I am Jonny King has posted again on this subject matter!

Once again, we encourage our readers to spend some time reflecting on these words!

Over to I am Jonny King, again! …

Used, and no doubt, sometimes abused!  Guess it comes with the territory!  Have to be some pretty un-impressive attempts to take on the “O sent one,” Paul’s record [2 Corinthians 11:24-30] or the Heroes of the Great Cloud of Witnesses [Hebrews 11:32-40] collection of “sanctified” callings!

If this is the first post on this subject you have read, you may want to persevere through another [or a second] that preceded the previous one… Huh… which may provide some more context to “what the blue blazes” is transpiring and will transpire in this post!

If you have NOW completed your homework, you should have a fair idea about what we are trying to complete in this context.  As I have said, I am not sure how or if this will fly, if this will, particularly, ignite the imagination of the Christian Blogosphere, where MandM have and are having a particular impact and who occupy a prominent place in bringing some unity and shape to this context in such a medium [spooky], or if it will only be a means to supporting them in their present context, as an outworking of what it means to live as Christians in community!

He knows!… But we will continue to set the stage for the main act, where the always good-God, the Purposefully-Providential-Provider will display His wares, according to the genius counsel of His always-good-outworking-will!

Therefore, now that you have an idea of what we want to do, let me download a little of where, in the fullness of time, I would like to see Matt [check out his street cred.]…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will philosophise you Fool

and the Glenn of the Peoples [C his V]…

 

 

 

 

 

I am a man of the Peoples

… used in a New Zealand context, for Soli Deo Gloria!

I must affirm that I have no idea if this is something that cogently connects with their possible future plans, but it is an area that I see in our New Zealand context that needs the voice crying in the Westiness… Matt lives in West Auckland, after all, and Glenn’s Eden, Dunedin, is West of at least somewhere!

Here it is… wait for it!

What I believe we need and would like to see in a New Zealand context is a growing number of thinkers, validated by their time in the academy, with a growing track record, grounded in a biblical worldview, committed to the outworking of the Gospel… getting there… speaking cogently, critically, and culturally in the PUBLIC SQUARE!

What this practically means is open for discussion, but one concept could be the forming of a think-tank type of organisation, whereby a group of intellectuals [not just those wannabes] trained in multiple disciplines, with diverse strengths, but with the acumen, passion, drive, and commitment to speak a biblical worldview into the Zeitgeist of our day! Now, one may inform this blogger that this is already the case.  If such is the true, they might be in need ofsemper reformanda, or some further assistance!

What this group of individuals could focus on, for example, is to speak and challenge the multifaceted practices in our culture, challenging their assumptions and presuppositions, affirming that it is the Christian worldview that is true, and it works, pragmatist, thereby providing a welcome commentary where there seems to be little, but also speaking truth into practices that affirm our devolution!

For this to happen it may require this group to have the “Gaul” to bang down the door until someone listens with multiple media press releases, and it will take savvy interpersonal and communication skills, but I am Jonny King would love to see a Christian Manifesto move back into the public square of New Zealand, affirming that although we Christians may be freaks, we are not mindless in coming to these conclusions.

Are you not sick and tired of having to put up with the next gimmicky presentation of Christianity unplugged that seems to be the only examples that find their way into the media?!  We need to change the conversation!

If we are going to challenge-to-change this reality, we are going to need boldness in voice, courage in conviction, strength under fire, definition in community, consistency in character … and steel rugby b… well, these would not go a-miss as well… to name but a few!

Anyone up for the job!

Oh Yeah, and money would be a great starting leg up… Maybe its time for a post on Gambling [Please Smile]!

This may be my own pie-in-the-sky, but I am happy to eat alone.

While this push has not included Mr. Peoples at this point, if we think into the future, then such can be more than pie-in-my-very-little-own-sky for him as well!

Nevertheless, all this “visioning” should not confuse what has been the context of this present focus, which has been to see Mr Matt. Flanagan [In fairness to Glenn, it has only been recently that I have read about the recent challenging changes, which is not to say that he has not previously downloaded them on Beretta-blog] resourced to better fulfill his call in God.

Be-warned, I am about to change characters, as I am about to get all “Frank” with ya!

I am aware that some readers may disagree with the Flanagan’s on certain issues, be they Geo-political, theological or otherwise, which, if you read their blog, seems to be a cause for “Christians Gone Wild… and ugly” on any given Some-day.  Can I say that while I am not suggesting that you discontinue speaking the truth in love [Paul vs. Peter], as you season your speech with salted grace, we, as a band of believers, in New Zealand, must come to the position that we practically comprehend and integrate into our understanding that there will be differences of opinion on certain issues… denominations anyone, which should impact on how we discuss issues!

As a Christian community,we need to fight at keeping the main thing the main thing, which means that we have an understanding what this main thing is, thereby, when holding to those things that are not the main thing, that we do so in such a way that we don’t practically excommunicate each other, thereby confusing what it means to be a Christian, and holding to a form of acceptance that is far too monolithic.  And, if I am to be Frank, in a New Zealand context, it seems that it is those who are more “right” that are viewed with more suspicion, as some sort of sent-ones of the Republican party or the religious right!

Now such may be hyper-bole, but I trust you are getting the point.

The reason I am affirming this is that to support someone like Matt Flanagan in what I am saying, does not require you to necessarily sign off on all that he says. Heck, if such is the case, then The Gospel Coalition in the States, would be a coalition of one, and I would be the only one reading my posts… wait, that might not be the best example!

This probably deserves a post by itself as we reflect on this in a New Zealand context!

This very day, we stand on the shoulders of Luther… well, some may protest against that inclusion, but, there you go.  One man nailed it in a moment of history and his echo resounds still.  John Knox prayed, “Give me Scotland or I die,” and God answered.  History is here waiting for us to Matthew, MARK, Luke, and John IT.  I am not suggesting that what I am proposing is on this level, but who would have conceived of how this “church” history has transpired, and who can now perceive what it will say about this generation in New Zealand if we are still floating in a century’s time [Al "little g" knows].  If we accept the status quo of where we are at presently, the pages of the history books may well be silent.  We can not control the results, but we can commit ourselves to something worthwhile for a worthwhile goal.  This may just be another small brick in the wall, but with each subsequent brick, Nehemiah re-built a wall, re-built a community, and history speaks… one cup-bearer to a king!

I am just one-hair-brained blogger who is passionate to see the fame of God’s name plastered into the consciousness of our nation New Zealand [Yes, that also means the Gospel transforming NZers one citizen at a time... or in families].  I want to believe that our best days in this nation under God are before us, and I want to live my days doing what gives me the greatest joy in the world, glorifying God in the service of the King who deserves such a title!  If such be communicating with you, then you have the opportunity to play a small part as I am doing.

I invite you to support Matt Flanagan.

We are inviting people to commit to giving $5 a week to support the Flanagans.

This is very organic as I write.  We, the I am Jonny King’s are committed to doing this.  We have communicate this, even if the Flanagans are too busy to read it!

If you want to be involved and you are a blogger, feel free to cut and paste, or offer your own reflection of support on this concept.  If you want to commit $5 a week, I ask you to email me at… iamjonnyking at gmail dot com, where we will collect your email details, so that we can get in contact with you about putting this into action!

This is, God willing, the beginning of an idea, some may have better, which may take this idea to a different destination, but if this destination puts God’s “‘fame I am gonna live forever’ because of what He has done in Christ” on display, then “do it to it,” however every idea must start somewhere!

Email me, commit to this idea, and see where God takes it!!!

If at the worst, we gather a number of individuals to support the Flanagans in their journey that affirms we are a community that understands love is a verb [1 Corinthians 13], then such a reality is not mine to call.  However, should such be the case,  let me quote myself… again… someone has to…

I have spent too many and may spend many more sick days pining for the “not yet” to be my “already,” with the decision to begin such an undertaking for the Flanagans, signalling more violently that what resulted subsequently to the tearing of that curtain because of the act of Calvary historically, is presently making itself more at home in our existence, affirming that while we may pine for the future, we can presently live in light of that greater day, thereby affirming that because of Jesus, this life will never be enough, so we give it away!

Talk is cheap, but in doing this, your giving can be as well!

Until Next Time

I am Jonny King