Behind the Curtain

In theory, what you would see behind a ministry curtain, should not be dramatically different from the platform. But is that the reality?

I have met and worked with probably hundreds of different ministries from New Zealand and around the world. And I can honestly say to the best of my knowledge, that the majority are who you would hope they would be. Similar on stage to behind the curtain.

But, and a big BUT, some are not who you think they are and who I hoped they were.

These comments are not to just expose for clicks and likes.

My agenda here is super simple. I want the Church to grow up.

And sometimes the growing process requires honest review and reflection.

In one of Church roles I had  I was asked to rescue a long planned conference. The leader who was supposed to be managing it became too ill to continue.

Within only a matter of a few months I somehow managed to arrange everything.

Still not sure how. 

Maybe my naivety helped me not realise the scope and complexity.

The conference happened. 

Hundreds attended and went away happy as far as I know.

The upshot was in every conceivable way, what the speakers showed from the platform, didn’t remotely match the behind the curtain experience.

We discovered after the conference when the hotel bill arrived, that it appeared that they hosted parties in their accommodation and spent thousands and thousands on every item available from room-service including bottles of wines and cocktails.

These same people refused to talk to attendee’s after their presentations and went off back to party. 

In fact each speaker didn’t want to engage with us at all.

It was a cold function only filled experience that I have never forgotten or spoken about in a public forum.

These people and ministries are considered to be well respected (well at least used to be) around the world and my statements would shock their supporters.

As a little guy in the Christian world, I have never felt comfortable talking about it. I didn’t want to talk about what I wrestled with knowing it could be seen as slanderous by them and those who blindly support their ministry.

Trust me, this is the short version of the story.

I am not perfect at all!

But what I strive to do is be me and person God has designed me to be. My hope is the person I am in front and behind the scenes matches.

We throw around the word transparency a lot these days.

Hypocrisy is always seen as a negative trait, no matter the circumstance.

Let's be people who behind the curtain match our presentation persona.

I think that should be every Christians personal goal.

Something to think about…

Otto - who is he and why does it matter?

Otto is the main character of another movie that I find I have a visceral reaction to. 

And it is tricky explaining fully why without ruining the movie for those who have yet to experience it, the weight of the story, background and what it reveals.

It does deal with matters of self harm so I would caution you from watching if this is something you should avoid in this season.

What it does reminds me of again in the world we live is the following:

1. So many have a back story with an equal dose of deep abiding pain that many don't know.

Otto comes across as angry, cold and as someone who doesn't need anyone or anything.

The reality was who he became through what life threw at him was not how he began.

The movie/story reminds me that those who show similar traits to Otto may have good reason for being who they currently are. 

There may have been things happen to them that has damaged their soul. The weight of which they feel powerless to overcome and eventually give into their damaging narrative.

2. We are not our best on our own reconciling lifes pain and disappointments, and yet that is the default direction of many of us.

Withdrawal seems to be the natural mode when the pain of life just pushes us too far.

I have felt its pull to be honest and sometimes it is hard not to succumb.

And when it is "others" who have contributed to your hurt, the natural thing our heart does is seek to avoid "others" going forward. The logic being you can't take anymore so protect yourself from the possibility of more pain.

Which leads to my last quick point...

3. Something beautiful and unexpected can come where we least expect it.

Otto has people around him just like many of us do.

Circumstances he didn't want created a watershed moment in the sad trajectory of his life through the "unwanted" relationships that came his way.

The impact of those "others" that appeared in his mind from nowhere, changed everything for him. 

Maybe the "others" around you right now are strategically there for right now?

A Man Called Otto.

Great movie.

Certainly impacted my heart.

Something to think about...

Hamburger Helper Prophetic

Honestly I was shocked by what someone said about the prophetic!

They used the phrase "Hamburger Helper" to explain their ideas around this ministry to other believers.

In New Zealand we don't have this but mu understanding it is a flavoured powder to help your dinner taste better. The irony for me is that it shown with macaroni so not sure where burger comes into it?

Essentially they were saying that it is ok to have lots of rubbish prophecy as long as some good stuff is in there are as well.

Their rationale seemed to use the distinction Jesus made about Wheat and Weeds as some sort of biblical justification. That they don't want to correct what was wrong so that the good ones remains. This is a bit out of context and naive at best.

Here is why I think it is problematic:

1. Either the prophetic is God speaking or it is not.

2. If the person receiving the prophetic word is not able to discern validity, all sort of catastrophic decisions can eventuate. I have so many stories!

3. The person ignorantly firing off incorrect prophetic messages gets confident in something that is wrong and this makes them more ignorant and potentially arrogant.

4. This leader has been found out to be a fake prophet and groomer of young women so their teaching should be ignored or taken with extreme caution.

It is past time for the prophetic ministry to mature in the Church.

We can do so much better.

Something to think about...

Prophetic Pendulum Swing

I am honestly a little torn right now.

On one hand I am happy there appears to be a reckoning in the Church around prophecy. But also concerned the pendulum might swing too far back to another time, a time where religious ritual practice alone becomes the dominant expression of faith filled believers.

My personal opinion is that we need health.

We need honesty and integrity.

And we need genuine prophetic activity in the Church.

The prophetic has been crying out for these attributes for far too long.

I have read statements celebrating the initial stages of dealing with problematic so called prophetic ministries. Some of these ministries have recently announced a period of removing themselves from public for whatever reason.

I am thrilled to finally see some accountability!

There have been many manipulators and apparent liars rampant for far too long!

A large problem for me with any extreme position in Christianity, its expression through practice, whether it be pro or anti Holy Spirit gifts etc, is that extremes look concerning to me.. 

Many appear to ignore the parts of scripture that don’t support their position while exaggerating the importance of others.

I don’t like the pendulum swing that comes with these moments sometimes.

Again I am for the prophetic. It is reflected in New Testament teachings.

I just want the accountability and honestly that is expected from other giftings and their use, to be applied here as well.

I have been a follower of Jesus since 1991. Have seen and experienced a little since then.

During that time I have “received” plenty of prophetic words from people who I have always hoped were just trying to do their best.

And we need to be honest here. 

Some of it was apparently spot on while others were ridiculously off the mark.

One one music tour I did traveling around at least half a dozen Churches, at every single one, someone approached me afterwards telling me that God had told them I would be back to be their youth pastor.

Did it confuse me or cause me to have a crisis of faith? No.

What it did do was cause me to pray and reflect on what was said, why they said it, and what was really potentially going on.

The Apostle Paul encouraged prophecy but also sober reflection and testing of what said.

I tried to apply that to this strange series of moments.

I think in part they recognised that I had giftings that could have benefit to their Church.

They prophesied based on what they saw and what they hoped they saw.

Their “humaness” got mixed with their revelation.

And I needed to take stock according.

I have experienced amazing prophetic words and prayers that have staggered me as to their accuracy, which came true not by my doing anything to make them a reality.

There are stories I could tell!

What am I trying to say?

I guess in the end we need to be passionate both ways to protect the pendulum swing in this moment being too strong.

We need sober judgement of the prophetic. And we need the prophetic.

The prophet needs accountability.

The receiver needs better understanding on how to process prophecy.

This is our moment to grow up.

I really hope we can.

Something to think about…

Change your pot?

I absolutely love Rhubarb.

I just adore stewed Rhubarb on desserts or on my cereal.

Suze thinks it tastes like dirt. He taste buds are less developed than mine it seems…

When we moved down south in late 2024 my fantastic mother gave me a rhubarb plant to put in our little garden space. From my little understanding of growing this in a healthy way that you can harvest from, it is best to leave it a year. So that is what I did. Waited a whole year!

Unfortunately the anniversary came around and I was left disappointed.

The plant really hadn’t thrived and the stalks just too limp to do anything with.

My passionate (maybe too hot blooded) side of myself wanted to dig the dumb thing up and throw it away. Super annoyed that my effort and patience had not been rewarded.

I decided instead to research my options.

The research turned into a plan.

I dug up my plant carefully and placed it in a pot with fresh and rich in nutrients soil.

That was about a month ago now.

When we look out our lounge window we see something different. It is totally changed. 

The 6 or 7 at best limp stalks have morphed into a thriving living bush of this amazing rhubarby goodness!

And that got me thinking…

There are times, after a season of hardwork, endurance and patience, where you can feel a little limp. 

Like things didn’t work.

Expectations were sadly not met.

And you may want to respond in a passionate and potentially hot headed way?

Maybe what you need is a new pot?

Maybe what you need is some fertiliser?

Maybe what you need is to not panic but changed what you are sitting in?

Jesus talked about a man going to visit his fig tree in his vineyard. 

For 3 years he was waiting patiently for it to fruit (typically fig trees produce by then). 

Because it wasn't fruiting yet, a decision was made. 

Dig it or dung it. 

Give it some attention and see if it will produce something good. 

(Luke 13:6-9)

I don’t want to encourage you do something dramatic out of frustration, just maybe be motivated to think and pray before making am important decision. 

Don’t just dump a job or a friend group or relationship because it is now “limp”.

Can I encourage you to take a step back and look at the option of changing your pot?

You are designed to grow.

And maybe you need a fresh soil to thrive in?

Something to think about…