Monday, June 22, 2009

Petrol Sniffing and Dirty Hands (Law 9)

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

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

On Fame and Humility: Law 12

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

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

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

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Trust and Law 15

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

Friday, March 20, 2009

Law 4 and Law 5 in Practice REALLY HURTS!!

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

Monday, March 2, 2009

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

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