Andrew space: Quarterly index

List of postings: Mar '08 to May '08

Sat, 31 May 2008 05:21:01 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (March '08 to May '08). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

This quarter featured a series of posts on Confucianism (April 03, 09, 28 and May 05). This has mostly been research for an essay I've been writing for an Master of Arts in Theology subject I've been doing this semester. There may be a few more to come in this series, so stay tuned!

Also popular was a short series of two posts on pornography (May 14, 20), described by some as the biggest hidden problem in the church.

March 2008

03 Leaders' retreat 2008
13 SCCCA English theolog's dinner
17 Generations of Chinese churches
18 Christianity on holidays
24 Google Docs and ministry - part 1
26 Google Docs and ministry - part 2

April 2008

01 Reading Pilgrim's Progress
03 Confucianism - is it a danger?
09 Confucianism - the philosophy that won't go away
21 New suburbs ... with no churches
25 Verbal aspect theory
28 Confucianism - what it's all about

May 2008

05 Confucianism - and filial piety
09 How parenting is like holding a spring
14 The pornography cycle
20 Breaking the pornography cycle
22 Where in Sydney do Chinese people live?
25 Where Asians live in your suburb
27 Fastest growing Chinese areas in Sydney
31 List of postings: Mar '08 to May '08

[ PS: during this period which was your favourite post? which ones did you feel most strongly about? ]

List of postings: Dec '07 to Feb '08

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:18:04 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (December '07 to February '08). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post. You'll notice that I'm getting a little slacker on the update frequency - that's on account of a short holiday in December, and things getting quite busy some days!

At the start of this quarter there was a short series on the lies we use to comfort ourselves that the sins we like are really okay. Over three posts we looked at materialism, lust and gossiping. If you're discipling someone, these might be worth talking through!

And towards the end of the quarter you'll find a series on the heart and the affections, on account of some talks I have been working on for our leaders' retreat - which incidentally starts TONIGHT!! Hence the picture of the harried pastor. You can find the posts on January 25, 26, and February 04, 11, 13 and 28.

December 2007

11 The lies of greed and materialism
16 The lies of lust and sexual sin
29 A Christian operating system?
30 Choosing a commentary
31 Things to do in your holidays

January 2008

02 Some SCCCA English dates for this year
07 The lies of gossiping and slander
14 The two parts of preaching
15 Sermons that you forget
22 ACCOE conference 2008
25 The place of the heart
26 Godly affections

February 2008

04 How to grow godly affections
11 Leading and the leaders' heart
13 Mind, will and heart
19 How to build a dysfunctional church
28 What happens when you neglect the heart
29 List of postings: Dec '07 to Feb '08

[ PS: during this period which were your favourite posts? which did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Sept '07 to Nov '07

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:08:46 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (September '07 to November '07) - though there weren't actually any posts this September! This was because I was annual leave for half of that month, and then catching up with things for the rest of that month. Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

I am often asked about what I think about the future of Chinese churches in the next few generations - and so this quarter featured my response to that important question (29 Oct).

Another issue that seems to keep coming up is the often strained relationships ABC Christians have with their parents, whether they be Christian or non Christian parents. And so there are a series of posts on that issue (01, 04, 07 and 26 Oct, and 29 Nov) - check them out and share them with others!

October 2007

01 How to get along with your parents
04 Four ways of relating to parents
07 What Christian parents want
11 Survey of English pastors of Chinese churches
17 200 years of Protestant missions in China
23 Chinese theological issues
26 Parenting - how not to be too little, too late
29 Chinese churches - three generations from now

November 2007

02 Reformation bravery
04 Planning your prayer
06 Programs vs. relationships
15 Why you should bother with the prophets
17 Christians and alcohol
20 Different kinds of prophets
28 Looking back on your ministry year
29 Reaching out to your non Christian parents

30 List of postings: Sept '07 to Nov '07

[ PS: during this period which were your favourite posts? which did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Jun '07 to Aug '07

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:10:56 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (June '07 to August '07). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 8500 page views ... thanks everyone for reading, even though posts have sometimes been a bit irregular! And it's always nice to meet readers.

This quarter featured a series of posts on how to think theologically, that are the fruits of several years of reflection on the process of thinking theologically. They are highly recommended, and you will find them on June 17, 19, 21 and 24.

In late June the ABS also released the 2006 census data. And so this quarter there are also a series of posts that mine the census data for its implications for Chinese ministry in Sydney. You will find those posts on June 27, 29, July 01, 03, 05, 07, and 09.

I am on annual leave from 1 to 15 September, and so there probably won't be any updates during this time. So why not look through some past postings? Click on Quarterly index in the Categories box for a full index of blog posts!

June 2007

04 Mini sermons from the box

06 How Christian leaders lead

11 Different kinds of trials

14 Blasphemy Challenge

17 How to think theologically

19 The place of historical theology

21 Starting points for theology

24 The usefulness of sound theology

25 Rewards

27 ABS 2006 census data online!

29 Distribution of Asians in Sydney

July 2007

01 Religious belief in Australia

03 Chinese languages in Sydney

05 Non-English languages in Sydney

07 Make your own stats

09 Immigration stats 2005-2006

15 One year to World Youth Day

24 Asians at Moore College

25 Operation World - online

28 The Roman Catholic line on Protestants

31 Church leadership - reformation style

August 2007

01 Things you can do in the car

03 Stock market correction

06 The real crutch

09 Planning dates for 2008

11 What your calendar reveals about you

14 2007 Make It Count

21 The art and science of preaching

23 Expectations of high schoolers

28 SCCCA dinner
30 Becoming an expert

31 List of postings: Jun '07 to Aug '07

[ PS: during this period which were your favourite posts? which ones did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Mar '07 to May '07

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:59:23 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (March '07 to May '07). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 7000 page views ... thanks for reading, even though posts haven't been as regular as in the past! One of the most popular posts during this quarter was "Will you be my friend?" from March 29.

You will also notice a series of posts on biblical theology on April 02, 10, 11, 16, 30 and May 15. I'm very passionate about biblical theology. Most people think they know BT, but don't really. So read up, and maybe even share it with your ministry team!

March 2007

01 Interconnections
05 Monthly regional training events
07 Christ and culture
13 Setting goals
16 Soldier
17 Patrick the Missionary
22 CSI and Ministry
26 Guilt, shame ... and the Eastern Reformation
28 de Bono's Six Thinking Hats
29 "Will you be my friend?"

April 2007

02 The Biblical Theology building
03 Why we sing
07 What to do at a pre-evangelistic event
10 The three epochs of biblical theology
11 Biblical theology: the staircase diagram
16 Biblical theology: typology
18 Informal ministry
20 Not a hobby
23 Respectable sins
30 Biblical theology roundabout

May 2007

01 People we don't notice
06 Giving patterns in Australia
08 How rich are you?
12 Giving by Automatic Transfer
15 Biblical theology and Children's ministry
22 Christianity as Relationship
24 Spider-man the Pelagian
26 Super-selfishness
30 Grieving

[ PS: during this period which were your favourite posts? which ones did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Dec '06 to Feb '07

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:10:25 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (December '06 to February '06). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 10000 page views ... that's about a thousand hits a week! Thanks everyone for reading. I sometimes have the pleasant surprise of meeting another blog reader when I visit other churches. So say hello!

You will notice a series of posts in January and February that are particularly relevant for people who lead Bible study groups (eg. 20, 22 and 24 Jan, and 5, 9, 17 and 19 Feb) - why not share them with your ministry team?

December 2006

1 Conflicts at church: conflicts in teams

3 Transitions

6 More transitions

7 Loneliness in ministry

9 KYLC

12 Missionary Blogs

15 How to run up a hill

18 Joy in ministry

19 Fishing at work

21 Mandarin ministry

26 House proud

27 True Hospitality

31 Post-Christmas happiness levels

January 2007

1 Chinese in the Hornsby area

3 Wise and foolish resting

7 Theological authority

9 The parable of the ponds

11 come.to/biblecollege

15 Starting your ministry at a new church

20 Get to know you games

22 Applying the Bible

24 Starting your group well

28 Exempt vs. exemplary

30 Pastor's wives

February 2007

1 Where to buy your books from

5 Stages of group life

7 The MTC / SCCCA course!

9 Writing for the big idea

12 Youth ministry in Chinese churches

13 "I don't like this church."

17 Writing good questions: from closed to open

19 Writing good questions: concrete and abstract

22 PILOT 2007

25 The road to denying the gospel

27 List of posting: Dec '06 to Feb '07

[ PS: which were your favourite posts during this period? Which ones did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Sept '06 to Nov '06

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:20:27 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (September '06 to November '06). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 11000 page views ... that's about a thousand hits a week! Thanks everyone for reading.

Popular posts this quarter included the one on spiritual dryness (9 Oct), and the four-part series in October on talking to your parents about full time ministry (17, 19, 21, 23 Oct).

People sometimes wonder where this material all comes from. Well, you'll be surprised to know that most of it is actually recycled material! Some are from our Wednesday night leaders' meeting (eg. 19 Nov), others are bits from my sermons (eg. 5 Nov), still others are things I've shared with our pastoral team (eg. 27 Nov), or from other workshops and training material I've developed (eg. 15 Nov)!

September 2006

1 The idols of high school

3 Paul's job for dads

5 Memento mori

7 Why I hate Mother nature

9 The lie of the Evil masterminds

23 Culture: an outsider's view of Aussie culture

25 Why ABC congregations need OBC congregations

27 Chinese immigration in Australia

29 Sunday sport

October 2006

3 Church and politics

5 More than thankfulness

7 Mission Minded planning

9 Why God makes you spiritually dry

11 Going out with non-Christians

13 How to torpedo your ministry

15 Reverse Garbage

17 Talking to parents about full time ministry - I

19 Talking to parents about full time ministry - II

21 Talking to parents about full time ministry - III

23 Talking to parents about full time ministry - IV

25 "Once you get older, you'll see."

27 Sola Scriptura ... and the Chinese church

29 Sola Gratia ... and the Chinese church

31 Sola Christus ... and the Chinese church

November 2006

1 School chaplains!

5 Living to work?

7 Make your own Puppet Theatre

9 Exam time stress

13 Christmas generosity

15 How to do really well at PTC exams

17 Conflicts at church: conflict and Christian theology

19 Conflicts at church: tread carefully

24 Conflicts at church: conflict styles

26 Conflicts at church: choosing your conflict style

27 Conflicts at church: polarity management

29 List of postings: Sept '06 to Nov '06

[ PS: during this period, which posts were your favourite? which posts did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Jun '06 to Aug '06

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:07:11 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (June '06 to August '06). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 4600 page views. Thanks everyone for reading - and for having patience during CCCOWE in July, and the laptop failure in August!

A prominent feature of this quarter's posts was a series on culture and ministry (5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 31 July) - an issue that probably needs to be discussed more openly in Chinese churches. I believe that this leads to a lot of unnecessary conflicts and hurt in our churches. Feel free to use them as discussion starters in your ministry teams!

June 2006

1 Ask around
3 What's with those other 'gospels'?
5 Would Jesus have recycled?
7 What's going on in the world today?
9 Eyes on the end!
11 The challenge of children's ministry
13 Patience in ministry
15 New Testament manuscripts
17 Cavitation
19 Counterfeit forgiveness
21 When to forgive
23 Leaders in forgiveness
27 How things are done

July 2006

1 Unconditional love?
3 NSCCCS independence!
5 Culture: what is it?
7 Culture: what is an ABC?
9 Three waves of modern missions
11 Culture: the Homogeneous Unit Principle
13 Culture: criticisms of the HUP
15 Culture: the pith helmet syndrome
31 Culture: East and West

August 2006

1 Mindshifts: think like a missionary
8 Technical difficulties
21 Mindshifts: soldiers, not shoppers
23 The perils of business travel
25 Mindshifts: partners, not enemies
27 SCCCA training day
29 Team building
31 List of postings: Jun '06 to Aug '06

[ PS: during this period, which posts were your favourite? which posts did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Mar '06 to May '06

Wed, 31 May 2006 01:16:32 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (March '06 to May '06). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 3800 page views. The most popular post was the one from the 19th April!

You may also have noticed a whole bunch of posts about church politics and church structure (25 March - 11 May). These have actually been written for a collection of training articles that SCCCA English is putting together - an exciting resource for those preparing for full time or lay ministry!

But you don't have to wait for that - here are some suggestions on things you can do with these postings:

Use them as a discussion paper in your ministry team or with your church leadership (eg. 19 March, 11 May).
Read one together at the start of your team meetings as a bit of pastoral input (eg. 13 March, 27 May).
Talk through one of them with a young Christian that you're discipling (eg. 5 March, 9 March).

March 2006

5 How to listen to a talk - part I

7 Homosexuality

9 How to listen to a talk - part II

13 Teach from the overflow

15 How to listen to a talk - part III

18 SCCCA Training Day

19 Three models of servanthood

21 Information, knowledge ... and wisdom

23 An unusual monster

25 Church politics - and justification

27 Messages from the television

28 Church politics - and church structures

31 The day my VCR broke

April 2006

1 The innocence of politics

3 Introducing someone important to you

5 A parable of power

7 Forming habits #1

9 What you can learn from secular politics

11 Forming habits #2

13 The false path of efficiency

17 Friend vs. Pastor

19 Hello world!

29 Protect the minister?

May 2006

1 The cloak of the leader

3 Is accountability biblical?

5 The old switcheroo

7 The weakness of church structures

9 Rising petrol prices - and gospel ministry

11 Membership: Eastern, Western ... and Trinitarian!

13 St Barnabas, Broadway

15 The Da Vinci Opportunity

17 Sharing the good news with baby

20 Personality and character

21 Ageing un-gracefully

23 Prevenient grace

25 The Da Vinci Movie

27 Three levels of leadership

29 The lineup of Scripture

31 List of postings: Mar '06 to May '06

[ PS: during this period, which ones were your favourites? which ones did you feel strongly about? ]

List of postings: Dec '05 to Feb '06

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 01:05:46 GMT

Here is an index of this quarter's postings (December '05 to February '06). Clicking on the titles will take you to that post.

During this period the blog recorded over 3000 page views. Thanks everyone for reading! And on a personal note, this blog has been lots of fun for me, as well as helping me think out my many half-formed thoughts.

I'm on leave for the next few days (my sister's wedding, then a short holiday) - so till I get back, have a look at the previous posts!

December 2005

3 Carols in North Epping

4 For non Bible study leaders!

5 Spooky movies and comic books

7 How to have a good break

9 Dinner with the Archbishop

11 Moving into full time work

13 Cronulla race riots

15 Attacks on church buildings

17 Christmas BBQ lunch

19 Student union fees

21 Christmas decorations

23 The PTC

25 Christmas, carols ... and Christology!

27 Christians in the defence forces

29 Sermon text online

31 Google Earth over North Epping

January 2006

1 Parents - to obey or honour?

3 Google Earth over Missionaries

5 Church unity: not mere unity

7 On being a foreigner

9 Church unity: not just sameness

11 What's wrong with witchcraft?

13 Church unity: not just us

15 Things you can do with 'self'

17 Diagnosing materialism

19 Sinister, diabolical secrets

21 Off to KYLC

23 Mentors: why bother?

27 Preparing for missions

29 Mentors: different kinds?

31 How to tell if you're suited for full time ministry

February 2006

2 Spiritual dryness

3 Different kinds of mission agencies

5 Ministry and fun

7 "But ... I want to be a missionary!"

9 Workaholism ... in ministry!

11 Arguments that shouldn't work!

13 The place of para-church ministries

15 How Valentine's day deceives

17 Quiet times - and God's grace

19 Conversation sinks

21 Quiet times - made simple

23 Retail therapy!

25 The gift of singleness

27 List of postings: Dec '05 to Feb '06

[ PS: during this period, which ones were your favourites? which ones did you feel strongly about? ]