Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
sabbatical update 7
Monday afternoon update
the weekend that was: rich weekend – Saturday started with a walk along Brighton Beach, then an afternoon tour of McLarenvale with friends, before a fun dinner party with some relaxed Adeladians. Sunday included ecochurch (it is so nice to be in a church which uses the body in worship) and a walk with an Aboriginal guide around the botanical gardens. Marked a Masters thesis, then did some preparation for speaking at Coromandel Valley Uniting in the evening – a two hour seminar on mission and worship. I’ve refused all preaching, but these people are in a really good process, so I was happy to play a part. I found it a very helpful experience, both in preparation and speaking, and it clarified some ideas around my book.
where i am at the moment: Parkin-Wesley. I have just finished my last Missional Church Leadership class, so am enjoying the post-class sense of relief.
on my to-do list this week: I am off on personal retreat later in the week, planning to walk for a few days, reflecting on God, life, gifts and my vocation/s.
reading: Christopher Wright’s, The Mission of God.
music that’s caught my attention: 1 Giant Leap, The way you dream, as I have been reading Mary’s Magnificant. How on earth did a dream like that get attributed to a peasant teenager girl in a patriarchal society? How do we cultivate such dreamers today? What are my dreams for church and society in my day?
how i’m feeling about this week: excited. Very. Looking forward to the retreat and then a weekend with Melbourne with friends.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
sabbatical update 6
Monday morning update (on a Tuesday)
the weekend that was: The Taylor “girls” are heading back to Christchurch this week, so it was “girls choice” weekend. Kayli wanted to attend eco-church and Shannon wanted to return to the Museum to show me some artifacts from Papua New Guinea, including from the tribe of my childhood. We threw in a cruise up the Adelaide River and a lunch at their favourite cafe, Cibo.
where i am at the moment: Parkin-Wesley. Back into a writing groove, and have churned out about 5,000 words on the “opawa story”; charting some of the changes we have made at Opawa. It’s a mix of why we did it and what we did and it’s been fun. We’ve done a lot in 5 years.
on my to-do list this week: I am doing the Bible studies at the Uniting Church synod in a few weeks – about 350 people coming and I have to be Biblical, interesting, interactive, connective, challenging …. yep, got some work to do. I am playing with some “Adventish” Bible passages, which no doubt will reappear at Opawa in December!
reading: just finished a fictional account of life in Iraq before their revolution. Fascinating glimpse into another culture.
music that’s caught my attention: with my family leaving me, it’s lots of Radiohead, In Rainbows, that depressive, ethereal, moody rock.
how i’m feeling about this week: sad. It’s been fabulous having Lynne and the girls with me and we have had such a grand time. I’m so grateful to my hosts for making this possible. But returning to an empty house of memories is going to be very hard.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
sabbatical update 5
Monday morning update (on a Wednesday)
the weekend that was: It was a long weekend, so a 3 day trip to Kangaroo Island with sister-in-law and family beckoned. Fascinating part of Australia.
where i am at the moment: Just exiting Najjars cafe, North Adelaide. I have been speaking to about 35 people at a leaders breakfast. I was introduced just as all the breakfasts arrived, making connections and momentum difficult. Grand timing!
on my to-do list this week: Tidy office – there’s been a lot of speaking in the last few weeks, and that means notes everywhere.
reading: Rublevs Icon by Benge. Beautiful book, fascinating exploration of relationship between art and theology over time.
how i’m feeling about this week: relieved. These last 2 weeks have been my “speaking phase”, moving between a wide range of settings and groups. I have enjoyed it and had good feedback ..
“participants appreciated the significant biblical/theological underpinning of mission which you conveyed, with emphasis on the relevance of the Luke 10 sending stories in our own context, and the way in which you told stories of your own faith community’s application of these missional principles in very practical and “do-able” ways. Thanks again Steve.”
But have also realised that I do feel very awkward creating connections in new groups, with a varied audience, when I do not have time to build a conversational rapport. I suspect at the moment that in term of my skill set I am a better teacher than one-off speaker.
Monday, September 29, 2008
sabbatical update 5
Monday morning update
the weekend that was: food and friends – trips to Willunga market and to a local winery. Social catching up with two of the lecturers at Parkin-Wesley. Refreshing.
where i am at the moment: 
Tabor College – teaching a class on Living the Bible in a contemporary context with about 22 students. I normally teach this class as a 1 week block course somewhere overseas once a year. The last few years it has been Fuller. This year it is Tabor. Their campus is beautiful – in an old orphanage in a lovely established part of town. The local cafes are great, the technical support has been excellent and I am anticipating an excellent week.
on my to-do list this week: teaching this course well.
procrastinating about: (still) some emails in my inbox. I’m on sabbatical, but they keep rolling in …
next trip: still trying to con friends into houseboating on the Murray River with us. Just about given up.
how i’m feeling about this week: energised and refreshed. I am halfway through my time here and as I jogged this morning, I gave thanks to God for the way that simple things, like no evening meetings, and 2 day weekends, and time with my kids, have started to recharge my soul.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
sabbatical update 4
Monday morning update (on a Tuesday)
the weekend that was: a 4 day trip to the outback – lotsa driving, lotsa walking, lotsa gazing in awe at big rocks in dry places, sleeping under stars, singing dingos and camel rides for the kids.
where i am at the moment: Parkin-Wesley with ears blocked. The C in Parkin Wesley is now for Construction, not for College. Office renovations are under way. Do I stay – with internet and security – or do I go to a cafe?
on my to-do list this week: speaking to Churches of Christ leaders here in South Australia on Wednesday. I have spoken twice to Churches of Christ in Victoria/Tasmania, so should be an interesting day.
procrastinating about: some emails in my inbox. I’m on sabbatical, but they keep rolling in …
book i’m in the midst of: Lollipop shoes by Joanna Harris. (A followup to the famous book/movie Chocolat).
music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: Prefab Sprout – Adromada Heights, track 4 – Life’s a Miracle, a funeral request in honour of the life of blog-friend Tom Allen
next trip: trying to con friends into houseboating on the Murray River with us. trying ….
how i’m feeling about this week: tired – all these weekends touristing! great experiences, tired bodies.
Monday, September 15, 2008
sabbatical update 3
Monday morning update
the weekend that was: we skipped down to Victor Harbor and had a lovely walk around Granite Island. we found a pub showing the rugby and fought to keep just 1 of the 4 TV’s focused on international sport (rugby) rather than inter-state sport (AFL). on Sunday we had a magical 6 hour cruise of the mouth of the Murray and then up the Coorong National Park, with fascinating insights into the Aboriginal ability to survive.
where i am at the moment: Parkin-Wesley, listening to the wind roaring outside as a gale howls through Adelaide. I was at the beach cafe journalling this morning and it was so impressive, these huge lumpy waves bearing down.
on my to-do list this week: writing. i am making good progress on the missional church leadership book. i also hope to get some feedback from the publishers this week, after sending them the initial, framing, chapter and a revamped chapter summary.
procrastinating about: I have been asked by Semiea journal to write a piece on the Bible in Brotown. Abstract needs to be done this week.
book i’m in the midst of: John Grisham, The Innocent Man. Disturbing non-fictional take into a dysfunctional US legal system.
music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: nothing really.
next trip: Uluru! The pennies have been saved and a long weekend is planned, to absorb one of the wonders of the world. We leave Thursday and return Sunday.
how i’m feeling about this week: Upbeat – about the rugby and the league, about the fabulous family memories we are creating, about the mental stimulation from the Tabor seminar and about the gift of space to write ie clarify some thoughts.
Friday, September 05, 2008
sabbatical blogging
my kids sabbatical blogs are much more interesting than mine – Shannon here and Kayli Anne here – with their differing personalities very much in evidence.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
entering the local religion
The local sporting team have made the finals and we’ve just picked up 4 tickets for Saturday; Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood somethings.
Here is my current understanding of what we will see – a little ball and an oval field, which has pockets to pick. Because they have coordination problems, this ball can be either kicked, bounced or passed, in any direction forward or back. Because they have seeing problems, the aim is to get this ball through any one of 4 posts. 2 are short and 2 are long. The long ones are the better ones.
I will post when I learn more.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
my early mornings
this – view image – is where i spend my early mornings of prayer and reflection. it is one of the good gifts of this sabbatical season, 2 minutes walk, or 1 minute run, from my front door.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
safe and happy
just got back online, so a quick post to say that the Taylor’s arrived safely and are settling in well. the highlight is the fact that we are living about 1 minute walk from the beach, which we all think is wonderful.
other highlights were a whole weekend as a family – yep 2 whole days! – which included the slow spirituality involved in a trip to local markets to buy local food.
my missional church class kicked off yesterday. it is fascinating to be doing it in a different country and in a different denomination because it means new and fresh questions. we had a lot of fun exploring the question “who is converted in Luke 10?”
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