Gerry

Last night after what seemed like another very long Sunday I came home from church and sat for a while. I noticed a DVD movie on the coffee table. It was one that Simon had been studying for a graphic arts subject at school. The movie was entitled 'Gerry'. Simon had told me several times how good it was, but also added that I would not like it. About 10.00 pm I put it on.

It was a most unusual film that intrigued me immediately. The film opens without any credits, actor’s names or even a title. The story is about two guys in their 20's both named Gerry, who go for a walk and get lost in the desert. They have no water or food with them at all. At first their confidence and humour propel them forwards. Their friendship however, is tested to the limits as their situation becomes increasingly critical. The movie is set against a back drop of rugged, austere beauty.

This is a film that breaks all the rules. There is very little plot, very little dialogue and no special effects at all. There is no female, and virtually no other actors in the entire movie.

Another fascinating characteristic of the movie is the use of long camera shots that do not change. In most movies these days the camera angle changes every few seconds. Some of the shots in this movie last seven minutes or more without changing. At first this is quite unnerving when you are used to the more typical high action intensity that Hollywood usually produces. There is a hypnotic monotony about much of the film. For periods of the time there is not even a musical score included. The film is not for the passive observer. It requires both great patience and presence. It is not a flim that provides some light entertainment value.


So what is it really all about? Here are two guys who have every prop in life ripped away from them. They have only unmapped paths of a rugged desert landscape stretching before them to trudge endlessly upon. They remain totally clueless as to what to do, and so they walk. What disturbed me even more is that the two guys seem somewhat unconcerned about their plight. The futility of their plight becomes increasingly gut wrenching. They are lost, and yet they always keep moving. That for me was the real impact. What does it mean to be lost?

The film is a visually powerful commentary on life full monotonous motion yet totally devoid of meaning and direction. As I watched I became increasingly agitated. Surely there must be more to it than what I am seeing. Surely people are looking for these guys. Surely a helicopter will appear in the sky.

When it did finally end I sat disturbed for several minutes before being able to move. Here was a provocative parable about the meaning of life. An unforgettable film.

Vintage Rock

The guy in the photo above is Alvin Cook. Alvin is a member of our church who also plays in an good old rock 'n roll band. Last night his band had a gig at the Polish club and about 35 people from the church went along to hear him play. It was a great night and a lot of fun, but what I enjoyed most of all was watching someone do something they love to do. As Alvin said after playing for about four hours, 'I just love making music'. He was alive!

Sunrise out my window

This is another photo taken out of our lounge room window - This time at 6.15 am. (I am usually still in bed at this time!)

Tolosa Park

Tolosa Park is a favorite picnic place for the population of Hobart. It is actually a circular park built around the edges of a reservoir. For our day off today we decided that seeing that it was yet another glorious day in Tassie, that we would give the restaurants a miss. We picked up some gourmet sausages, salads and supplies from a trendy nearby shop and headed off for the park. It's only about a 20 minute drive away. If you look in the photo above you can make out our BBQ spot and our car near by. It occurs to me that anyone reading our blog page might be drawn to the conclusion that all we do is have days off and gorge ourselves on all the delights that Tassie has to offer. One day I'll have to write some more about my day job. In the meantime, this glorious spring weather is to be exploited to the max! Hey, isn't the girl sitting on the park bench a beauty?

The tree has been cut down

Those of you who have been to our house will know the problem we have had with the tree growing in our neighbour's yard that was blocking much of our view. Yesterday they lopped it off at fence level which means our view is better than ever. The photo above was taken from our lounge room window.

Can you pick who is missing?

I received this a print of this photo from Ingrid and Vinnie (They stayed with us recently) It's a great shot of all of us including the dog, 'Shadow' sitting at the front. BUT is everyone in the photo? We will have to try again next time.

East Coast Calling

Well it was Show Day in Hobart today and that meant a day off work. The kids all slept in as usual. Jo and I decided that we would head off up the east coast. We hadn't traveled up there for 13 years. We set off and stopped at Sorrell market on the way and then headed up the coast getting as far as Bicheno. It was brilliant sunshine when we left Hobart but pouring with rain by the time we got up the coast a bit. It also got much colder than it was and I didn't bring a jumper with me. We stopped at an op shop and I bought myself a second hand wind cheater. It did the job nicely. We enjoyed our leisurely drive around the coast and stopped in several paces to take some photos and have a stretch of the legs. We topped out day off with apple pie and cream and a good coffee at Bicheno before heading home. We've only been home a short time and already I can hear someone saying 'What;s for tea?'. Well, we are home and guess what. I don't have to go out tonight.

My image of God

This is something that I read today. I liked it so much I thought I might pass it on. It describes the way I like to think of God. I have often thought if I could get a person to sit a write an honest essay on the topic 'Who is God and what is He really like?' it would tell me an awful lot about the person. Well, how would you describe the God you know? The article printed below is not written by me - but I almost wish I had written it. It gets real close to how I would describe God.

Party Time

When we reduce God to a system of thought or, worse, to an honorable and serious version of ourselves, we violate Him.

The rationalism of our day - and the centuries preceding us - has turned the wildly free, flamboyant, and ebulient Creator into a sombre, intelligent, and generally manageable shotgun rider.

In our sedate theology, He fights off the bandits when our stagecoach comes under attack, but generally sits quietly, hands off the reins. We invite Him on board for the ride, precisely because we can trust Him to sit fairly still and cover our tail in case of trouble. He's good to have riding beside us, eyes peeled for the Bad Guy.

The thought that our heavenly Father might be an outrageous reveller or a wild artist who thrills to splash color across the universe like a painter with an endless canvas, is unsettling to say the least. Yes, He may call for the fattened calf to be killed for a celebration, but He is far too dignified to dance heartily. He would surely prefer to sit regally on a throne than make mud-pies and laugh with children.

As we create Him in our image, we restrain Him in the same ways that we ourselves feel restrained, and in so doing we lose wonder and freedom.

Catherine of Siena, a 14th century Italian mystic, sounds almost blasphemous to suggest that God is "pazzo d'amore, ebro d'amore " - crazed with love, drunk with love. God, crazy? God, giddy? Is not self-control and seriousness the ultimate goal of life? Isn't unbridled exuberance a sign of youthful immaturity? Can we really apply these terms to God and remain respectful?

The cosmic cop barely breaks a smile in our theology. Could He possibly enjoy football (or better, cricket)? He never relaxes. He is ever alert - and therefore, ever tense. His watchfulness denies his playfulness.

And so, our theology takes on moribund tones. Our intimacy with Him becomes measured by intensity not levity, by seriousness not celebration. Could it be that the artists and mystics, the playful children and the poets, the laughing and the light-hearted have more to teach us about God than the weary rationalist, burdened by the seriousness and stress of the world?

Bring on the color, the laughter, the dancing, the music, and the extravagant celebrations. Perhaps as we see the Father in this light, we'll find permission to revel in life a little more ourselves.

David Timms

An Anglican Affair

You may recall me writing about a spiritual retreat I went on a few weeks ago along with a bunch of Anglican guys. One of the guys at the retreat was tonight being inducted into his parish down at Huonville (about 35 ks out of Hobart) Jo and I went along for the evening. The service was conducted by the Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower. John and his wife Gaylene earlier served in Argentina as missionaries. John is a great guy with a passionate love for the Lord and a vision to see renewal right throughout the Anglican churches in Tasmania. Shortly after he started in Tasmania he conducted a prayer journey traveling to pray at every Anglican church in the state. He has a high media profile in the state and is greatly loved and respected by all of the guys in my retreat group. The photo shows my friend Simon and his wife in the middle, Bishop John and his wife on the left and of course Jo and I on the right.

Tourists for a day

Well they say you must protect your time off, and that's one thing Jo and I seem to do fairly well. Today we headed off down the Tasman Peninsula. It's almost like driving along the great ocean road. So many spots you can stop for a 'kodak moment'. We finished up at Port Arthur. Last time we were there we paid $6 extra to get a two year pass. It's very expensive to get in, so we'll have to get some good use from our ticket. Here's a sample of my better pics

10 Commandments for pastors

My brother Simon has a wonderful blog page full of witty and fascinating articles on all manner of subjects. It's certainly worth a read. (simoncareyholt.blogspot.com)

Yesterday Simon posted a book review for a book written by a chef. The last chapter of the book listed 10 commandments for chefs. They are a fascinating list. Simon made some comparisons with each of them to pastoral ministry. Really, you need to read Simon's article. It's a gem. Throughout my day I have been thinking what my 10 commandments would be for pastors. This year I clock up 25 years of pastoral ministry. Without taking the time to think too deeply on the question I sat down and made a quick list of my '10 commandments' Here is what I came up with:

10 commandments for pastors

1. Keep the vision clear
2. Keep the passion hot
3. Keep the connection to the vine
4. Build the team
5. Encourage Encourage Encourage
6. Offend the right people
7. Pace yourself for a marathon, not a sprint
8. Do the little things well
9. Keep on learning
10. Get people engaged in the mission

As I sit here and read it over again I can hear some busy sounds coming from our kitchen as Jo prepares the evening meal and the chatter of children as they talk about their day and what's happening in their worlds. Maybe somewhere on my list of 10 there should have been something about making time for family first. I like to get to the end and feel that I'd done that well.

30 minutes later - evening meal now finished

There was vigorous discussion at the tea table as to what might be the ten commandments for being a pastor's kid. They never actually got to ten - but Simon and Emily were the quickest to come up with some suggestions. Maybe I'll be able to convince them to write some down for me - It hasn't worked so far.

I did however come up with a more 'tongue in cheek' list for pastors. What do you think of these:

1. Preach short sermons
2. Visit everyone often
3. Never upset the treasurer
4. Never move the furniture
5. Never learn to use the duplicator
6. Never tell stories about your children in sermons
7. Learn to drink tea
8. Make sure your wife becomes president of the ladies group
9. Never get an associate pastor who is better than you
10. Move on before they move you on

On that profound note I must get ready to go out again - Last night to college, tonight to an elders meeting, tomorrow night to our staff selection panel meeting - and so it goes on. Isn't life grand!

A man called Bill

I returned last night from two days up at Launceston. I travelled up to take part in the global leadership summit organised by the Willow Creek Church in Chicago. The pastor of that church has visited Australia on several occasions in recent years. Every time he has come I have attended his conferences here. I would struggle to name another Christian leader who has had a greater impact on my life and ministry than Bill Hybels. I have listened to him speak many times. It doesn’t matter what topic he speaks about, there are always two things that pulsate through every message he gives. The first and most obvious thing you hear when listening to Bill is an incredible passion for the lost. His life just throbs with a passion to see lost people brought into the Kingdom. Linked with this however is another conviction that is always present in every message. Not only does he have a passion for the lost, but he also has a life giving belief that the local church really is the hope of the world. He passionately believes in the Church. These days it is so common to hear people speak with great negativity of the Church, but with Bill I always come away feeling a deep sense of thrill at belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ.

On the leadership summit Bill was joined by several other leaders all speaking on the theme of leadership in the Body of Christ. We heard form guys such as John Maxwell, Rick Warren, Ken Blanchard, Kenneth Ulmer, Henry Cloud, Curtis Sliwa, Jack Groppel and there was even a lady included, Eleanor Josaitis. The entire event has been simulcast in eleven countries and 130 cities and attended by over 60,000 church leaders. Although meeting in Launceston with about 400 others from around Tasmania, there was also a very real sense that you were a part of something much larger.

Bill Hybles like all Christian leaders cops an amazing amount of criticism from within the Body of Christ, and yet despite it all God is using him in ways that he would have never dreamed off 30 years ago when he started out with a handful of young people meeting in a rented picture theatre in Chicago. Every time I hear him something of his passion and heart rubs off on me.

I came home and today in our services we saw two quite different people give their lives to the Lord. One was a teenage girl invited along to our church by her friend and the other was a much older person, a lady who has been a member of our church for many years, but today she acknowledged that she had never given her life to the Lord. This is why I do what I do!