I have a group of friends (let’s leave it at that), one of whom is among another group of friends who have suddenly found themselves at the centre of influence of a power structure, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, so to speak.
Why?
I think because they stayed friends. Everything else fell apart around them, and there they were, still friends.
8 comments:
oh come on. Specifics please.
Not about this post, but one a few weeks (?) ago when you said you really enjoyed the Monday morning Carlingford staff meetings. Why are they so good? What do you do there? How could that happen in other places?
I've just prayed that you will find that library book - my wife found our son's the other day.
Michael you naughty boy. If I don't name names it's because I don't want to cause unnecessary problems for my friend! Let's just call him Nigel Thornberry and leave it at that.
My observation was made because ISTM that people don't trust evangelicals, but when their friendships remain firm over time, it is hard not to trust them and acknowledge that somehow, God through his word is working in them. If people are feeling lonely, bitter, and isolated, then despite their public protestations they will often cling to an evangelical or a gospel person because they sense that there is some integrity there.
I saw it happen in Melbourne, I've seen it happen elsewhere, and now I'm watching it happen with Nigel.
christopher, lovely to see you today.
I couldn't put my finger on it. As a staff meeting it is very sliced white bread. A bible study, open time for comments, a prayer time, usually a 'happy birthday', and lunch (BYO or eat a bit of cake).
There is a mood of incredible up-beatness that Bruce Hall somehow manages to engender by his sense of focus. It's maintained and pushed forward by other members of the team.
It reminds me of a comment I read about, of all things, obstetricians. Their job (the comment said) was to attend a pregnancy and remain expertly inactive. Bruce seems to do that most of the time, so that when he says or does something, you feel you want to pay attention.
Bruce has shaped, or had his leadership shaped, by the Word of God in such a way that no-one really questions that we are there to hear God's word and put it into practise in our speaking and decision making.
I am guessing that over 20 years of ministry in one place, tough decisions, principled and responsible leadership, courageous application of truth to the best of Bruce's (and others) ability, prayer, humility and the like mean that the Holy Spirit's work has become evident in the life of the staff team. But I am just a newbie so that really is just a vibe.
This is very helpful, but I have a couple more questions. Does someone (Bruce??) always prepare the Bible study just for that staff meeting, or is it something that someone is working on for something else? Even more practically what time does it start and finish? Are there lots of people there?
Bruce must be amazing to always be on the up-beat side: do you have any staff members who tend to the down-beat, and would that ruin it?
By the way, my last post was the first time I have ever entered one of these things, having 'lurked' for a long time. I could ask these questions out of the public forum, but am not sure how to do that, and other people can learn about the staff meetings as well.
I enjoyed the course on Encouragement. I knew you a little when I was at uni a long time ago.
Hi Christopher
sorry, I mistook you in my previous comment for another Christopher I'd spoken to about Carlingford staff meetings today!
If Bruce is there he leads the Bible study on whatever he happens to be thinking about at the time. Could be sermon prep, could be anything. They are not flash affairs, and sometimes others make contributions that Bruce won't have thought of. the study only lasts ten minutes, and then we pray. And as for "down-beat" people, well, Bruce deals graciously with everyone—rather reminds me of "a bruised reed he will not break."
Of course, even though it is quite a large group (30 people) they are only there and part of things because they love and respect Bruce and are committed to what he (and the church) are doing. I am sure that if you dug hard enough you would find people who weren't happy with what was going on at Carlingford, but that is true anywhere—and such people tend not to get invited onto staff teams, nor would they probably want to be part of it.
God has gifted Bruce in an extraordinary way too. He is not the sort of person who causes a big stir in a group, but he is smart, focussed, politically perceptive, has bagloads of energy, and integrity and humility to go with those things.
(Oh, and I don't have to be on staff, seeing as how I'm pretty much fulltime at Matthias Media, so those comments are freely offered)
Yeah - I'm with Michael on this one.
Huh? I'm also with Michael on this...
:)
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