Back in Sydney after 6 weeks away, I've been talking a lot to people about my holidays. And inevitably the conversation gets around to Sarah and I getting stuck in Brisbane during the floods and how I had to take some back roads past Nowheresville and round the corner from Yonder in order to get to Maclean to preach on the Sunday.
They should have just video streamed me in like Mark Driscoll.
The sermon, as I've said previously, was only a pass. I had motivated myself with a lot of positive self talk during the week that this sermon was going to be my 22 minute scorcher. It was not to be. I was way too long, yet again. Whether an empty excuse or vile justification, I would only add in my defense that in the days leading up to the sermon I was channeling a bit of Father McKenzie (of Eleanor Rigby fame), thinking I wouldn't be able to get back (to where I once belonged) because of the floods. Thus the incentive to work was just not there seeing as though I imagined I was writing the words to a sermon that no one would hear (no one comes near).
If you want to hear what someone sounds like who was trying to write new sermons whilst camping 10m from the beach and supposedly "holidaying" (the first two) or whilst thinking it was relatively pointless writing a talk because inclement weather would mean it would never be preached (the third one), you can listen via the Maclean Presbyterian Church website.
Finally by way of warning, I am compelled to offer the following caution:
I love the people of Maclean Presy very dearly. But seriously, they also have one of the worst church website designs I have ever seen. No doubt designed and maintained with love, it is difficult to get past the clip art and 'Web Counter'. It was probably cutting edge in its time. That time has passed. But God's mercies, new every morning, have at least ensured there is no midi file playing 'How Great Thou Art' in the background and no comic sans in sight. I should also state for the record that the website was added after Phil Campbell's time as minister. I say this to protect Phil's legacy of tasteful design.
Ya reckon?
ReplyDeleteCheck out this bad boy:
http://www.stjhobart.pctas.org.au/intro.html
We have a new winner people.
Okay, so I may have exaggerated my claims slightly. That is quite dated.
ReplyDeleteI am loathe to poke fun at these sites though. I am sure they're all maintained in a very servant-hearted way, but unfortunately they really stick out in todays web world! That said, I would suggest that most of these churches aren't generating a lot of first impressions off the web. I guess the site serves the congregation adequately for what they need. Even if some of us design elitists cringe when we wander by.