderation.

I have an excellent Church Leadership Team…I suppose if they were terrible I would probably not post about them, but they are great…so I can.

Last night we held our first ever Leadership Team Meeting for our new church, and it was a significant time. We decided on some key things, which reflect our inherant values as a church.
I was so encouraged.

I shared with the leadership team that I need three things from them.

1. That they keep pushing me to keep my eye on the big vision, and give me freedom to lead.
2. That they be my chief set of cheerleaders.
3. That they set good boundaries and keep me accountable for what I achieve

There have been years gone by when things have not been so good. Our church is already experiencing some fruit from good leadership, and this team is setting us up for more health.

Well Richmond Football Club have drafted Ben……(after saying there is no way they would)

I actually am glad. I hope that he is aided in his journey back, and does his parents proud.
All of us have made mistakes, its just that Ben got caught…and he continued on with it….

But ultimately I suspect it wont be his much vaunted issues with drugs that bring him down but his hamstrings….and the feral Tigers fans…..

We had a great day at church on Sunday.
Some things I can tell you about, some things best kept from huge public audience that read this blog (!)

A great time of worship, the band sounded great, and their was a real sense of freedom there, led ably by Eliot, who allowed space and freedom….great!

A good story of two told…and a good message on meditating on scripture, you can download it from our church website www.inglewoodchurch.org.au

About 10 visitors, including some real special people, which I can’t go into here….but I am hoping they stick around, because together, we could make some awesome differences in our community….

The air conditioning kicked the 38 degree day out of the park…something we have not had the luxury of before….

Its not all bad you know.

Blogging has given me a great outlet, it has introduced me to a whole heap of people and also ideas that have helped a lot. It has been an avenue to internet resources, mult-media, the latest thinking and good books.

Facecrack….ooops…I mean Facebook…has given me access to relationships with a whole heap of people. The most valuable aspect of it is when I also have a ‘real world’ relationship with those I am interacting with online. In some notable cases it has actually really helped as I have tried to share and deepen relationships and conversations with people that although I see them ‘face to face’ we dont always get the chance to talk about spiritual matters. This has been really valuable even in the last 24 hours as I was able to articulate something concillitory which may have actually been a problem with someone who is on a faith journey.

I think the key with healthy online relationships is that they have some basis ‘offline’ as well. It may be too easy for there to be little accountability or reality undergirding the relationship if it only takes place in internet forums or blog comment lines. I am not saying this is always the case, but even those friendships I have developed with some overseas pastors, formed on the basis of mutual experiences, are relationships I have an innate desire to develop ‘offline’ as well.

While I don’t like anonymous comments on this blog, because I think if you are going to say something, take accountability for it, I do allow them, because I hope the interaction can grow to the point where it allows for a certain vulnerability.

As our society and culture is already well and truly ‘online’, Pastors, those in the relationship and influence areas, need to have an online ‘web 2’ type presence. As people work more, and have less time free, Pastors need to be available (within their own boundaries of course) to interact with people, as people today are interacting.

(This post was formulated after a discussion with my good friend, Michael Bullard)