1 Week Bible Immersion Experience

As mentioned in my previous blog post, I started my journey deeper into God’s Word about two months ago. And what an amazing journey it has been! Wow! God has been really dealing to me, calling me to draw deeper into relationship with Him, challenging me to deal with my sin, to rely more on Him through being more open to the Holy Spirit. I have grown as a Christian, and based on the wonderful messages I receive, God has worked through my reflections in other people’s lives as well. To God be the glory!I believe God is calling me to introduce some structure to my time immersed in the Bible each day, and to invite you to be part of this.

This will be called the 1 Week Bible Immersion Experience and the idea is that starting this coming Monday the 19th of Oct, you and I read a passage each day and then on the Facebook Journey Deeper page or the Journey Deeper into God’s Word blog the passage will be discussed. I will still post my journey reflections, and you will be invited to contribute what God is showing you! Side by side we will grow in our relationship with Christ.

Ok so the passages for the 1 Week Bible Immersion Experience are:

Monday 19th Oct Luke 4: 1-13
Tuesday 20th Oct Luke 4: 14-30
Wednesday 21st Oct Luke 4: 31-37
Thursday 22nd Oct Luke 4: 38-41
Friday 23rd Oct Luke 4: 42-44; 5:1-11

And if this works, we might continue it.

Let me know if you would like to be part of the 1 Week Bible Immersion Experience

What is the point of going to (virtual) church?

Today marked a special day for me: I started a new service within the Anglican Cathedral of Second Life and to my surprise my dad showed up!  It is the first time I have preached with my dad present and it was made possible thanks to the virtual setting.  Though we live in different countries we were able to share the church experience.

The service happens within a virtual building (Cathedral) within Second Life.  Wherever you are, assuming you have a good computer and connection, you can attend church.  The service liturgy and Bible readings are typed and read out and my sermon (see below) is preached live.  This is an interesting experience, I literally preach to a computer monitor; though actually I am speaking to people from around the world. And it is this unusual dichotomy that dominates the virtual experience: being both present but actually not being present.  So in the image above I used the word ‘within’, was I actually within the virtual Cathedral?  Well yes, but also I was standing in my kitchen at home before a monitor.  I was both present and not present, depending on how you define being present.  And it is in this definition that most debate exists.  Are you really present when you are not physically in the same space?  Can one be virtually present?  I would argue we are seeing a shift from where being present is only a physical experience to one that will include electronically generated presence.  It will become more the norm that community is possible without ever actually meeting.  The ascendancy of facebook, the expectation of convenience, the ubiquity of mobile technology all point towards a growth in the acceptance of non-physical community.

This will place pressure on our theology of incarnation, of community, of the Eucharist as we the church wrestle with this dramatic shift.  Whatever you may think (and I welcome your comments!) it was simply wonderful to lead a service that included my own father.

To check out my sermon from the service, entitled ‘What is the point of going to church?’ click the play button below (11 minutes in length).
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The third most popular post on Brownblog for 2008…

 In terms of traffic the third most popular post on Brownblog involved the unusual combination of the internet and the Bible…  here is number 3: Continue reading »

And the fourth most popular post is…

I strongly suspect that the fourth most popular post on Brownblog in terms of traffic for 2008 may well be more to do with the image used and the person quoted!  So here is number 4:

Continue reading »

Personal Reflection On the Meeting in Guildford

On the 24th of May a collection of eminent theologians, lawyers, communicators and internet experts came together on the invitation of the Bishop of Guildford to discuss the Anglican Ministry in Second Life. This is my personal reflection on that incredible meeting.

To listen press play

14 minutes in length.
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Live blogging from Clergy conference

A first for me, blogging live.. I am at the Anglican clergy conference in the Wellington Diocese. Speaker is Revd Stuart Robinson, the Australian Anglican National Mission Facilitator. He is an experienced church planter and in his 20 years of church planting experience he lists 4 key element s for a successful plant. They are..

PASSION the need for people to be passionate about serving God. He shared that if you don’t feel passionate that perhaps it is time for a retreat or break.

PRAYER in everything we do we are a people of prayer.

PLAN have a plan.. know what it is that needs to be done.

PROGRAMS the outworking of the plan..

He mentioned that most churches do the last two well, but lack the first two.

His passion comment really got me thinking, what exactly is the benefit of passion?

Passion isn’t a skill we employ but the natural outworking of our desire to achieve. It is the manifestation of what motivates us. But passion expressed can really inspire and fire those around the passionate person. It is not the privy of leaders, but all team members, all those involved in a ministry can inspire through their passion.

His comment about taking a break if the passion dissipates is very good. Again, our unmotivated attitude adversely affects those we work with and for. If you need a break.. take it! I believe you are more useful rested than wasted.

‘Christmas: celebrating the savings or the savior?‘

The sermon preached in the Anglican Cathedral of Second Life. Not the usual Christmas sermon!! Continue reading »

6 Steps To An Amazing Christian Walk

I preached this message in the Virtual Anglican Cathedral of Second Life on the 2nd of December 07.

What are the key parts of an amazing Christian walk? Continue reading »

My Ordination to the Deaconate

After 16 years of waiting and wondering, I was ordained a Deacon on the 24th of November. Praise God!!

To view a short vid on the ordination service click the play button below.

Baby prodigy

This is an amazing vid of my 6 month old playing piano!!! Check it out Continue reading »