Tall Skinny Kiwi

Rowland Whitehead (Bilbo) visits Orkney

Rowland Whitehead is only here for a day but its an enjoyable time together. Rowland was part of the UK house church movement in the 1960's and is now encouraging new things in Barbados. We have been chatting about the history of the Jesus movement and the similarities with the current emerging church movement. I am helping him set up a blog right now - the man has LOTS of stories that should be told. His blog, a few seconds old, can be found at BarbadosBiblo.wordpress.com

Rowland went with the Bilbo name because he was asked recently whether his gift to the church was like Frodo or Bilbo and since he has been around for some time and is now helping the next generation find their place, he went with Bilbo.

My wife's Knit-work is spreading.

Bea Marshall was in the paper last week in Sheffield, she told me when i was there for dinner. And my wife Debbie got a mention as "the friend who knits for her five children" and the one who inspired Bea to start knitting again. The influence of my wife precedes me . .. Click the image to read it. Bea and Andy, and their two kids, will be starting a house church in January and visiting us in Orkney in February.

Technorati Tags: knitting

The Bible Commentary and the Blog of Chris Seay

That chapter I was writing for a new Bible commentary has been released. Its called The Dust Off Their Feet: Transitioning the Church to Conform to His Will Then/ Now and it's a commentary on Acts written by a number of emerging church practitioners. My piece is on Acts 10-13 from a missiologist's standpoint, and as one interested in the crossing of the gospel into new cultures.

Chris Seay, a good friend of mine who is the main dude behind this project, has just got himself a cool video blog called The Voice. It's flash-based so its not going to do well in Google searches and the blind URL makes it really hard to link to pages beyond the front page. But I really like it. Why?

- its simple.
- its minimal.
- its NOT videos of his sermons but real life stuff.
- its Chris's style and by that i mean Chris doesn't like blogging and doesn't like emails. He is not a text person but he IS a voice person. He loves phone calls and talking and doesn't mind a camera in front of him. A video blog makes total sense for Chris and I just love it when people and technology come together.

Chris's church in Houston is called Ecclesia. We used his church for the Doxology event last year.

Technorati Tags: bible, blog, emergent, emerging church, mission

Mark Palmer is Gone

Mark Palmer died yesterday in Ohio. Many of us got to know him through his blog where he allowed us into his life and his battle with cancer. He is on my "Vintage Theoblogians" hall of fame. I think i will leave him on it. Mark was an early blogger to the international Christian blogosphere. He was at our gathering of emerging church leaders in pasadena last year. We sure will miss him.

A while ago, Alan Creech made this PayPal button for Mark so that bloggers could remember to pray and also donate towards the medical bills. You may remember it on this site. Alan - you taught us all about how to be a good friend. I guess Mark finally gets his complete healing but his loss is certainly felt on this side.

Technorati Tags: mark palmer

Happy Birthday Miriam

I get to play VJ tonight at a dance. I am still using Arkaos after all these years to mix and perform the video loops.

The occasion???? Miriam is our Land-Rover-driving neighbour who moved a few houses down from us. She is also the vocalist for the band Ragstone 27 (see my video of their first performance). Miriam is a dear friend and a spiritual woman who often finds herself on prayer journeys into all kinds of countries. She gives a lot but doesn't usually end up on the receiving end of the gift-giving cycle. A bunch of us celebrating Miriam's birthday with a dance (Ceilidh) tomorrow and, although she doesn't know it yet, I will be the VJ. A little sample below of the video loop. [QuickTime Movie (2.2 Megs]

Off To Cambridge

I am going over to Cambridge tonight for dinner with Maggie and Phouc-Tan who are expecting the first installment to their family (due May 1st).
Maggie was in my youth group YEARS AND YEARS ago in Australia and is one of the infamous Blick sisters. Jules, another of the infamous Blick sisters, and by far the most annoying, will be there also. Cindy, the middle Blick sister, just went back to Oz.
As the former youth pastor of these and other deliquent youth now entering adulthood and threatening the fabric of human existence as we know it, I take full responsibility and humbly apologize for my shortcomings. Tonight my repentence will be further extended by eating with them and remembering old times.

Brilliant January Day

I know this is winter in the far north and everyone thinks we are freezing inside igloos here. But the weather has been calm and nice for nearly 2 weeks. Yesterday was spectactular! Absolutely BRILLIANT. No wind, only sunshine. Blue sky turning burnt orange sunset teasing the distant charcoal hills. Gosh, I'm a poet and I'm sure of it! You had to be there. My good friends Derek Chapman and Brian Standerfer were.

Brian is seriously considering bringing his family from Austin, Texas to our little town in Stromness, Orkney. And it seemed like God was putting on a show everywhere we went. I made a photo album called Brilliant January. And Derek, that picture of the rib roast you requested is there. Isn't that the best meat in the world? Thanks for coming. Stay longer next time!!!

Technorati Tags: orkney

In Memory of Andrew Lawson Johnston

Scotland lost a great man last week to cancer. Andrew Lawson Johnston, artist, Christian leader, and engraver to the Queen. Andrew was a key person, if not THE key person in the charasmatic New Wine movement in Scotland. His passing will be sorely felt all over the UK. More info here.

I had the privilege of meeting Andrew on a few occasions, including:
- once in his stately home over a tea with his lovely wife Sylvia and brother Phil, who is a popular songwriter. Doug Pagitt was with me at the time and we sang some of Phil's choruses at the table.
- 6 years ago, at his church in Alford, where Andrew led a children's communion segment of the church service that was so uplifting and honoring to children that our whole family still remember it.

Technorati Tags: charasmatic, church, religion, scotland, UK

Camping with Friends

There was a caravan of 7 cars when we left the Doxology exhibition to get to our KOA campsite. We set up our tents and made it our base. The following day we had a BBQ with about 40 people. Campsites are great places to throw parties - $15 a night for your tent and you have all the space in the world for a large party, including a swimming pool. Much cheaper than a hotel and conference room and the air is fresher.

Great to see friends we had only met on the internet like Scotty Miller (far left) and his family. Thanks for those of you who came out to see us and hung out.

When we first came to Texas in 1998, we stayed in our tent at the state park. We are still camping in the same tent.

Getting pierced with friends

Back safe in Orkney. I picked up some American friends on the way - Doug Pagitt (Young Leaders/Solomon's Porch), Mark Scandrette (ReImagine) from San Francisco, Dave from Minnesota, Michael Toy (ex-Netscape) from Palo Alto. These guys have are on a very short pilgrimage to Orkney and are here to spend time with our family.

Doug and I got our upper ear cartledge pierced yesterday in Aberdeen, in recognition of having passed through the lifetime fear of losing our fathers. Mark S. also got one in the same spot. Tonight we are having a ceremony at one of the ancient sites. I suppose it is one of the most significant rites of passage into adulthood. A few years ago i flew up to Minnesota visit Doug Pagitt when his dad passed away. Now that mine has also gone, its great timing to have Doug come over and return the favor.

Rudy throws the ball

Congrats to my good friend Rudy who gets to throw a ball in front of millions of people on Sep 28. I suppose thats an honor in USA. Well done Rudy. Enjoy your 15 minutes seconds of fame!

Missing my friends (updated)

Shannon Hopkins and Jessica Stricker have gone back to USA. I miss them already. Its been great having Shannon around for the past few months. And great to have Jessica come over for her birthday. Crowded House just played on my internet station and i was thinking of her and her retro-80's tastes. (Makes me want to grow a mullet!) Hope the next chapter in your journey goes well!

And on top of that, Julie Blick leaves tomorrow for USA and her sister Cindy left a few days ago for Ireland. The blick girls were in my youth group 12 years ago, and have been living with us in London for about 6 months.

Getting lonely around here . . . . where is everyone going? Maybe my wife and I can move back into a bedroom after a year sleeping in the living room?

Anyway, I am cooking up another incredible curry and am about to serve it up. Great beef curry. Really great!

Walking through the tunnel with Rudy (updated)

People around the world are praying for Rudy and Kafi Carrasco's son Sam. Doctors are close to diagnosing what may be lukemia. Details at Psalm34.blogspot.com. They have been dear friends of ours for a long time. Thanks for all of you who informed me.

UPDATE: Jen Lemen has a paypal button for a gift for Rudy's family. She hopes to send the balance today.

dan hughes interviewed

dan is the howard stern of theoblogians. i like the guy - he came to our wabi sabi event last year and we got to meet. but he does swear a lot (corrected), even in my comments - coop interviews him.

"Church" today with newly-weds.

What church will i go to today?
- Well, we are all going over to the home of Phutan and Maggie for what they call a "fellowship meal". I have a feeling this could be the start of a new "church" - one with couches, food, a juice machine, a bible and a sunday paper. This couple not only blogged on their wedding day earlier this month, they also kept blogging on their honeymoon in greece. Phutan also blogged his incredibly profound and romantic wedding vows, at our request. The wedding order image is here and i will be uploading a movie i made soon - of the boots in the wedding. maggie was married in her doc martins.
- Later today is "Fea5t", a post-alt.worship church in Hackney that started last week. I have been attending the meetings that led to its birth, but could not be there for the big moment.
- At 9pm on my computer is Cyberchurch at Church of Fools,, which is almost a week old.
- And of course i am logging into other bloggers today, to see how they are doing - since these people are also part of my "church".
- I just sent a report to my team members at DAWN. We at DAWN Europe meet 4x a year to check in with each other - something that we would see as a significant part of our church experience.
- And next week, other parts of my church known as Emergent Village will be meeting together (without me) on Tuesday.
- And on a larger scale, by my famiy's participation in our visible church expressions today, we form part of the church of the city of London, where we live - a church shared by all who follow Jesus in this big city.
So. What church do i go to?
Same church as you.

Want something great to read today? Check out Phutan's wedding vows . . .
called "A Husbands Love"
"Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for another.

Maggie, I will sacrifice my life for you, if the time comes I will give my life up in your place.
I will gladly die for you but more than this I will live for you.
Live to honour you to lift you up to make you feel the most loved person who has ever lived.
I will live to make each day a brighter day because I am here with you.
I will make the mundane days into the glorious.
The difficult days will be like climbing to the summit of a mountain together, and if you can’t make the last few steps I will carry you,
I will carry you to see the dawn ahead.

Magz Wedding

Wedding tomorrow and we are busy with preperations. Debbie is sewing, and Samuel is putting video together for our VJ mix to be projected on the wall at the wedding.
Who's getting married? Glad you asked. Maggie Blick was one of the girls in my youth group in Perth. W. Australia. She moved to London, just like her two younger sisters. One of them, Cindy, is living with us right now.
Anyway, Magz met Phouc-Tan (who was living with us last month), fell in love, and now they are getting married. They are a very cool couple - and they blog at Duo.
Maggie wrote an excellent novel called Remembering Malcolm MacQuarrie. One of the characters in the novel is a funny old out-of-touch pastor who bears absolutely no resemblance to the cool/with-it/wicked youth pastor she was blessed with 12 years ago. The tall skinny one, that is.

What About Erling?

No comments on Erling and the interesting variety of readers he gets commenting on his poetry site? i told you on saturday but nobody took the bait. come on. take a hint and make my day. And think about the impact spiritual poetry can make and the vast range of people who read it.

Brian O'Connell to Make Pizza this Friday

The guest of honor at this Friday's pizza party in the Jones kitchen is Brian O'Connell, Stirrer, Networker, Publisher of Impressive Documents, and Collaborator of Really Really Important Events. Brian has been working in Seattle with WEF (World Evangelical Fellowship) and Interdev, but is now getting his mind around some new projects.
We met in Malaysia, at the Great Commission Roundtable in 2001. And last year in Dallas at some other mission event. But now, in the shadow of the ominously rising pizza dough, accompanied with the smell of garlic and basil, we will conspire once again for the strategic placement of elements on the base . . . pizza base, that is.

Want to join us? Don't take this as an open invitation, and your football team is definitely NOT invited, but if you will be in London, and are not bored by missiological discussion, then you should come over for some pizza. Send me an email. We have room for a few more.

Small world

I am writing this from the offices of blogger Si Johnston and friends at Oasis, the people that run the church.co.uk site and the Headspace alternative worship service on Sunday nights. This is the church building where Emergent had an event with Brian MacLaren a few months ago and i got to meet some of the crew here. They have given me the official WiFi password so i can get online anytime i am in the area, or even just walking by their church. Thanks guys.
A few blocks away is the CMS centre, where I was meeting with Jonny Baker and others on Monday. Very connected city this London.
Speaking of connected, we were talking about blogger Andrew Hamilton, currently mentioned on Jonny's site and also on Si's site. Well, Hamo, who blogs at Backyardmissionary, has been a friend since we were both teenagers at Maylands Baptist Church in Perth, W. Australia. Si also just met with Shannon and Tamsin last week.
Hows that for a small world?

WiFi Detector

Jordon Cooper just put me on to MacStumbler, a WiFi detector for my iBook for scouting on the run, or in my car - which i often do.
You know what I really want? A WiFi detecting watch that tells the time and how strong the signal is at the same time. Will somebody please invent it?

Reflections on Mike Yaconelli - Blogs

Reflections on Mike Yaconelli - Youth Specialities "searched the blog world for folks who wrote about Mike Yaconelli and his imprint on their lives."

I crashed at Josh and Kristen's loft

Josh and Kristen blog at rearviewWindow. The wallpaper image on their blog is actually the colors of their living room rug. They are new parents of Judah and are starting a very organic church movement in Dallas - one that . . . . wait . . . let me ask Kristen . . .

Andrew: How would you describe the movement?
Kristen: I dont know that I would

A: Do you think God likes it?
K: I sure hope so.

A: Would you call it church?
K: I would definitely call it church.

Dan Hughes of They Blinked is also here in Dallas and is doing something similar. I wont have time to visit him, however. i have a plane to catch. My plane drops me off at Gatwick in London and I have about 8 boring hours to get over to Heathrow for my connecting flight.

Brian McLaren (dont spell it "MacLaren") has NO HAIR

Fun to be with Brian again at this conference which is based on one of his books. He had me sit up with him and answer questions from the people. After that we went off to London Bible College where he was teaching that night.
I like Brian.
Jason Clark is also here and is running this conference. Good to hang with him also.

edit - this post orginally said "brian maclaren [sic] which made it register highly on google search for the misspelled "brian maclaren" - thus i have left this sentence in for those who type in the wrong spelling.

At the Baker's House

I woke up this morning in the house of Jonny Baker and his family. Nice to be in such good company. Steve Collins also lives here and you might know him from some of the web sites he has desgned and manages - in particular SmallFire.org and AlternativeWorship.org.

Mike Yaconelli goes to heaven

I am grieved beyond words to hear this announcment from Youth Specialties:
"El Cajon, CA, October 30, 2003 - Mike Yaconelli, owner and co-founder of Youth Specialties, was involved in a fatal car accident late Wednesday night, October 29, outside his hometown of Yreka, in northern California. He passed away early Thursday morning, October 30. In addition to founding Youth Specialties, an organization dedicated to equipping and training youth workers through events and resources, Mike was the founder and general editor of The Door (formerly The Wittenberg Door) and the author of numerous books, including Dangerous Wonder and Messy Spirituality. Mike was also a contributing columnist to Youthworker journal."

Thanks Jason Clark for the news.
I got to hang with Mike just 8 weeks ago at Greenbelt Festival in England. It was the first time I had actually met him in person. He was hugely popular at Greenbelt but always had time for people. He was very encouraging to me. I shared with him what I saw in the emerging culture and of the different movements going on. He had lots of time for me and even asked to spend more time. I got to pray for him right before he spoke. I put my hand on his shoulder to pray for him and I looked up at the thousands of people in the grandstands, and I felt God say that he wanted to Mike to speak "straight up" to the people - to tell it like it really was, to tell them exactly who they were. Maybe his humor was just HONESTY. Maybe he carried part of how God sees us.

He made jokes about his age, connected with everyone, connected them with God. The Door was also fantastic. It is still a model of Christian satire and irony - something that we desperately need in the church. We need to laugh at ourselves and Mike Yaconelli showed us how.
We will miss you, Mike. May many more rise up in your place.

Bea and Andy arrive in Prague

Bea and Andy of Moogaloo.com arrived in Prauge and are hanging with us for a few days. Word from Sheffield, where they live, is that Mike Breen is leaving St Thomas Crookes to teach at Fuller and take a church in Phoenix.