17 Irritating Laws of Followship

Like the 1st Century Church All Over Again...

2009-08-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

I have just got back from 8 days in Canberra and I have to tell you, it was so much like what I imagine living in the 1st Century Church would have been like.

I stayed in people's homes (with them there - thanks for putting up withe me Rhys, Anna and Lucy - and with them not there - thanks for your trust, Pip!), ate with people in their homes and out, was looked after and driven around the place (Emily Keese Lambert, I owe you big time), and spoke and did comedy in churches, youth events and schools.

There is something about the Christian value of hospitality that I was so enveloped by with these people. Especially my good friend Mark Beresford and his wife Katie. Mark and Katie helped it all happen by co-ordinating stuff. Somehow the people in Mark'c circle have a grip on hospitality and practice it to the hilt.

From the waived tab at the Iceburg Cafe run by Basement Ministries (Caitlyn, I am surely blessed) to the basket of food that Katie B made up for me when I went to stay in her sister, Pip's house, I was on the receiving end of such an amazing show of love and generosity that I have been left speechless.

I only hope that what I have been able to impart in humour and word whilst in your midst has been a blessing to you as you were to me.

Folks, I need your prayers:

I have been working on my bookings for the end of the year. God seems to always come out in the end, but please pray that my schedule becomes a little more busy than now. A few things have happened that we hope will help this.

First, an article has been printed about me in the national AOG magazine, Accent, which will be in AOG churches across the country in the next few weeks. Please pray that many of these churches get in touch and engage me for ministry, especially in the closing months of 2009. Click here to read: http://www.aog.org.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=KAGrArOrXpI%3d&tabid=145&mid=811&language=en-AU

Second, we have advertised with local schools my availability to deliver my new leadership workshops for Primary School leaders both at the end of this year and beginning of next. As far as we know, I am the only person in Queensland delivering this type of presentation. If you know schools that might be interested, please get them in touch with me.

Also, don't forget to follow me on Twitter - www.twitter.com/markgladman - and to keep an eye on the gig guide at www.myspace.com/markgladman

And keep the sponsor dollars for my Kokoda walk coming in: www.tinyurl.com/kokodamark

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Cheers,

MG

Devotions with me on Twitter

2009-07-31T04:01:00.000-07:00

In my role as a ministry coach and consultant, I am always working with pastors and youth pastors and others in ministry worldwide who struggle in their personal devotional time. It just isn't consistent. I know we are all aware that keeping our personal devotions is vital to ministry health. To help this along, I have begun a novel way of sharing devotions on the 'net and would like to invite you all to join with me in this.

I was initially inspired by Wayne Cordeiro's book "The Divine Mentor". This is an amazing book that, if you have not already read it, every person in ministry should! Ps. Wayne goes deep into discovering the amazing array of mentors that God has given us through the Scriptures, and encourages reading the Bible seeking the Holy Spirit on what His fresh bread is for us that day. He also goes into the S.O.A.P Bible reading method as a way of journalling and getting into us what God has wanted us to receive that day from our reading. As I said, it's about getting 'fresh bread' from God rather than using devotionals that 'tell' you what you should pick up on and think about scripture.

The deal is this. In his book and on his church website, (link below), there is a reading outline that covers about 4 chapters a day. Basically, over the course of a year we will be reading the OT through once and the NT through twice. On each day, you are asked to do the following:
- Spend some time reading the scriptures for the day. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a scripture for you to reflect on. Somtimes, I get that verse in the first reading. Other times, I read the lot, go back and then see it.
- Once you have pinpointed the verse(s) that the Lord seems to want you to reflect on, meditate on them. Then do the following in a notebook:
a) S = Scripture: write out the verse(s) that God has drawn you to that day.
b) O = Observation: Write down your thoughts and observations from that passage.
c) A = Application: write down how you think you should apply this to your life.
d) P = Prayer: write out your prayer to God based on what you have read, what he has shown you and how you need to apply it.

Ps. Wayne has outlined this on the churches website also. Check out http://www.enewhope.org/firststeps/journaling/ to see what they do. While we will be reading "together", we do NOT have to reflect on the same verse. That's the cool thing. What you receive from God that day may not be from the same verse I reflected on. And it doesn't matter when in the day you do it, just that you do (even if you only read one passage and reflect on that - better than nothing!)

Nearly all of Cordeiro's church do this. Many meet in groups that they call 20/20/20 life groups. These groups will often meet in public places. The first 40 minutes is spent on your own, reading the passages (first 20min) and writing your journal entries (second 20min). Then in the last 20 minutes they come together to share what God brought to them that day.

I was looking for a way to do the latter. Many of my friends have different jobs and body clocks to give God their best, so coming up with a mutual time was difficult. That's how I got the idea of doing so online on Twitter. What made that even more appealling is that you have to condense what God has spoken to you that day into 140 characters! What a great way to solidify the message into something memorable!

So, here is how you can join in. First of all, let me know you are joining us by sending me a note via the contact tab at http://www.markgladman.com/ - your info will not be shared but if I send out a group e-mail update, I can make sure that you stay in the loop. Put #DV7 or Twitter Devotions in the subject line so I know what the message is about.

Then, get an understanding of what the S.O.A.P. method is all about and how you might journal using that. This is especially important since the sharing is not about delivering a message as much as it is sharing how God has personally challenged you or personally comforted you from the reading that day. And remember, you are looking for the 1 passage, 1 idea, 1 verse that The Holy Spirit brings out for you. Visit http://www.enewhope.org/firststeps/journaling/ for info from Wayne Cordeiro on this.

Then, get into the reading plan. Go to http://www.lifejournal.cc/bible/ click on the Bible there and it will take you to a page on BibleGateway.com with that days readings in any Bible version you choose. Keep in mind though that if you do not live in the US you will need to set the date in the top right hand corner of the http://www.lifejournal.cc/bible/ page before you click the Bible.

Then, once you have journalled, jump into http://www.twitter.com/ (if you are not a member, you will need to join). In the "What are you doing?" box, break your devotion down into a 140 character Tweet. Start with the verse you used and end your tweet with #DV7. That is a special link that will enable us to read each others Tweets. If you then put #DV7 in the search box on the right and hit enter, you will be taken to all of the other people who have tweeted with #DV7 as a tag. This enables us to read each other's Tweets. But the cool thing is that, a little like the 20/20/20 group with open Bibles spread throughout a cafe, we are also sharing in a public forum since people who are following you will get your tweet too.

If you'd like to take a look at my tweets, go to http://www.twitter.com/markgladman and scroll through my Tweets to see the links with #DV7 in them to get an idea.

You don't have to do this every day, but if you did so even 3 or 4 times a week, I am sure that it will enhance your commitment and accountability to personal devotions and hearing from God for the day. I hope that you will join me in sharing what God is doing in our lives together. And please feel free to forward this article to others. Have them contact me and get on board - the more the merrier. I look forward to journeying with you, and to the conversations I am sure that will emerge.

Cheers and Peace,

Mark G

Meet the Church openly promoting it's Vision - Law 1!

2009-07-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Before I get into my blog entry, I have to say that I have had the most amazing and challenging 3 weeks since my return from Gladstone. Everything in me was screaming "You have to keep working! You can't stop! How are going to keep income coming in?!" But another part of me, and God, and my beautiful and supportive wife was saying, "You need to stop for a while or you are going to burn out." God seemed to be adding, "You think nothing can keep going becuase you stop for a rest, son? Get over yourself!"

In that break though came some magic time with my family. I got out on the Harley for a day where I didn't have to get somewhere for a meeting or ministry; something I haven't done for a few years. I read - no CONSUMED books (which for me means I finished about 5 books in the same period I might read 2 or 3). And most importantly, God and I re-established the barren and dry landscapes of my personal devotional time in an amazing way which I will speak of in a future post.

So yesterday it was back to business and today I am following up with some schools and churches for upcoming ministry tour to Canberra. My friend Mark Beresford at Burgmann School has invited me down to speak to his Christian Studies Ethics classes on the 17th and 24th of August, and Mel Doyle (my amazing PA) is working hard to help me hook up some other opportunties down there to make the trip viable.

One of the churches we found to contact was called Crossroads Christian Church (http://www.crossroads.asn.au/). I have never been there before and I do not know any of the ministry team there (that I am aware of - I've met so many people over the years you never know - so apologies if I have!) but when I went to their site to have a look, I noted what I reckon is their vision statement in their website's banner. You will understand why it struck me when you read it. It said:

GROWING FOLLOWERS OF JESUS (emphasis mine!)

Yes, you read it right! There is a church in this country that is openly promoting it's desire to grow people who understand their destiny as followers! While I am not suggesting that other churches don't have the same passion and vision, I must say that a church that is open about it is rare.

In the intro to the book, I put it this way:

Jesus called people to follow Him. The type of following Jesus calls us
to do is hard. It involves denial, humility, surrender and looking out
for others interests before your own. You would be forgiven if you were
to think that the contemporary Christian church has missed this. After
all, most churches these days, while often doing their best of putting
into action Jesus’ teaching, tend to have a public face that focuses on
taking the world by storm, growing the biggest congregations, raising
the most finances and empowering people to lead the way in changing
the world.

None of this is inherently wrong, but there are dangers of having people
miss the point of following Jesus. You can understand why they do it
though. As we have said, following doesn’t sell, and no promise of,
“But wait, there’s more! Call today and you will also receive this free
Cross…” is likely to help. So in order to reach goals that placate our increasingly
worldly mindsets when it comes to justifying, qualifying
and quantifying what we do, we make it a little easier to bear. We pad
the Cross, hollow it out to make it lighter and put little wheels on the
back. Much more attractive!

Seriously though, following wasn’t meant to be easy. Worse, there are
times when Jesus seems to intentionally throw things up at us to get us
to really contemplate what it seriously means to follow. Denying self,
selling all we have and giving to the poor, taking up our Cross and
even being dead to self and then come and follow Him – Jesus take on
followship is nothing short of a marketing nightmare! (p20-21)

In Law 1, I talk about how everything begins and ends in followship. And that we can't avoid making sure that this is a priority in how we grow disciples of Jesus.

I am stoked that someone seems to get it. I hope that many more do so as well, and begin to be unashamed to make this key point the main thing.

And I certainly hope to get the opportunity to minister with Crossroads, if not on this trip but at some stage in the future.

Keep following!

Mark G

The Good Samaritan and Sustainable Pace and the Law of Dirty Hands (Law 9)

2009-07-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting experiment report that I had to share here in this discussion about sustainable pace.

Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan, Princeton University psychologists did a study. They had some seminary students come and meet with them. They asked them why they wanted to go into ministry. The vast majority said they were doing so because they wanted to help people. They were then asked to prepare a sermon. Half were asked to prepare based on the Good Samaritan parable. The other half were told other topics. Afterwards, they were told to go over to a building on campus to present their sermon.

What they did then was place a 'victim' to play someone who was in need of assistance - a bit like the person beaten up in Jesus' parable. He was to moan and groan and make a bit of a scene in order to attract help.

Now, the psychologists prediction was that those who had said they wanted to help people and had prepared a sermon on the Good Samaritan would be the most likely to stop to help the moaning guy. But that is not what happened. And the psychologists put the reason for this down to the last variable:

To some they said, "They aren't expecting you for a few minutes. Take your time getting over there."

But to others they said, "You're late. They were expecting you a few minutes ago. Better hurry."

The results staggered those making the study. 63 percent of the students who were told "Take your time" stopped to help.

The percentage of those told "You better hurry" who stopped? Only 10%! And to make matters worse, in a few cases, the seminary student, studying for ministry because they wanted to help people and who had just prepared a sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan actually stepped over the victim as they raced to present their sermon on time.

The study concluded that: "The words 'You're late' had the effect of making someone who was ordinarily compassionate into someone who was indifferent to suffering."

In relating this study in his book Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson says: "Hurry kills everything from compassion to creativity. And when you're in a hurry, you don't have time to get out of your routine, do you? No time for Spirit-led spontaneity... Here is the great irony: the priest and the Levite were probably on their way to the temple. They were so busy loving God that they didn't have time to love their neighbour. And that is when our routines become counter-productive. Let's be honest. We can get so busy doing "ministry" that we don't have time for ministry."

Read that last line again, and then ask yourself this question: WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET A SUSTAINABLE PACE BACK INTO MY LIFE?

More on what that pace might look like in another post.

D.Re.A.M.S. PROJECT UPDATE: Met with Ross Harrold from CrossTrek in Normanton (Far North Remote Queensland). He is stoked that we are looking to develop a long term relationship with that predominately Indigenous community and we are hoping to get me up there for a week before the end of '09, and then 3 times per year from 2010. Should you want to financially assist in this ministry, please contact me via my website: http://www.markgladman.com/

Cheers and Peace,

Mark G

Finding a Pace That's Sustainable(Law 11)

2009-07-11T23:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I 'Tweeted' (visit www.twitter.com/markgladman and follow me if you like) that I had spent the day trying to live at a sustainable pace. My sister, being the inquisitive and think promoting thing she is asked me, "What is a sustainable pace for you?" I got the impression that her questions was part tongue in cheek (if you know me and know how much I seem to be able to fit into my life at any time you will understand her jest). But I also got the impression that she was asking me to think about this. It certainly got me doing so.

In my book, Law 11 is called "The Law of Sabbath". The tag line for the chapter is "Followship requires rest, even in a culture where rest is seen as weak." I guess it is something like this that I had in mind when I began to look at the pace of my life and how I can live in a sustained way. I have also just finished reading (and studying for a new seminar I am putting together) a number of books about health for leaders. I can highly recommend Wayne Coreiro's "Leading on Empty" which was a part of the catalyst for looking at the pace I live my life.

So is it just slowing down? Well, no it has become more than that. I have had to look at everything I am doing and consider whether it is a part of what God is calling me to do right now. As my good mate Mal Galer (quoting Phil Baker quoting Covey) reminded me, "You gotta keep the main thing the main thing".

But this is hard. It's kinda nice to be on the board of this and have that going on and be involved in x and also have a hand in y and z. It makes us feel like we have something to say when someone asks us, "So, what are you up to right now?"

On the other hand, what if we were to respond to that question by saying, "Oh, not much today - I am resting" or "Only this - I let the other things go so I could sustain my life and still have some parts left for my wife and my kids and my God." Even in a Christian culture, this is not a cool place to be. For some reason, Busy-ness is next to Godliness. In reality, this ideal is right up there with cleanliness - there is absolutely no Scriptural basis for it whatsoever!

So, back to my sister's question: what is a sustainable pace for me? Well, right now I am still sorting that out. Obviously, in my line of work where I have lots of stuff on the boil all the time, it is easy to get caught up. But rest assured that I want to honour God first and foremost with my life and if I am living at Mach 3, in the end I will really only end up killing myself and being good for nothing.

But I consider all this with the word 'Sabbath' on my lips. More than just a 'day', Sabbath is a lifestyle of taking time to really rest in God. To stop and say, 'Hey Lord, if you could stop, I have to.' And to realise that there is nothing Godly about rushing through life. And that Sabbath resting isn't just about being reinvigorated, but it is about finding balance in society as well as life (re-read chapter 11 to see what I mean).

When I get to heaven, Jesus won't want to see my shedule or my diary or my appointment book. he will look at my life and how I lived it for him. If you are rushing around, you aren't living. Rediscover what Sabbath is and means. Force yourself to find a true Sabbath rest and a sustainable pace to your life.

If you haven't already, please read the blog entry below about the D.Re.A.M.S. project and pass it onto whoever you know.

Thanks.

Mark G

Big D.Re.A.M.S. for Small Communities

2009-07-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

In the last little while, nearly all of my weeks away on the road have been in small communities where I have been welcomed amazingly; where what I have to offer across a huge variety of avenues was voraciously accepted which meant absolutely full schedules; and where people have thanked me for coming and sharing in their community. From comedy shows to schools to businesses to coaching and mentoring young people and youth workers and teachers, to speaking in churches to appearing at large scale events: no matter what it was, whatever I did was attended well, recieved and responded to passionately and appreciated.

Conversations in two of these towns got me thinking: these places need people to come to them and work with them. They need people who will not just be 'fly-by-night', but who will commit to a long haul plan that will not come in and head out, but that will commit to coming back again and again and again to support the work that has been done and assist thing to the next level.

God has been speaking to my heart since my week in St. George, and my coversations with my mate Ross in Normanton (see the last post about what is happening there) have led me to believe that I can do something of this ilk.

Enter, the D.Re.A.M.S. (Delivering Remote Area Motivation and Support) Project. The idea is to 'adopt' 10 regional and remote towns and to work with them for an extended period of time. It would go something like this:

I would go into a town and spend a week there doing any number of things:
- Speaking and running programs for children and young people in schools and in the community;
- Working with those who work with young people: teachers and principals, nurses, youth workers, youth pastors whatever supporting and coaching them;
- Engaging with community groups that need support and ideas;
- Working with local businesses/chamber of commerce to coach and develop business owners and managers and help them to provide ongoing opportunities for the local community;
- Engage with local churches in their work and ministry in the community, especially where they engage and work with children and young people;
- ...and so on.

After a week in the town, I would come home and do two things:
a) continue to engage with connections in the community to provide ongoing support and coaching;
b) in consultation with local community leaders, begin to develop the next week long visit to come 6 months down the track.

The idea is that a commitment is made with the community to engage with them continuously, and to visit with them to suport and motivate every 6 months for a one week period.

I have worked out that I should be able to do this for only $5000-$6000 per week/per town. This includes everything - my work for the full week, transport, accommodation, expenses, resources and preparation for the next visit. That's only $10,000-$12,000 per town each year. I am hoping to find some in-kind support to help with travel and accommodation that would bring this figure down by about $2000/year or so for each town.

While the towns have not yet been selected, interest has been shown from St. George, Ayr, Normanton, Gladstone/Tannum Sands, Mt. Isa, Cooktown/Mareeba/Atherton, Woorabinda, Charleville and Port Augusta. Alice Springs is also on my heart.

Can you help? Expressions of interest are being sought to provide the resources to do this. Are there businesses out there who want to invest in regional and remote areas? Are there corporations who are stakeholders in some areas who might want to support this endeavour? Are there individuals with a heart for these communities who might want to contribute?

If you have networks who may want to be involved, please show them this blog or pass on the information and have them get in touch with me. I am looking to meet with some potential supporters in the coming weeks, want to at least see if we can get Normanton funded and in before the end of the year, and have at least 5 of the 10 towns supported and booked in for 2010 before Christmas.

Contact can be made via the contact information to the right of this page.

Please commit this to your prayers.

Cheers and Peace,

Mark G

Petrol Sniffing and Dirty Hands (Law 9)

2009-06-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all,

Sorry it has been so long - have been on the road having a great time. Special hello to all in Ayr and St. George. And this week I head off to Gladstone for a show and to speak at a youth conference.

Sorry too about today's topic - pretty much getting back into things with a whack, right?!? well, I got an e-mail today from my mate Ross Harrold. Ross lives in Normanton FNQ where he ministers amongst the indigenous communities up there, and works in the school (where Ross' wife Leigh is principal) in a pastoral/chaplaincy type capacity.

Ross forwarded me an alarming e-mail today and I wanted to share a bit with you. The e-mail came from the Carpentaria Youth Worker, Oliver Wrathall. Be warned that some of the information may be found by some to be distressing. Here's what Oliver wrote:

"I am getting significant feedback from community and Police that sniffing and drug use is increasing amongst youth: specifically, in the age cohort 8 – 13 petrol/solvent use is increasing and in the 13 – 16 age cohort marijuana use is widespread and is being mixed with alcohol use. This confirms my observations.

I think that most sniffing is occurring after school and in the early evening although there is evidence that children who do not attend school are using marijuana during school hours to alleviate ‘boredom’."

He then goes on to outline some programs and interventions he wats to try and implement.

In his e-mail, Ross wrote:

"Hi Everyone,
"This [the e-mail that the exerpt above is from] is from the Council Youth Support officer here in Normanton. I am forwarding it on to you all as a major prayer request for the youth of Normanton. As some of you may be aware Leigh and I are in the process of creating a community hub at the Gulf Christian College and my focus regarding this is to create a Youth Support Team. This Team would run in conjunction with Councils Youth Support Officer numerous Youth events as well as other workshops and support programs. At the moment Oliver is the only person regularly running events to help the Youth in our community and when possible I help out, but with four children, study and School my time is limited and I am not able to help out as much as I would like or as much as is needed.

"So we NEED your help!!!!!

"This is why sending teams to Normanton, even for short term mission trips, is so valuable and important! The opportunities for Christians to make a difference are huge! But the workers are few. So please PRAY FOR US – Myself, Leigh, Oliver and the families and youth of Normanton. It is time for the Church to mobilise and reach out to young people in remote Australia – This is a massive area for Missions.

These young people need to know there is a future for them and a hope in Jesus Christ. Join with us to serve them and show them the Love of God."

Ross Harrold
0402 254 986
crosstrek.net

I have been talking and talking and talking to Ross for nearly a year now about taking some of my programs up to Normanton for a week or so. Today, I felt ashamed that I was still talking when this is hitting the fan in Normanton.

How typical of me - us - to get so wound up in myself that I forget what is happening in the ral world. When I do, I talk about it 90% of the time. Sure, deep down I think I really mean what I talk, but talking is convenient.

Whereas action - getting my hands dirty - means I have to get out of my comfort and DO something.

If you have my book, read chapter 9 again: The Law of Dirty Hands. It says simply that really following Jesus means getting our hands dirty. Simple as. as they say, talk is cheap...

Well maybe not if it actually leads to some sort of outcome. Which is what Ross' e-mail did to me today. I want to get up there and take my programs and try and go for a week. I am going to need prayer and finances to do it, but we are going to make it happen. If you want to help support this, e-mail me at markgladmancomedy@gmail.com and we will set you up.

Better still, do as Mother Theresa did - find your Calcutta. Where is God pulling your heart - where does he want you to go so that you can make a difference. It will probably be easy: you talk about it all the time...

Now, stop talking and get your hands dirty.

Nice to be back.

I am now on Twitter: www.twitter.com/markgladman

Cheers and Peace,

Mark G

On Fame and Humility: Law 12

2009-04-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick blog entry today - snowed under and have some stuff to write and do. Oh the work of a writer and comedian is never done...

During Easterfest, I have the opportunity to be at a special media conference on the work of Compassion. During that time, Grant Norsworthy from Paul Coleman Trio spoke. What he said was very profound:

"As artists, a major part of what we do for survival is self-promotion. Am I the only one who struggles with that idea in a lifestyle in which we follow Jesus who teaches us self-denial?"

Yesterday I finally (after 3 years) posted a clip on YouTube and on the MySpace site (go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jktiI-l51WE or myspace.com/markgladman to have a peek. If you go to the YouTube site, don't forget to rate and leave a comment...)

But this morning, I have pondered the irony of this: that the world can now see my face on YouTube which, I hope, provides some exposure in makets further afield than Australia; but that Jesus tells me to deny self.

Irritatingly, the Law of Denial pops into lots of stuff. Is it possible to reconcile this working in an industry that basicaly dictates your ability to eat is akin to the exposure you can get?

Following Jesus can be irritating indeed!

Cheers for today,

MG

Plan Be, Dave Andrews and the Laws of Followship

2009-04-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

I spent the day yesterday at Queens Park in Toowoomba (where I live) where every Easter a little festival that has been dubbed Easterfest occurs every - well Easter.

Easterfest is pretty much a conglomeration of bands and other activities that attract a great number of Christians (apparrently it is the largest Christian festival in the Southern Hemisphere) from all over the country.

Many people have asked the question over the past 11 or 12 years that the festival has run (it was orginally called Australian Gospel Music Festival or AGMF until th ename change in '08 I think), "What has it all got to do with Easter". While it may not have ben the prevailing question during the AGMF years, it has certainly been so since the name change to Easterfest.

I know quite a few people who have not returned to the festival since the name change. And just yesterday, a business associate asked me what I was doing at the festival, thinking that I was doing comedy. When I told him I was representing the radio station on which my show airs (Mark and Mal's Mad Rush to Midnight, weeknights from 9.30pm - listen in Toowoomba on 92.9, or listen worldwide at www.radio929.fm) and that I had been told in 2006 that comedy didn't fit their format, he responded, "Oh, but Motocross - now that speaks volumes to me about the sacrifice of Christ that we remember at Easter. Its a funny ol' festival, isn't it."

That all said, yesterday my co-host, Mal, and I spent most of our time interviewing not the muso's, but people that I think actually bring a glimmer of what following Jesus is about to the forum. People like Lyle Shelton from the Australian Christian Lobby; Steve Davies from the Bible Society Qld; the guys who remember the outlaw bikers on the fringes of society (who are copping plenty of flack in the media right now) in God's Squad; and the prophetic voice of Dave Andrews.

If you are not aware of Dave, do yourself a favour and either:
a) buy and read Dave's books, particularly Christi-anarchy;
b) visit www.waitersunion.org
c) all of the above.

Dave was at Easterfest where some might say he was launching a book. I reckon he was launching a movement.

Dave has just finished writing a book called Plan Be. The simple premise of the book is that Plan A (Treat others as they have treated you) does not work, but if we all lived the Be-Attitudes that Jesus shares at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, that would be enough to create a revolution for Jesus.

Sounds like followship to me. In fact, reading through Dave's book last night, there were plenty of parallels.

I may unpack these some time later, but for now, do yourself a favour, pull out your Bible, blow off the dust, turn to Matthew 5 and read the Beattitudes. Now, don't stop there: pick one and exercise your followhip - DO IT!

You may even perhaps change the world.

If you are on the Bible Society's mailing list, look out for the Plan Be small group material coming to you. Don't throw it away - put it into action.

I leave you with Dave's 'Plan Be' version of the serenity prayer.

Lord,
Grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change;
The courage to change the one I can;
And the wisdom to know it's me.

Cheers and Peace for Easter,

Mark G

Easter and the 17 Laws

2009-04-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

A general thank you for your overwhelming notes of support over the past couple of weeks. It's been warming and encouraging.

I had a GREAT time at the Peninsuala Christian Outreach Centre last weekend. A big thank you to Pastor's Simon and Sandy Oswald and the congregation for having me.

With Easter roaring up, I thought it prudent at the end of 8 days in which 6 were spent on the road to pause and remember why we have a long weekend this weekend.

I note in the introduction to the book that Christianity is a marketing nightmare. This is why - although I respect that people do get something out of it (and that I am still out to lunch as to whether I would perform there if ever asked - I blame the Melbourne Festival as it is the same month) - I do have some concerns about things like EasterFest.

At the risk of sounding like a Basher (and some will suggest I, maybe rightly, I am) I find it hard to see how a festival about Easter at Easter can leave Jesus out of it's advertising and marketing material.

Yes, Christianity does not sell. We like to think it does. But really, lose your life and you will find it language is still regarded, even by Christians, as the language of those who 'can't seem to make it in the real world', or else the rest of us appreciate the person who can 'really do it in this way, although it's not for me...'

As I say in the book: when we hear Jesus say take up your Cross, we would like to smooth out the rough edges of the Cross, pad it perhaps, hollow it out to lose weight and put some wheels on the bottom. That way it becomes more palatable to others (and yes, even to convince ourselves).

Well, Easter is about a man who came from heaven to earth to show us the way God intended for us to live. As a result, the church people of his day (yes, that's what they were...) killed him by having him whipped, beaten, bloodied, bruised and nailed to a cross to endure a death by asphyxiation. And the same God, Jesus Christ, suggests that we be prepaed to face the same if we dare to really live as He called us to.

I reckon this would make a great topic for advertisers on the Gruen Transfer.

Truth is, Christianity is not palatable nor did Jesus ever suggest it would be. It takes raw guts to really follow Jesus. Easter reminds us of this fact.

By the way, if you do go to EasterFest, do yourself and favour and go see Dave Andrews speak. You will probably regret it, but it will shake up your life for the better.

Cheers and Peace,

Mark G

Trust and Law 15

2009-03-29T03:32:00.000-07:00

As a result of the decision made in the last post, this Wednesday is my last day at the Flexi School as their Chaplain.I know full well that this is the right time to leave, even though in the physical realm, it looks like it is far too early. Wednesday will make it 1 year and 2 months since I started, in a role that I was convinced I would be in for a minimum of 5 years. I don't get it...

And in some ways this is likely why it took me a good 2 weeks to make this decision. I feel I have more to do, more to give and more to offer, more to accomplish. But instead, I know in my heart of hearts that he time is right, for Flexi and for me, to step away.

The Law of Tenacity says that long term persistence is required and that quick fixes are not in God's usual way of dealing with things. I obviously agree with this. The difference in this case is that I was only to be a small part of a larger objective. One of the reasons I am going is so that the Flexi Chaplaincy can flourish. I can't go into details, but I know part of the reason I have to step out is to allow things to blossom. Could they blossom with me there? Yeah, you better believe it! But God wants to use someone else for that...

But I am reminded that God's way of doing things often doesn't make sense:

"What that means is that we have to have some degree of tenacity about out mission in the world. It means that our need for instant gratification might have to be brought into submission, because quite often there will be no measurable results, or even any kinds of results at all that we can see or measure, from our efforts. Problem is that while the results will be immeasurable, it is also likely our efforts have resulted in immeasurable good in terms of what we have achieved. After all, if Paul plants the seed and Apollos waters, their mission efforts are just as important as the one who harvests." from 17 Irritating Laws of Followship, p. 124

What Paul makes explicitly clear in the verse where he talks about his role and Apollos' role is that "...God gives the increase..."

And so while there is a part of me that wants to tenaciously hold on, there is another that tells me that it is all in God's timing and grand scheme. Whatever I did - plant, water, harvest - my job, for now, at Flexi is done. And I can trust that someone else wil do and bring what is required next so that God can bring the increase.

How irritating, but yet reassuring, that God uses us but at the same time doesn't need us to see HIs will done?!

Next time, we'll talk about the stench of beef that has been brewing for the past wek and what God can do when the BBQ is running...

Thanks to everyone who over the past week sent messages of support and prayer. Thanks too to those who sent leads, and to those who intend to buy the book via Koorong. Love it!

Cheers and Peace,

MG

Law 4 and Law 5 in Practice REALLY HURTS!!

2009-03-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a 10 day tour in South Australia in which I took in a few churches, a few schools and a Young Adults conference in the Adelaide Hills, Adelaide itself and North at Port Augusta. During that time I delivered 5 comedy workshops, 1 keynote address, 3 church/chapel services, 2 English classes (on public speaking) and 2 full length comedy shows. I also sold out of books and CD's that I took with me, which was an absolute blessing also.

I want to publically thank all of my hosts during the time there - Karl Klose and the FUEL Team, Stephen Shultz, Stuart Traegar and Lisa Preuss, Catie Morrison and Bruce Kurtzer.

While I was away, I had a full day where I could rest, rejuvenate, be with God and spend some time working some stuff out that God was on my case about before I left Queensland. Some changes in the way the Flexi School (where I have been chaplain 2 days each week for the past year and a bit) operates means that it was going to be difficult for me to be able to keep speaking and writing. It meant I had a decision to make, but deep down i knew what I had to do...

In this current economic climate, fear is common. And I have to be honest, there were three occasions during the time I was away when fear hit me like a literal punch to the stomach. Nat told me that this is how anxiety attacks feel sometimes. I don't know what it was, but I do know that each time, my thoughts and focus were NOT on God in that moment.

There is something to be said for dieing to self. IT SUCKS! Sure, there is this thing called free will, but if I want to keep on in this irritating journey of followship, there are times when you consciously surrender to what you KNOW is God's direction. I'm not talking about making irresponsible decisions - I have tested and can say that I know for sure what the direction God wants me to take is. But that doesn't make it any easier on the will, if you know what I mean.

So, where does that leave me? Well, as of April 1 (yes, I too saw the irony and God's sense of humour in this!), I will be a free agent. My focus will be developing the speaking and comedy around the country and overseas (including writing in this blog more often, so keep watching and send others); working with my publisher on more books, e-books book production and other products; and continuing to develop further some of the other projects I am involved in, like the radio show and some DVD stuff.

This is dead set scary and yet amazingly exciting. And yes, you can help:
- Book me or throw me leads for speaking engagements/comedy shows. If you want more details about what I do, drop me an e-mail at markgladmancomedy@gmail.com - I'm even open to offering you a spotters fee!
- Buy my book or encourage others to do so, especially from Koorong. If I can increase Koorong sales, it can mean a berth in one of their catalogues which means more exposure.
- Pray for us as we embark on this journey.
- Sponsor the work I do financially: there are times when I offer subsidies and even free bookings to not-for-profits and some schools/groups that work with at-risk young people; and other occasions when I need to cover my own travel to do shows at events and festivals. Your financial gift could help me do this more consistently. Drop me an e-mail if you feel led to do this.

Most of all, pray. I am fully confident that God is going to continue to bless us and stay true to his promises that He made to us when I stepped out.

Thanks for your support. I know that this will be an interesting journey that will make the 17 Laws hit even harder. And that can't be all bad. Irritating, but not all bad!

Mark G

LAST DAY - Purchase 17 Irritating Laws of Followship with 20% Discount!

2009-03-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Just reminding you all that the Koorong 20% discount sale is on it's last day TODAY! It's the last day you can purchase the book cheaper in the store than you can buy it from me!! Go to www.kooring.com and put "Mark Gladman" in the search, or click the "Buy the Book" link on the right of this page.

Cheers,

Mark G

St Mary's and Law 12

2009-02-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

St. Mary's South Brisbane were yesterday informed that their parish Priest, Fr. Peter Kennedy, has been excommunicated from the Catholic Church. His crime is engaging in pratices that the church felt were out of step with itself. This included allowing women to preach, abnormal liturgies at Communion (the Mass or Eucharist) and blessing homosexual couples.

This entry to the blog does not wish to make comment on people's personal views of these practices. I personally do not necessarily endorse Fr. Kennedy's position on a number of issues. But I wanted to hold up for readers something in which they could see that taking the line of true followship takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude. Anyone who thinks that this is an exaggeration needs to get their head read.

Kennedy has pretty much lost his line of income. He is likely to have lost use of his house and any other benefits the church has provided for him. All because he stood for what He believes Jesus has called him to be and do for his community.

No doubt there will be many in the St. Mary's 800+-strong community that will continue to support him. Those who do have been warned that they too will face excommunication. While to many Christians this may seem like not a big problem, to many Catholic's, this could very well mean schism within families and barriers between friends. Although having seen many of the St. Mary's supporters from other Catholic parishes who came to be with the St. Mary's community and Fr. Kennedy when he read the letter from Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby, methinks that they will still enjoy fellowship with many others.

I am personally stunned. As are many others. Mike O'Connor has written an excellent column in today's Courier Mail which opens up a myriad of questions concerning the Catholic Churches stance against the St. Mary's community and Fr. Kennedy.

But another part of me wonders why I am so surprised. In the book, I state quite clearly that if we follow Jesus in the way that he has called us to, we should look quite different to what we do. (See Law 7; the Law of Radical Discipleship).

But I want to say that the thing that has been so wonderful to see in all of this is Fr. Kennedy. He is still smiling. He is still encouraging those he leads as Priest. He is asking his congregation to stay faithful. He is still asking the Catholic church to have a 'heart-to-heart' with the community. He is still being like Jesus would in a moment when no one would blame him for getting feisty and lashing out.

The Law of Denial (Law 12) states that a season of denying self for the greater good is always something that a true follower will have to face. Fr. Peter Kennedy allows us to see this followship in immediate action. While Jesus still blazed the trail in terms of sacrifice for the greater good, for a modern day example of followship in action, you couldn't ask for a better role model than Fr. Kennedy.

Our prayers are with Fr. Kennedy and our brothers and sisters in the congregation and community of St. Mary's.

AN ENDORSEMENT FROM ST. PETER ON LAW 12 (Part 1)

2009-01-21T01:55:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I do - apart from speak, write and tell jokes – is a gig with Camp Quality. CQ is a charity that assists children who are dealing with cancer and its associated treatment by giving them something to smile about in the midst of what is probably an exceedingly bleak part of their lives. Take a look at http://www.campquality.org.au/ for more info.

What I do with Camp Quality is operate Giggle in Qld and NT. Giggle is an animatronic robot the size of a 6 year old child who rides a tricycle. As the operator, I follow Giggle with a remote control and visit with the children in the wards and clinics. One side of the remote operates the bike; the other Giggles head. I wear a headset mic and when I speak Giggle’s mouth moves and my voice comes out of the robot. I also wear an earpiece so I can hear what the children are saying to me. $20 says now all of you are going to go to http://www.campquality.org.au/ and check out Giggle!!

So I have been in Sydney since Sunday getting to know the new robot, training with him and now, bringing him home to Qld in the Giggle van.

Over the past 4 days though, I have been meditating on a scripture. When I travel, I do so with my xxxChurch.com “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” New Testament. Apart from the conversations that get started when people see it (with Christians especially!) it is nice and small for my suitcase. I usually read NIV, but this one is The Message and I love what it has brought out for me to chew on anew.

I won’t go into everything in one entry, but consider this for starters…

“Since Jesus went through everything you are going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get you own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrranised by what you want.” 1 Peter 4.1ff, italics mine.

I began to italics the things I loved but I think I would have had to end up doing the whole passage!! Three keys:
1. Learn to think like Jesus. Isn’t this the answer to living the Christian life? Two problems. First, we aren’t very good at knowing how Jesus thinks (see the Intro of the book under the subtitle HCYKWJWDIYDKWHD?). And then, most of us really haven’t sacrificed our minds and had them renewed properly.
2. Expecting our own way is an old sinful habit. Let’s get this clearly in context though. Peter is saying that our wants, need and desires and expecting God will give us those just because we have them and convince ourselves (or have a Televangelist convince us for us) that God therefore has to is out of kilter with the Spirit of God. Peter is really saying here “Get into line!”
3. True freedom comes in pursuing what God wants; and our wants simply tyrannise us.

If there was ever an endorsement for the Law of Denial, then I don’t know what else is. Man has this weeks reflections been a challenge. More on that next week…

Working it out - not with a pencil (Law 14)

2009-01-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

Many of the discussions I have had with people about the book in the past little while have been about how to live out the 17 Laws. This is a great question but one which, as I am honest about in the Introduction and throughout the book, I have not totally figured out yet myself. I have thought about going on some sort of human experiment like the "what would Jesus do?" experiment that the congregation does in Charles Sheldon's classic novel, "In His Steps". You know: not do anything for a year if it contravened one of the 17 Laws. (I am about to go on two similar endeavours this year: one is for an article about not using a car for a month, and another is for a book I am writing about fasting, but more on that another time).

Over the weekend, I did a comedy show on the Gold Coast for a Christian Singles Conference. I had some 'chores' to do in Brisbane on Friday, so headed to the Coast Friday afternoon, even though the show wasn't till Saturday night. On Saturday morning, I woke up, showered and get ready for the day thinking I would have nothing on at all. I was having a Latte in the hotel lobby before breakfast when I noticed Peter Hobson walking through the lobby. Peter is the miniter at Glebe Rd. Uniting Church in Ipswich where I had spoken/comedied (is that a word) at one of their services in 2008.

We exchanged "What are you doing here" pleasantries and Peter told me that he was doing a session at a conference up the road from the hotel at Robina/Surfers Paradise Uniting Church who's keynote speaker was Shane Claiborne. If you have read 17 Laws, you know that Shane is one of the founders of the Simple Way community in Kensington; a suburb of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania USA (see http://www.thesimpleway.org/) and someone who's ideologies are very similar to mine.

My days program was sealed. I headed to the conference, was blessed with a special day rate (thanks to the church youth pastor and conference host, Ralph Mayhew) and sat back to enjoy a couple of sessions with Shane (speaking, not 'sessions' for those of you with too much knowledge of drug use!)

During the second session, a questions was asked about how one goes about hospitality in such a dangerous environment. This was an interesting question for me for two reasons. One, with a wife and small children, I too wonder about inviting a stranger off the street into my home to practice Godly hospitality. Second, because the answer provided a key to working out the 17 Laws.

Shane said that when they started The Simple Way community, they just had an open house. As a result, stuff went a bit skewey at times and problems reared their heads quite often in the early days. But, he said, from that has come a wisdom from community - together the SW community has worked together to discover what is appropriate and what needs to have some limits on it. I think Shane talks about this a little in "The Irresistable Revolution" too.

For me, this was an important point. As someone who is a bit of a planner, I like to have everything worked out BEFORE I get going on something. And while I know Shane was not advocating being silly about it, there are some things that you just have to step out and work out along the way, not work out with a pencil beforehand.

So rather than trying to work out how to practice the laws and then go do it, I guess we just have to do it and then work out what it means to practice the laws. And this, my friends, is the Laws of Mess in practice right there!

The Grip of the Former Image (Law 2)

2009-01-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning in a tent. My son, Zane, and I decided to do a little "possum hunting" - we have had possums in our yard and Zane really wanted to see them. So we pitched the tent in the back yard, put out a plate of apple, and settled back for a night under the stars.

Zane was a little scared, but got off to sleep okay. When I woke at about 6.30am, Zane was still sound asleep. My usual morning routine is to go to the bathroom, let the dog out and then make a coffee to enjoy on the deck as I study the Bible and then read a little before I make breakfast and start work for the day. Today, my routine was shot. I didn't want to wake Zane with the tent zip, and I didn't want him to wake up without me there in case it freaked him out. So I wriggled my toes (did I mention I was busting?!) and waited for him to wake.

As I lay there, I realised that my morning routine was going to be disrupted which meant - UM AH! - I wasn't going to make my Bible reading time! But then as I reflected on that I thought, "From where does this 'read the Bible every day' rule come from? From God? Or from me?"

This was the "Golden Calf" being kicked. In my image, God is happy when I read my Bible religiously every morning. In His own image, God is happy when I am with my son, enjoying time together with him, and loving him by considering his emotional state.

I'm not against Bible reading. But ask yourself why you read the Bible. Or even memorise it. The only place I can see that even remotely suggests that memorizing scripture is good is in Psalms (Ps 119:11). And that's not even about memorizing it but knowing it. My daughter and son go to a Christian school where one of the weekly tests is memory verses. Some weeks they have memorized the verse, but if I ask them what it means, often they say, "I don't know". There's a big difference between knowing a verse of scripture and knowing what it means to live it. Anyone can rattle of a verse, but it is no measure of where you're at with God.

So what about you? What areas of your life have you elevated something, even something good and helpful to our Christian walk, to a Golden Calf like state?

WHAT THE BLOG IS ABOUT

2009-01-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

I have had a great break over Christmas/New Year. Over that time I have had a chance to reflect on what this Blog would look like and what each entry would entail. I have to admit that I have struggled to come up with something that would make the Blog both interesting to read and gripping enough to want to write on a multi-weekly basis, if not every day. Yesterday, I got my answer.

My good friend, Pastor Pete, and I had coffee. Pete was one of my readers of the book before it was released. Yesterday's coffee saw Pete pretty much jump in and say how much he has enjoyed reading the book but wanted to pick my brains about how to actually live out the 17 Laws in everyday Christian life. To try and quote Pete - "How does the average Christian in the local church context live out the concepts of the book into practice?"

So there you go: there is the direction of the Blog, for the near future at least. No doubt, if you have come here, it will have been because you have read the book and are interested in discussing some of the themes therein. And, if you are like Pete, you are probably wondering how to go about living it out. As you would have picked up in my tone, particularly in the Intro and Epilogue, so do I.

SO... I intend to take up the challenge, just jump in and begin to live out/apply the Laws, and Blog my experience in doing so. My hope is that you will also share your experiences in living out the 17 Laws.

I do want to remind you though that in the book I make it clear that 17 Laws was never meant to be instructional. I said to Pete yesterday that if I had done so, I would have patronised you good readers by a) suggesting I know more about your context than you (which I do not) and b) taken away from you the joy and struggle of workin out how this looks and should be applied in your context. While I will be sharing my personal struggles, joys and so forth as I seek to understand and apply the Laws in my own context, I hope you too will use this Blog to share your stories also. By sharing together, I hope we can al begin to really get a grip on Followship together.

Looking forward to being covered in dut from the rabbi's sandals with you.

Mark G

Slack, I know

2008-12-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

First of all, the support I have felt during the release process of the book has been overwhelming, as have the comments about the book that have been brought back to me. Thank you so much for your support.

Next, life has been HECTIC during the release and as a result, posts have been minimal. I only ask that you forgive me (and thank you for keeping on checking back!) and allow a little grace for me to take some time with my family for a couple of weeks. After Christmas, I will get to making the blog "sing", so please check back in in the new year.

Also, huge apologies for having to adjust the date of the launch. The main launch will now coincide with the beginning of my "17 Laws in 13 Cities in 14 Days" book speaking tour which, after the launch in Toowoomba will take in Armidale, Tamworth, Newcastle, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney, Gosford, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast. WHEW! All this is pendng finding contacts in each community, so if you know someone, drop me a line at markgladmancomedy@gmail.com, or get them to drop me a line.

Finally, I am excited to say that Koorong Books has just decided to stock the book which will now e available through their stores and online at www.koorong.com.au. This is exciting as it means the book will now have a chance to reach a few more people.

If you want to buy the book and live near a store, drop in and ask for it - they may have to order it in - or go to http://orders.koorong.com/search/details.jhtml?code=9780975768877 and see which stores have it in stock (I only just filled the order yesterday, so it may be a week or so before the stores have it on the shelves, but again, order it and it may get to you sooner). Or you can order it online and have it home delivered. EASY! Tell your friends they can get it at Koorong.

In case I don't get an entry in before, have a great Christmas. I hope the book has challenged you and I will look forward to our conversations really kicking off on the blog in the new year.

Cheers,

Mark G

Open Invitation to book Launch

2008-11-17T03:19:00.001-08:00

The book is now in my hot little hands and I am pleased to open an invitation to all who would like to hear me and others speak on the themes of "17 Irritating Laws..." to attend the book launch.

7pm, Thursday November 27 @ Impact Christian Centre; Northlands Shopping Centre, Toowoomba

RSVP essential to markgladmancomedy@gmail.com by Tuesday November 25.

The book will be available on the night at the cost of $20.

Hope to see you there,

Mark G

Pre-Release Purchase Offer Out NOW!!

2008-10-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

For full details on the pre-release purchase special offer, click on this link:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=83080990&blogID=443375887
and you will find all the details you need to know. Offer ends November 20, so get in FAST! Cheers, Mark G

Back Blurb, Contents and extract from Introduction

2008-10-22T03:36:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

The book is on the presses! Follows is the back blurb and the table of contents and an extract from the introduction.

Do me a favour: have a look at the contents and tell me which chapter you'd most like to see featured on the blog in the poll to the right of screen. Voting closes on October 31 and the winning three Laws will be posted from October 31. Thanks for your participation...

Mark G

BACK BLURB:
“Jesus calls us to follow. And we like this. What we don’t like is that there are some things Jesus talks about in following that we would rather not do…”

Everywhere we look information on leadership abounds. But what about what it takes to be a follower? Where can we learn about followship? Christian comedian and speaker, Mark Gladman, challenges us to consider 17 Irritating Laws that Jesus throws up at us as we determine to navigate the journey of Followship.

‘Mark calls us to follow Jesus, not just boast a revivalist experience. Issues that we often avoid are exposed with humour, courage, engaging story-telling, and clarity of mind. This is a necessary and stimulating read.’
John Smith, Founder, Concern Australia and God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, Melbourne

‘In this book Gladman combines his love of comedy, the young, life, theology and the edgy call of Jesus. Like the author, these stories will keep you thinking.’
Mark Beresford, Chaplain, Burgmann Anglican School, Canberra

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Foreword by John Smith

Introduction

Part 1: Setting Off
Law 01: The Law of Beginnings and Endings
Law 02: The Law of ‘God is God’
Law 03: The Law of The Call
Law 04: The Law of Die to Live
Law 05: The Law of Yoda
Law 06: The Law of Burning Beef

Part 2: Walking On
Law 07: The Law of Radical Discipleship
Law 08: The Law of Best-Fit
Law 09: The Law of Dirty Hands
Law 10: The Law of Sheep
Law 11: The Law of Sabbath
Law 12: The Law of Denial
Law 13: The Law of Non-Possession
Law 14: The Law of Mess

Part 3: Striding Out
Law 15: The Law of Tenacity
Law 16: The Law of Aliens
Law 17: The Law of Contentment

Epilogue: When the Rubber Hits the Road – Followship in Action

Acknowledgements

INTRODUCTION (Extract)

Honesty forbids me from going any further until I make a confession which I hope not only sets the scene for the rest of this book but also helps you to feel safe and challenged rather than guilty and horrible.

I am a terrible follower.

Everyone who knows me and has worked with me over the past 20 years is breathing a sigh of “Finally, he’s figured it out!” But I am not alone. I would hedge a bet that every person reading these pages, if they were willing to be totally honest and fully transparent, could easily make a similar confession.

Where are the followers?
Very few people have the monopoly on excelling in what I have called followship. Awards are presented to leaders who have changed the world, changed their industries and changed the way we do things. But I know of no award offered anywhere that specifically seeks to identify, celebrate and reward excellent, competent and life transforming following.

If I were to ask you to list some of the world’s most influential leaders, a list could probably be compiled quicker than you could say “Who’s the President of the Soviet Republic this year?” But if we were to go for a list of the world’s most influential followers, would we get past five or ten people? I suppose the question is – is there anyone left who aspires to become the most amazing follower they can be?

Fact is following is hard. Hard not so much because of what a good follower is called to do, but because our human nature doesn’t like to do it. As a result, we tend to place our focus elsewhere. Usually this means equipping ourselves to become better leaders. Leading is easier, or at least it seems that way.

The missing piece
After a time, something in the human soul begins to realise that without following, something’s not quite right. Jesus calls us to follow. And we like this. What we don’t like is that there are some things Jesus talks about in following that we would rather not do.

These little irritating niggles are what this book is all about; niggles that I think are irritating and frustrating principles that face all of us as we seek to be followers. Some of them are attitudinal. Some of them are actions. Some of them are challenges. Some of them are character traits we need to develop. All of them could be hindrances to the most fulfilling relationship that we will ever have.

I wrote this book predominantly because I wanted to know what stopped me from being an excellent follower. As I discussed these laws with others, I discovered something. I am not alone. And so in addressing these issues, I hope that you too will be both afflicted and comforted as you seek to become transparent with yourself and with God and begin to deepen your followship capabilities.

Complete Foreword by John Smith

2008-09-30T20:56:00.001-07:00

Follows is the complete foreword of 17 Irritating Laws of Followship:Rediscovering what it means to follow the radical Jesus which is due for release mid-October. The foreword was written by John Smith; significant Australian evangelist and pioneer of Christian social justice around the world. John was responsible for starting God's Squad Christian Motorcycle Club in the late 60's, (an international organisation now of which he is still International President); and Concern Australia, a Christian social justice organisation based in Melbourne which commeced it's work during the 1970's. John is still a vibrant and sought after voice and speaks regularly around the world on issues of Christian faith in gloal political and social justice contexts.

FOREWORD

Not many stand up comics are orthodox and innovative at the same time. Mark is solid in his biblical orthodoxy but delightfully disturbing, and against the ecclesiastical government of the hour. But then when you write about the Jesus view of the world, you must be conserving ancient values and rebelling against popular opinion at the same time. That style brought Jesus’ short career to an abrupt end. This is an age of celebrated narcissism in the marketplace and the church. Mark has no more time for these aberrations than Jesus did.

Rather than a sustained argument, this is an exhilarating collection of very readable, somewhat contentious, but certainly exhilarating thoughts, on a wide variety of very relevant subjects related to true discipleship. Or maybe we should say that discipleship includes an authentic commitment to Jesus’ radical way of seeing the world in its current state. That means being part of a resistance movement that believes Jesus was right, and anything contrary to his example is wrong.

I like controversy. I hate writers pandering to the line of least resistance. I need more conversation with my friend concerning leadership. I once attended a conference entitled Every-one’s a leader. Frankly it was nonsense. I was glad to conflict just a tad in my mind with this. Because one is outstanding in performance does not necessarily equate with leadership. It meant that Mark had my attention and made me think again. Having said that, I recognize his primary point is a great insight. Mark’s proposition that at a discipleship level one never graduates from following behind Jesus is a rarely understood reality. Discipleship in ancient times was somewhat similar to true apprenticeship. The master teacher was always the master even if the apprentice had learned his lessons excellently. Following Jesus is forever. There is no graduate certificate, just a life-long commitment to emulate the master teacher.

Leadership is often displayed in contemporary preaching and tele-evangelism as a self-indulgent privilege – an ambitious climb to commanding influence and corporate success. Successful religious leadership is increasingly displayed as justifiable first-class air- fares and conspicuous housing and market driven consumption. Mark has rightly called us to get our hands dirty for others, to accept self-denial as a part of discipleship, and the see-saw of success and suffering as part of reality in a broken world.

Certainly his concept of followship, not just fellowship, is a stroke of brilliance. Follow me is a repeated challenge in the Gospels, yet most conservative Christians seem to think Ye must be born again is the only thing Jesus said. Mark calls us to follow Jesus, not just boast a revivalist experience. Issues that we often avoid are exposed with humour, courage, engaging story-telling, and clarity of mind. This is a necessary and stimulating read. If all it does is place Jesus in the centre of life’s ambitions and contradictions it will be worth considerable effort entailed in such broad strokes of his artistic brush.

John Smith
St. Martin’s Church
Collingwood, Victoria

Book Launch

2008-09-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the discussion forum for 17 Irritating Laws of Followship. Please feel free to read, discuss and post your questions and comments as we go.

The book will be officially launched in mid-October.

Until then, enjoy reading the posts that will begint o apear in the next week or so. And stay tuned for a special, never-to-be-repeated pre-release purchase offer for the book.

Cheers and Peace,

Mark G