colorado negrito

Huia come home

2011-10-06T10:23:00.002+13:00

Christmas 2014 will be 200 years since Marsden first preached the gospel on the shores of Aotearoa NZ. This article by Jay Lucas is an amazing, insightful essay on the need for us to understand our Christian story and where the church has come from in NZ. Huia Come Come

Living on the Saturday

2011-04-21T19:33:00.004+12:00

Here is my stations of the cross contribution:While you listen to this......think about this:For artier stuff come along to this: dates and times

Social media

2011-04-01T14:44:00.001+13:00

I am off fb / twitter for lent to put time into face to face relationships. Not really missing it. The stream of info can be a bit overwhelming at times. Then there are the times when people share TMI - too much information, that perhaps should be left unsaid or sent in a direct message to the person involved. It's a public forum people! Life is also less complicated not trying to read into why

3 months

2010-10-22T20:33:00.004+13:00

In three months I have been in 3 countries, visited 3 families.According to this video, I could have learnt a new language:See Fluent in 3 monthsWhilst this is an enormous claim, it sounds like it could be like a 21st century L.A.M.P. We used LAMP to learn Spanish over a year, and I it really works because the goal is communication, so you start talking to real people about real things from day

2 Blog or not 2 Blog

2010-07-22T00:11:00.004+12:00

That is the question. With facebook, people seem to care more.Twitter is just broadcasting.Has blogging become like sending a fax?Whaddaythink?

Serendipity

2010-05-12T21:18:00.002+12:00

OK. So I kinda think that I have had a few God organized encounters at this conference so far. I get off the plane Monday afternoon and miss the bus by about 10 minutes. Have to wait 1 1/2 hrs for next bus. I know you're gonna think: bumma. Well I did at first. Then I got a free subway pass from a new Japanese friend Kunio (he translates free bible software into Japanese). Next I bump into

Tokyo 2010

2010-05-07T23:28:00.005+12:00

Heading to Japan on Monday for Tokyo 2010It is a missionary conference in the style of the Edinburgh 1910 conference.I will try to post or tweet something each day.Can't get that Vapours song out of my brain: Turning Japanese.See: youtube - Turning JapaneseMissions related posts I am posting on no.8 wire, general posts here. Photos on facebook and random thoughts on twitter (see sidebar)

Rule of an antinomian

2010-02-21T02:16:00.003+13:00

I always thought that monasticism was about wearing brown cloaks & hiding away from the world. Now I see that it is about ordering my life in such a way that I can live out a radical commitment to God, with a community of believers & amongst a hurting world. Being the spontaneous (lazy?) person that I am, I don’t display the discipline my father showed every morning that I can remember, arising

Lent

2010-02-15T19:09:00.002+13:00

Great Lent resourses.I am still thinking about how to best celebrate Lent ie. What to giive up. Any ideas?

There is a God

2009-12-14T16:28:00.003+13:00

New Zealand is following other countries in having an “atheist bus campaign”.Liturgy says:So, in summary, let’s not react against these ads – they are a wonderful opportunity not only to deepen our own reflection, but to clarify the misunderstandings between us. Atheists can be prophets, challenging the idols that Christians present.Also see the TVNZ interview

Little Drummer Boy

2009-12-11T16:29:00.002+13:00

Cool rendition. Never knew what this song was about, but wiki says:The lyrics tell the apocryphal story of a poor young boy who, unable to afford a gift for the infant Jesus, plays his drum for the newborn with the Virgin Mary's approval. Miraculously, the baby, although a newborn, seems to understand and smiles at the boy in gratitude.

Fences & footprints

2009-11-07T11:55:00.003+13:00

Accusations-You’re outside the fence!But who erected it in the first place?Jesus says-Come to meAnd the invitation to leave aside all that holds us backYet Phari-seesWe add to the weight of the oppressed-Be like us or he won’t accept youWhen he is weAnd his acceptance is based on faith in a personNot interpretation of a propositionWe reduce conversation to catechismAnd faith to assentWhen we

Man Cave

2009-10-11T23:33:00.003+13:00

What's a Man Cave? man cave n. A dedicated area of a house, such as a basement, workshop, or garage, where a man can be alone or socialize with his friends.Purpose A man cave is loosely a male-only space to retreat to, watch sports matches, or play video games. According to psychiatrist and author Scott Haltzman, it is important for a man to have a place to call his own, referring to

A feast of your presence

2009-08-26T10:55:00.001+12:00

The clock ticks onA sense of time passingI am in the momentEach moment part of a great spread of momentsLaid out over time & spaceTo fill my lifeWith a feast of your presencePain is on the tableAnd joyBut the greatest joyIs that I share this table with youOr ratherThat you share it with me

Exclusion & Embrace 1

2009-07-31T15:57:00.006+12:00

Haven't blogged for a while. Thought I would share with you my engagement with the bookExclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation by Miroslav Volf.I preached recently from Matthew 8: 1-4 where Jesus healed the leper. (some notes here, ppt here). After asking who are the marginalized in our community, I refered to Volf who saysExclusion has

Moment of Surrender

2009-05-28T19:58:00.003+12:00

I love this song. especially the last lines:I was speeding on the subwayThrough the stations of the crossEvery eye looking every other wayCounting down ’til the train would stopAt the moment of surrenderOf vision of over visibilityI did not notice the passers-byAnd they did not notice meAll LyricsVery spiritual, very realistic, very deep: quintessential U2

& you call this democracy?

2009-05-19T09:06:00.004+12:00

I don't politipost too often, but I am extremely frustrated with our current government's actions.On the one hand, the initial bill to make changes to out largest metropolitan area making it a supercity has been passed under urgency (read: with no select committee process, read: we the inhabitants don't get to give our opinion). Labour has used a process of filibustering to slow down the passage

Hug-a-ginga day

2009-05-08T10:21:00.002+12:00

So what r u waiting 4? http://tinyurl.com/c5skyt

Bono’s confession of faith — Cranach: The Blog of Veith

2009-05-01T08:39:00.001+12:00

Bono: That’s between me and God. But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s—. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.Bono’s confession of faith — Cranach: The Blog of VeithBlogged with the Flock

Blog Wordle

2009-04-27T10:55:00.001+12:00

This is cool. Make one at http://www.wordle.net/

Ode to the Fallen

2009-04-25T13:23:00.003+12:00

if(newsflash != '' && newsflashid != ''){ getNFCookie(newsflashid);Ode to the Fallen (Laurence Binyon),They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old.Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning.We will remember themBlogged with the Flock Browser

Cool Apps

2009-04-13T20:19:00.004+12:00

Been playing with some cool social networking apps over the weekend:Twitter I can thank Steve for this one. Twitter helps you stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing. I am using it to update my facebook With Brightkite you can tell people where you are (googlemap included - freaky) and what is

19 Minutes

2009-04-13T20:16:00.001+12:00

Listen!

Lent Journey 3

2009-04-09T12:01:00.003+12:00

Cessionite said:“Not much more to say other than I am more convinced than ever that it is engagement with God rather than abstinence which makes the difference. One creates the platform for the other.” MoreI resonate with this comment. I decided to work on my inappropriate language during Lent. About 1/2 way through I found that God was challenging me on my attitudes to others as well as the

Out Of Africa

2009-03-30T05:14:00.001+13:00

Riche is on her way back to the boys. Miss her already. I guess you could say she is Out of Africa. The pici is her outside the Karen Blixen house whose book became the famous film with Robert Redford & Meryl Streep.

Kazuri Bead Factory

2009-03-22T03:56:00.001+13:00

Kazuri is Swahili for “small and beautiful.” We stumbled upon the Kazuri Bead Factory by accident. Solo mums are hired to make awesome jewelry from Mt Kenya clay. Employment here changes the quality of their lives & that of their children. See article: Kenya’s Kazuri Bead Factory Allows Women from Kibera Slum to Build New Lives We saw the process first hand and of course now have some

Lent Journey 2

2009-03-20T20:24:00.003+13:00

In the lent journal from cession|community, Tuesday’s entry about Matthew asked: Are there people you play Pharisee with? Undesirables who you avoid, marginalize or judge? On Sunday we went to church here in Nairobi with a mission partner. After the service I stood by the newcomers table, looking at some material about the church. A man, who I assumed was a greeter, came up to me and started

Work by the Pool

2009-03-20T10:06:00.001+13:00

Work can take many forms.Here by the pool answering emails from back in NZ. Taking a few days rest at a fantastic place called Kivi Milimani Hotel, recommended by the company that drives SIMers around Nairobi and will take us up to the conference in Brakenhurst: Elida Tours & Safari

Kirk was here

2009-03-17T20:17:00.000+13:00

Kirk travels with us wherever we go. Here he is enjoying the company of a guard at the Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya Kindaruma Guest House in Nairobi. Full Board at a reasonable price. Email: ghouse@fpfk.or.ke

So close yet so far away

2009-03-17T01:35:00.002+13:00

Hi there.We are in Nairobi, enjoying looking around and meeting our colleagues here.We arrived on Friday morning hoping to visit a mission partner in Southern Sudan, but the UN has grounded flights in and out of his city. I fell pretty cut up about that, and I'm sure he is too, as his stetson hat is now closer than NZ, but still far far away:-(We have been redeeming the time hearing about

Lent

2009-03-04T18:07:00.001+13:00

Never done lent before. Now attending cession | community, fantastic church that I feel is my Turangawaewae (Maori for a place to stand). See www.cession.org.nzDecided to work on my inappropriate language during Lent. Everytime. I say a bad word I look up a passage of scripture on words. So far 3 days and 6 lookups:-( Pray that God will work on my heart 'cause our words flow from there.What

Adagio in G Minor (Albinoni)

2009-01-15T18:19:00.002+13:00

This is my favourite classical music piece EVER. I first heard this as part of a Passion scene one Easter.What's your's?

I am Not God

2008-11-22T17:36:00.002+13:00

I spent 4 days last week at the Titoki Healing Centre. I highly recommmend it for time out, opportunity to just hang with God and also for the theophostic prayer ministry, which really helped me more forward on some personal stuff I have been dealing with lately. TPM is focused on people's identifying the lies they believe that are causing painful emotions and replacing these lies with the

a world redolent with spirituality

2008-11-18T20:10:00.001+13:00

Eugene Petersen, writes of how the Russian novelist, Fydor Dostoevesky challenged him.He (Dostoevsky) refused to take the evidence that the people presented of themselves as truth; he dove beneath the surface of their lives and discovered in the depths, fire and passion and God. He trained my antennae to pick up the suppressed signals of spirituality in conversations, discovering tragic plots

What Would Jesus Vote?

2008-10-20T18:04:00.005+13:00

Both US and NZ elections are happening very soon. I am very cynical about believers believing that you have to be a Republican to be a true believer (US) or vote National (NZ) because "Labour has brought in anti-christian legislation in the last 3 years." None of the parties in NZ have convinced me yet to vote for them.The following 2 posts make interesting reading and resonate with me:Ethics

Secondhand Serenade

2008-09-25T16:03:00.004+12:00

I love this band. My son got me into them. Their website here.Listen to one of my favorite songs:

Lying Fallow

2008-08-08T16:03:00.003+12:00

Tomorrow we start a 3 month sabbatical.Today I met with my mentor who encouraged me to lie fallow for a while ,and to wait for the time when God begins to bring new life before breaking the fallow ground and watering the seed. We need times in our lives when we just rest, and for us after 2 years back in NZ working pretty solidly and a total of 10 years working in missions, now is that time.He

Dance then wherever you may be

2008-07-25T19:08:00.001+12:00

Thanks Stu for this great vid. See the d&m stuff at:Aah now, that's what it's all about then

Signs - 6/2 Safe House

2008-07-05T17:27:00.004+12:00

A friend of one of our boys is staying over a couple of nights as some stuff was going down at home. It's cool that he sees our place as a safe house and that his olds are ok with him being here. We're noone special, but I remember praying that our home would be full of God's Spirit and that all who entered would find peace.Also reminds me of one of my favourute psalms (Psalm 46), which starts

Signs 3/2 - Jesus Prayer

2008-07-02T21:47:00.003+12:00

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Fatherhood

2008-07-01T09:38:00.001+12:00

Craig McConnell: 29 says:"I am a pretty good father. I wish I had been the father I am now back when the girls were little. Guess how I became the father I am now. God used my children to grow me up… to father me… to sculpt me a little more into His image. I think God uses parenting to change/parent us more than he uses us to nurture our children (and in saying that I don’t for a

Signs 1/2 - Standing in the Need of Prayer

2008-06-30T22:02:00.003+12:00

At times I winge about struggling to find genuine community here in NZ. But in the last week, as we have shared some of our troubles with friends and collegues around the world, we have received an outpouring of love, prayer and encouragement. This international expression of the messianic community is a sure sign of the Kingdom.

Signs Recap - Shalom

2008-06-29T22:30:00.004+12:00

The idea with this signs series is 5 days of post, one day off and one day recap. One of the recap questions is :Are we seeing evidence of God’s healing, forgiving, reconciling, and creating work to go on? Is there evidence of God’s desire for shalom.This week has been one of most difficult of my life (hence no posts on day 4&5). Yet the solitude I wrote of on day 2 has given me a peace in

Signs - Day Three

2008-06-25T22:34:00.002+12:00

Looking for a sign.Cool idea came to my wife in the middle off the night, helped us outwit our 13 year old/ Must be God :-)

Signs - Day Two

2008-06-24T12:19:00.005+12:00

God is in the quietness of my house. I'm not really praying, but I can sense His nearness. Solitude is a spiritual discipline that I need to practise more.The rain comes and goes, beating it's weary path against the solid roof.It cannot enter, but it never gives up hope.Trying yet again.Knowing that one day it will succeed.Even if it's in a hundred years.

Signs - Day One

2008-06-23T21:25:00.001+12:00

Bingham AcademyWhen I look back over the day I see God at work in the ordinary NZers that do extra-ordinary things in his strength. We had the priviledge to get to know one such couple over lunch today and hear how a farm raised lad turned principal and a physiotherapist have turned around an international school in Ethiopia. As I heard their story, I realize the priviledged position we are in

Looking for Kingdom Signs

2008-06-22T20:23:00.003+12:00

Steve Taylor is encouraging people to look for signs of God's Kingdom in their daily lives and blog it. The idea is toa) look for the Kingdom in your lifeb) write a paragraph 5 days in 7c) reflect on those 5 days once a weekd) make that publicAfter an awful week last week I need to be looking for God and seeing what he is doing, so I'm gonna give it a go starting tommorrow (Monday).Join

Stuff Christians like

2008-06-20T10:05:00.002+12:00

This website is hilarious: stuff christians like.If you've ever been a sound girl/guy you will appreciate this oneOne:We've got a new songWe all forgot to tell youUntil our service moreI also enjoyed: Powerpointing for the Lord

Interesting facts about llamas

2008-06-10T11:10:00.001+12:00

Over the hill?

2008-05-24T20:29:00.005+12:00

Turned 40 today. Seem like I have been celebrating it for weeks. My parents took me & Riche out to Windross House Restaurant before vanishing overseas again a couple of weeks ago. Last week I went with some mates up the lugeI got a coffee card from one friend for my favorite drive-thru-cafe (DTC) which I enjoyed throughout the week. Then yesterday my musical present arrived - a cool

Go the 'Caines

2008-05-17T23:07:00.003+12:00

On a whim, I took the family to their first rep. rugby match at Eden Park last night. Blues (Auckland) vs Hurricaines (Wellington). I'm a 'caines supporter, Riche found out that she was too. Isaac supported the Blues and Caleb the 'caines, because that's what brothers do:-)It was a real close game but the Blues came out on top :-(Fantastic night. I wonder if our org would sponsor a corporate

Joined the Gym

2008-05-06T21:52:00.007+12:00

OK. I'm nearly 40 and haven't done serious exercise for about 20 years, tipped the scales at 90kg, have lots of scary indicators so with a bit of encouragement I finally took the plunge.I started yesterday, with a bit of fear and trepidation, even forgot my shoes:-) Felt a bit like this:Hoping to look like this next week...but it might take a bit longer. Hoping that I can stick at it. I need to

Mangatepopo River Disaster

2008-04-17T22:15:00.000+12:00

Please pray for the families and community here in East Auckalnd after this unspeakable tragedy. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46Kiwi Chronicles: Mangatepopo River Disaster: "Mangatepopo River Disaster"

Sanctification and Duct-tape

2008-04-15T18:40:00.003+12:00

My workmate was asked to speak at a church overseas on sanctification.Here's an example of why I need it, beacuse -"I have not yet been made perfect. But I move on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for." Philippians 3:11b (NIrV)It is dark out tonight. I went to the local gas station with son no.2 to get an ice-cream ('nutha story). After being cut off twice on the way there, I

Bluff

2008-03-29T19:29:00.003+13:00

Been on a whirlwind trip of South Island meeting some leaders and mission partners. Flew to Christchurch on Wed, drove on to Dunedin that evening. Down to Gore Friday via Tapanui. Invercargil today and back to Dunedin. Fly home tomorrow night. Fantastic networking time. Had an hour free today so visited the bottom of the South Island - bluffAlso bought a bluff specialty: oysters - YUM YUM YUM!

Don't try this at home :-)

2008-03-12T21:09:00.000+13:00

Least we forget Ecuador

2008-03-12T20:05:00.001+13:00

Still on my mind. Still in my prayers.Will you continue to pray with me for Ecuador?

Favourite pics

2008-02-27T23:33:00.002+13:00

Africa trip 2007 Asia trip 2007 style="width:426px;text-align:left;">

BMX bails

2008-02-19T15:46:00.005+13:00

Well, son no.1 has taken up BMX at the local bike-park. He has proved to be a real boy in the last month with 3 spectacular bails. Here's the 1st one:Thankfully no serious injury: Look mum:-)2nd Bail meant a ride home in a ute, a trip to the clinic for a sprained foot, crutches for a few days and a day off school.3rd Bail was an ambulance trip to the hospital for 9 stiches in a fleshy-cut under

Time given to inner renewal is never wasted

2008-02-14T22:02:00.002+13:00

That's a quote from Henri Nouwen in a devotional book I just got out called Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma. I believe it, I just need to practise it more. He is drawing me in.

Happy Auckland Anniversary Day

2008-01-28T12:54:00.000+13:00

It's Auckland Anniversary day today. We are on holiday anyway, but it is nice to have fewer cars on the road. Also the boys have won a night at the Auckland Zoo, a fantastic zoo.We drop them off at 2.30pm and pick them up at 9am tomorrow.They are so excited!

No.8 wire - new blog

2008-01-24T22:11:00.000+13:00

I've just started a new blog with the purpose of starting a conversation on issues that relate to missions. Check it out now:No.8 wire: kiwi ingenuity serving in missionThe latest issue: Incarnation & Re-entry : what is re-entry like for missos and how did Jesus go with his re-entry into heaven?You will also see some back articles from my this blogIf any of these have make you think then

Galmi Hospital Redevelopment

2008-01-07T18:53:00.000+13:00

Remember my post when we visited Galmi Hospital in Niger?Here is a video of the hospital and construction work going on. Also check out the website Vimeo, which seems to have better image quality than googlevideo or youtube

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T14:22:00.001+13:00

Hi there everyone. Have a great festive season.Feliz navidad, prospero año y felicidad.Negrito

Yay! Llamas

2007-11-22T22:13:00.000+13:00

Flying Away

2007-11-22T21:25:00.000+13:00

Off on Saturday overseas (Just me this time). I'll fill you'all in when I get back with some picis.Happy Thanksgiving.

Cool Animation

2007-11-01T10:37:00.000+13:00

My son made this. isn't he clever!

Missions & Other Religions

2007-10-25T11:31:00.000+13:00

Two weeks ago I shared at the Manurewa Baptist Church. For the second time this year I held an open conversation in the youth service based around some thought provoking videos about poverty & afluenza, advocacy, and one called What in the world.Twice now a question has come up from a young person about why and how we reach people of other religions with the message of Jesus Christ. In both

Shift Happens

2007-10-11T12:48:00.000+13:00

Let this wee vid blow your mindBTW: back in NZ a few weeks, will post some more on trip when I have time.

Heading Home

2007-09-18T11:29:00.000+12:00

Hi there. I am writing from my hotel room in LA. In a few hours I will be heading home on AirNZ - more than 12 hour flight to Auckland. I can't wait to see the family. I have been away for a month and I really miss the boys. It was great to have Riche with me on most of the trip, but I haven't seen her for 2 weeks either! It was a fantastic trip but it is time to go home.Since my last post we

No plane, try by road (track, sandy ditch!!!!)

2007-09-07T21:57:00.000+12:00

I was going to tell you about our trip back to Niamey via road (if you could call it that:-) but Riche has said it all

Danja Hospital

2007-09-05T04:18:00.000+12:00

Mark & Faye Griffiths are on their way back here. Mark is a doctor at Danja Hospital. It is a leprosarium as well as offering a general clinic and some surgery as surgeons are available. The guy in this photo greeted us at the gate. He is a great witness to what a difference this place makes in the lives of leprosy sufferers. There are not many people who would want to work in this difficult

Market

2007-09-05T04:15:00.001+12:00

We visited the Markets with Ceciel just after the rains. It is like one of the older markets (PPG) in Guayaquil and there was a wide range of veges, spices, second hand parts and clay pots. This picture is of desert sand that is sold for camel feed. Bartering and such games are the norm.

Hausa Church

2007-09-05T04:14:00.000+12:00

Purple robes, amazing singing, translated songs, heat, men on one side women on the other, preaching about tithing as much as anything else and seeking funds to complete the pastor’s house – all these are impressions I take from the church service we went to on Sunday. The service was in Hausa, the language most commonly spoken in Niger. But there are a number of believers who speak English and

Sowing Seeds of Change in the Sahel

2007-09-05T03:59:00.000+12:00

Who would have thought that planting Australian Acacia trees around the plots of millet that everyone grows here would generate income and help people survive during the harsh heat that is Niger most of the year, but it works. Chris Nicholson is involved in this project that shows villagers how to plant these trees that produce bushels of seed and also firewood from pruning that generate income

Fulani Ministry

2007-09-05T03:57:00.000+12:00

The Fulani are a minority group in Niger. They are a semi-nomadic unreached people group.Mike & Ceciel lived up north in Tahoua & also in a little Fulani village even further north. Recently they came to Maradi to help Tambaya a Fulani Christian leader. They are putting the scriptures and good Christian teaching on to MegaVoice players (mp3 players with fixed content), so that the Fulani

Maradi

2007-09-05T03:40:00.000+12:00

We arrived here Saturday. Richelle is much better PTL so we could make the 2 ½ hour journey by road from Galmi. (The photo is yard sale day on the road). Tomorrow we leave for Niamey. The Hughes & Nicholsons are doing a fantastic job. They speak Fulfulde & Hausa respectively and have adapted well to living in this hot & hard place. In fact it doesn’t surprise me to meet and also hear of many

Crook as a dog

2007-09-01T05:18:00.000+12:00

Riche was up all night crook as a dog. She is also running a fever. Please pray for her. Bloods show it is not malaria. We think it is just a virus, but she feels like crap. We are hoping to go to Maradi tomorrow, but that will depend on her improving.I got my trouser zip fixed today: 300CPF ie. about NZ$1. Coudn't even buy the zip for that in NZ.

Hello…Hola….Salam Malak...Bonjour…Sannu

2007-09-01T05:17:00.000+12:00

I realized today that in a week I have been in 6 countries & spoken in 5 languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, French & Hausa). Here in Niger, the main languages are French & Hausa. The French I can understand some, since it is close to Spanish at times.Had a funny experience at an airport in North Africa. Our plane was late and we (read I) was concerned we might miss our connecting flight. A

Galmi

2007-08-30T05:01:00.000+12:00

We are at Galmi Hospital today. We flew in by SIM-AIR on a single-prop Saratoga Piper. It was fun. Heaps better than the other option of a bus ride of a whole day over roads that have detours on the detours because the bridges have been washed out with flooding. The woman who came with us, Kristine, smiled all the way, I think because she was so freaked out.Galmi hospital was started in 1950.

Sahel Academy- Niamey

2007-08-29T04:52:00.000+12:00

Great school for both missionary and local children. NZ teachers could fit in well here – they even have a staff room! The director of the school showed us round. They urgently need a principal (associate principal in NZ lingo) to look after the teaching programme – preferably a teacher with some school management experience. The minstry position is for 1 year starting NOW! They also need a maths

Christian Education Project - Niamey

2007-08-29T04:48:00.000+12:00

Arrived early this morning (5AM), grateful for a few hours sleep. We are staying at the Centre Biblique Niamey, Niger. This morning we visited the Christian Education project. Niger teachers are attending a block course to help them to teach with a biblical worldview and in a creative way. The classes were colorful & students participative. The tutors have visited 3 years now and are beginning to

Camels & stuff

2007-08-28T04:48:00.000+12:00

We stopped over in North Africa on our way to Niger. Road a camel, visited the souk. Had an awesome time (too short).

Jersusalem

2007-08-26T16:41:00.000+12:00

From the time I arrived in London until the time I left England I could get this song out of my head:And did those feet in ancient timewalk upon England’s mountains green?And was the holy Lamb of Godon England’s pleasant pastures seen?And did the countenance divineshine forth upon our clouded hills?And was Jerusalem builded hereamong these dark Satanic Mills?Bring me my bow of burning gold!Bring

Big Ben

2007-08-25T04:16:00.000+12:00

We had one day in London: rode the tube, saw Big Ben (not chiming at the moment), Buckingham Place and the like. Ate Indian at Liverpool St Station. Feel like I am in Monopoly game.Sweltered in the best (only?) day of the English Summer (rest of the time was wet or overcast & cold).

Tube

2007-08-24T22:10:00.001+12:00

After 36 hours traveling by plane, train and automobile, I am now with my media naranja in Wetheringsett, near London, UK. Yay!The tube was a bit like being on a bus in Guayaquil - packed in like sardines. I was wasted, but quite enjoyed it. It seems to be a great leveler in that there were people of all walks of life and ethnicities all together. I was glad to finally arrive as didn't sleep

Africa here we come

2007-08-20T11:42:00.001+12:00

If I look pensive, it is because my better half is half-way around the world in the UK. She left Friday. The great news it that I'm gonna catch up to her next Friday (I leave NZ Wed):-) then we get to visit 4 NZ families serving in Niger (West Africa), so the map behind me is well positioned. I will try and blog a bit when I have e-mail access so we can tell you all about the big trip. Thank

1 year since we left

2007-08-11T21:57:00.000+12:00

Hard to believe but it is a year since we left Ecuador (August 12th).Wanna know why I miss it?Read these great blogs of real life God stuff with real people in Guayaquil (ciudad de mis amores).What a differenceHeroesChuruteSend us outHouse church baptismsten2b virusor see the latest Mblog post.Man I miss those guys.Wanna know why I am in NZ? to reproduce myself and send more labourers into the

What is the greatest threat?

2007-07-12T21:19:00.000+12:00

Glenn Penner of VOM recently posted an interesting article on dependency. He says:I do not believe that persecution is the greatest threat to the continuing spread of the gospel. I am much more concerned about something that, at first glace, seems benign and even helpful but which I contend is far more insidious. I am referring to the dependency creating practices that ministries are

I want an iPhone

2007-07-07T17:01:00.000+12:00

iPhone is just out. Great video by David Pogue.OK. I'll admit it, I'd love an iPhone. Is that being sucked into materialism?Good thing they are not out in NZ yet.

Rocks, Sand & Water

2007-06-26T11:27:00.000+12:00

These last few months have definitely been a steep learning curve and to be honest the magnitude of the work of director in the midst of major life change has at times been overwhelming. As I looked to gain a good perspective on things, a friend of mine shared with me the analogy of rocks, sand and water and it has really helped. Water represents all those urgent things that always come your

Stir Your World

2007-06-23T20:20:00.000+12:00

A powerful viral video from World Vision Stir (Ozzie Youth initiative). Watch it.

A few blogs I like

2007-06-14T21:36:00.000+12:00

Wow. Time flies huh! Seems ages since I last posted, and it IS.Here are a few of my favourite blogs that I read.1. Tall Skinny KiwiOne of my favourite posts is a video that you read scripture under - Dangerous Words of Jesus awesome. I use it in all sorts of settings.2. Jesus Creed - includes cool prayers like this: God be in my head and in my understanding.God be in mine eyes and in my

What's your visual DNA?

2007-05-13T19:24:00.000+12:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

IYKDWYBDYKGWYBG

2007-05-06T19:14:00.000+12:00

Hi there.In June we will be participating along with other missions and churches in the MI7 conference called Remodelling Mission. As we look to how we do mission in the future may this article from the M Blog (Read it Here) by Guy Muse (our IMB partner in Guayaquil, Ecuador) encourage us to be prepared to make changes to adapt to a quickly changing world. Quoting Curtis Sergeant he says:

It's all about me...yeah right.

2007-04-28T20:17:00.000+12:00

This is a take-off of the Tui adverts that are world famous in NZ. I saw it on emergent kiwi.Reading Mustard Seed vs. McWorld (see previous post) has really challenged me. Despite 8 years in Ecuador I now feel kinda trapped in middle-class NZ: mortgage, busyness and the like. I miss the community of our house-churches in Guayaquil and am finding it easy to revert to WASP values rather than

Books, books & more books

2007-04-08T16:48:00.000+12:00

I just love reading. Living in Ecuador for the last 8 years I would quickly swallow up any books that came my way. Coming back to NZ I really enjoy visiting the bookshops & public library and I usually have 4 or 5 books on the go at any one time. This week I discovered that I could join the library at Carey Baptist College - wow, thousands of Christian books only 15 minutes away. I made myself

Finding My Rhythm

2007-03-31T13:01:00.000+12:00

After my first month or so in leadership I hit a wall where I was physically, spiritually and emotionally tired after 2 weeks of meetings, air travel, long days and dealing with difficult issues and real people. In talking with a trusted leader I met "by chance" at my lowest point:-) I realized that most of my stress was coming from CFS (Christian fatigue syndrome): I had been ministering long

Breaking out of the Typical

2007-03-22T19:30:00.000+12:00

What marks us out from the rest?The following link shows a video from Mute Math that encourages us not to be trapped in the typical (lyrics here)Peter challenges us to maintain among unbelievers an exemplary example 1 Peter 2:11-12 . But sometimes we live so like those around us that they don’t even know we are followers of Jesus. We have Jesus in our lives - it should show in our lifestyle, in

I am Ginger!

2007-03-19T21:03:00.000+12:00

Here's a funny video from Catherine Tate about being a red-head. When I was young I got teased. Now I am glad I stand out from the rest.Gingers for justiceAlso see wikipedia red-head