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
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Plan Be, Dave Andrews and the Laws of Followship
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
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
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Easter and the 17 Laws
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
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
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