This summer I visited Australia for the very first time in my life, making it my 5th continent and (I think) my 17th nation. It was a brief yet exciting visit “Down Under,” the highlight being Steve Irwin’s Zoo outside of Brisbane.
Although I only spent a week in Australia (well, 3 days flying from Chicago for the 4 day conference—not a recommended itinerary!), my wife and I did get out for a few walks to see the place. I was shocked to find a St. Vincent DePaul thrift store, and I just had to get in there to buy some books! For 1/15th the cost of a Kangaroo burger, I bought two Australian books, Wrecks and Reputations (1977) about Australian shipwrecks and this little Christian book for men.
The Author and The Gospel
Before reading this book, I’d never heard of Ian “Watto” Watson or his Australia-based ministry “Shed Happens” (try saying that with an Australian accent—and then let your spouse smack you). It’s a Christian-based ministry (found at www.shednight.com) focused on reaching blue-collar, unchurched men through group meetings and times of sharing. This book is the essence of Watto’s heart for these men, his own story, and the reason he started the ministry.
And boy is it Aussie!
The book is not doctrinally thick by any means. There’s more about “the Bloke Upstairs” than there is explicitly about God or Jesus. I kept longing for the Gospel to be spelled out clearly, but it never was. There was no discussion of repentance or the cross, just that God is willing to accept you and you need to have a relationship with him. Lots of good advice throughout, but without the Truth, what ultimate good is it?
Some Favorite Portions
Watto’s writing style is otherwise so down-to-earth, I felt like I was right there in the semi-truck cab with him as he trained me how both to double-clutch and to be a better husband. A few scenes stick out to me.
I loved his anecdote in the big-dream chapter about his trucking business. He didn’t just stick with semis. He overcame his fears and risked everything to buy a tipper, and then began delivered tanks of water. He took an opportunity on Boxing Day to deliver water when no one else would, and he built an abnormal business with sheer grit and determination.
About dreaming big, he adds this relationship advice:
Some blokes may find that their woman can act like a dream-taker, opposing their dream, but a lot of the time that’s because the men don’t talk to the women! If you’re not talking to your woman about your dream, and looking at it together with her, she might be scared. She’ll feel like she has to hold on to what she’s got at the moment instead of moving into something new. If you sit down and communicate with her, you’ll both have the support and confidence of each other, and you’ll go forward. The dream can recharge and reignite. Her support will turbo charge your dream! (31)
Another portion that stuck out to me was his advice about listening to strangers. I preached at a church in Utah this summer and had a visitor come up to me after the service and share some advice about raising my kids on a foreign field that I wasn’t expecting. He grew up as a missionary kid himself in PNG and watched his siblings’ lives be destroyed by how his parents handled culture, ministry, and school.
“I turned out all right, but that’s by the grace of God. You make sure your kids know you love them more than you do any country or ministry. And tell them every day.”
It was powerful advice from a stranger I’ll never see again, and I don’t think it’d have caught me so off guard if Watto hadn’t just prepared me to hear it (64-66)
I also loved his section, “Half the story” about Jesus (82-84) and the advice that, when talking about God with others, talk about God not the church, because church is just a huge distraction and turn-off for many men (84-85). I also enjoyed his “Heart-Line” activity on page 214, an activity that can help name some of the feelings we men feel but rarely discuss.
Finally, two lines I enjoyed were these:
About Spiritual Maturity: Remember, what you have chained up for 20, 30, or 40 years might need to be gently and slowly peeled away, layer by layer, to reach the champion in you. (200)
About Friendship: I’ve never seen a bloke go backwards with encouragement… If you want encouragement, give plenty where you know you can… Don’t listen to Dream-takers… Keep in touch with the dream-makers. (216)
Conclusion
This was an all-right, surprise book from Australia that got me thinking. While I certainly wish Watto had clearly stated the Gospel here—and I hope he does in the Shed!—I think he’s got a great approach to reaching men that otherwise would never open up or darken a church door.
©2025 E.T.