““We have just pounded the drum again and again that, for churches to reach their full redemptive potential, they have to do more than hold services — they have to try to transform their communities,” he said. “If there is racial injustice in your community, you have to speak to that. If there is educational injustice, you have to do something there. If the poor are being neglected by the government or being oppressed in some way, then you have to stand up for the poor.”

I’lll give you a clue…he formed and leads what has possibly been the most influential church movement of our time.
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A few things which stand out as the great man retires.
He retires to help the club, they would have had to pay him out, and it would have affected our salary cap.
He retires with his head held high….having never caused the club any reason to be ashamed of his on or off field behaviour.

I have met him once, at the Cervantes Tavern. Good bloke, spoke to him about ‘that mark’. In fact if you look at the video below, you can see me….I am the blond guy jumping up and down. One of the best, most ecstatic footy moments of my life. It is a great great shame that he has been struck down by knee problems, but he leaves with no regrets, because he gave it all. Well done Justin Longmuir, we Freo fans will never forget this moment, when in a piece of time, you gave 38, 000 people reason to scream, cheer and hug people they do not know.

Here is a video I have done up for pre service at church, kicking off our monthly theme on “Friends”.

Where would we be in life without friends?

In Theological College we were taught that having close friends with people in our church was unhelpful. I can understand that. There are times when being close friends with people in your church can be problematic. There are times when you need to lead, and when they dont like the direction of your leadership….it is difficult. Your friends, close friends, cant just up and leave your church because they are upset with you, although they might.

But the alternative is far worse. We should be travelling with, journeying with, those who are our friends. Church is meant to be an adventure, a battle, a march towards the holy grail…and you have to do it together.

The verse from Galatians is good, “bear with one another’. Part of journeying together means putting up with each others faults and follies, even when the other cannot see how their selfishness or bias or blindness….is hurting the friendship and the community of believers. But that is part of the ‘bearing’.

I am fortunate…I have some really good friends as part of my church, and I would never want to change that…my lecturer was wrong. They may cause me pain, and I might cause them pain…but ultimately, I hope we can bear with one another and learn what Christ meant when He said to forgive and be patient.

I am fortunate…I have some really good friends who are not part of my church, or any church for that matter. They keep me grounded, they reassure me (not with words but action) that my whole identity is not in being a pastor, and they would be my friends if I was still selling exhaust components….some of them have no idea what a pastor is, some of them know…and generally speaking cant stand ‘pastors’.

Either way, having friends is a risk…but the alternative is far worse. I know a lot of pastors…and I look with despair as they approach the end of their ministry, and realise that their whole identity and all their social standing and significance is tied up with their identity of being a pastor. That is sad.

It is also sad to see a 55 year old male come to the realisation he has no friends, and the opportunity to make some seems to have gone….it hasn’t, but it is going to take a transformation of character, attitudes and beliefs about themself to change that.

Will the Wee Girls supporters boo him? He might get a double boo….. 🙂

FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey has left the door ajar for Ben Cousins to make a comeback, refusing to rule out the possibility of drafting the disgraced star.

On day one of the Dockers’ pre-season campaign, Harvey was asked whether Cousins might feature on the club’s radar if he was to nominate for the pre-season draft.

And while distancing the Dockers from any possible move for the former Eagles star, Harvey was also careful not to rule it out completely – saying the AFL’s decision whether they would allow Cousins to play would have to come first.

Both Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr have been involved in an incident outside the Niche Bar Nightclub in Leedervile. The two Eagles midfielders were outside the club at 3.30 am on Sunday, and police were called due to a disturbance involving the two players.

Eagles spokesperson Gary Stocks has spoken to the press and said that Kerr and Embley have been spoken to by the club. The Eagles say that no further action is required. However with the AFL meeting shortly to discuss possible sanctions over the most recent Cousins incident, this story could not have come at a worse time.

Police are continuing their enquiries but have not laid any charges yet. Apparently both players were involved in a fight,but it is not clear yet who with.

Woosha must be tearing his hair out….