Bible in a year...
10 years ago
Wednesday 2 February 2011
Now for something completely different
I keep hearing the expression in church circles that 'one size does fit anymore', but do those using the expression really believe what they are saying? This video is hardly regular church and it takes a while to get to the words (unless presumably you are under 30 and grew up singing this stuff?) but those that I catch have a theology that is OK by me. Isn't that the filter we should be using ie theology, rather than condemn it because it's a rap, it's too loud, and the guys singing it are probably not white? I can tell you I get really excited when I see God's word moving in different circles from my own. The group even call themselves 'ImpurFektFaith' (they spell it incorrectly - tut tut) - but the name still hits the mark for me.
Don't get me wrong, this is not 'my cup of tea' but I really enjoyed the message.... definitely a good one for a family service (in 2013?). Perhaps a 'Make War' banner should become a 'Make War on Sin' banner to improve it a bit? ... but now I am being picky :)
The lights are dimming..... but why?
Just had an email from a colleague with this in it;
Lights are dimming across the old town. The power supply is faltering. Homes, shops and cafes are all struggling to operate, to stay open. Then the bright idea; why don’t we reduce the number of cafes, shops and homes with power?
This is controversial. People argue about what shops, cafes and homes are essential, which are not. Fears are expressed about the loss of buildings and groups that have been in the town for generations. People complain that family homes where grandparents lived will be lost forever. New groups will be enforced as families have to share – and many don’t want to! Through all the arguing people are constantly reminded that the power supply is running down. If hard choices are not made then all power will be lost. Lights will flicker and dim. The town will die.
Eventually after much soul-searching, the cuts are made. The remaining shops, cafes and homes have more power diverted to them and the lights shine brightly once again! Everyone cheers, even those who have lost what was precious to them. Their town lives again. Change has worked.
However, in all the celebrations, in all the light, one bulb flickers and dims. Only a child sees it. Alone among the crowd the child wonders, “Why is the power fading in the first place?”
I think the little boy is asking the right question and this is precisely why I have come into the ministry. There is nothing wrong with the power source, it is infinite and eternal, it's simply that folk have become disconnected.
At our Alpha Course last night one member of the church said that prayer for specifics is irrelevant because life is all predestined. At best this person seemed grateful for the blessings that did at least pop up once in a while. A man rightly commented 'why bother praying at all then?' Our dialogue progressed with an openess and respect which was really good, reflecting the purpose of the Course.
Please pray that we will become more connected as we go forward.
Lights are dimming across the old town. The power supply is faltering. Homes, shops and cafes are all struggling to operate, to stay open. Then the bright idea; why don’t we reduce the number of cafes, shops and homes with power?
This is controversial. People argue about what shops, cafes and homes are essential, which are not. Fears are expressed about the loss of buildings and groups that have been in the town for generations. People complain that family homes where grandparents lived will be lost forever. New groups will be enforced as families have to share – and many don’t want to! Through all the arguing people are constantly reminded that the power supply is running down. If hard choices are not made then all power will be lost. Lights will flicker and dim. The town will die.
Eventually after much soul-searching, the cuts are made. The remaining shops, cafes and homes have more power diverted to them and the lights shine brightly once again! Everyone cheers, even those who have lost what was precious to them. Their town lives again. Change has worked.
However, in all the celebrations, in all the light, one bulb flickers and dims. Only a child sees it. Alone among the crowd the child wonders, “Why is the power fading in the first place?”
I think the little boy is asking the right question and this is precisely why I have come into the ministry. There is nothing wrong with the power source, it is infinite and eternal, it's simply that folk have become disconnected.
At our Alpha Course last night one member of the church said that prayer for specifics is irrelevant because life is all predestined. At best this person seemed grateful for the blessings that did at least pop up once in a while. A man rightly commented 'why bother praying at all then?' Our dialogue progressed with an openess and respect which was really good, reflecting the purpose of the Course.
Please pray that we will become more connected as we go forward.
Tuesday 1 February 2011
New ways to post a comment!
We've just changed some blog settings so that hopefully it will be easier now to post a comment.
If you wish to comment on any of the posts on this blog:
Happy commenting!!!!
If you wish to comment on any of the posts on this blog:
- Click on the "comments" link on the bottom right hand corner of the post.
- Write your comment on the space provided just under "post a comment"
- Where it says "Comment as" click on the drop down menu arrow and choose from one of the options. We have just added 2 new options at the bottom of the list i.e. name/URL and anonymous. These 2 options give you access to comment without the need to have a google account etc. If you choose the name/URL option you can leave your name against a comment without having to give a URL. Just fill in your name where prompted and leave the URL field blank, then click continue.
- Once you are happy with your comment click on the "Post Comment" button and you will be prompted to copy a word verification before your comment is finally posted!!
Happy commenting!!!!
Great! It seems that people want to post comments...
I have been getting feedback from more people that they like the blog because it gives them information about what is going on, and what topics are engaging me as the minister. However, I have just had a call from someone wanting to post a comment and found it to be a horrible process. He eventually gave up and gave me a call.
I was pleased to have the call and I explained that the blog is set-up, as many are, to stop people being able to post comments before a moderator has seen the content. The reason for this is simply that I have experience of forums, bulletin boards and blogs which, if open, seem to attract every nasty, foul person on the planet. These people take delight in just blasting your site with whatever will ruin it - often this is porn or links to porn. That's why we typically keep people out.
Nonetheless, since the blog is getting noticed by people in the parish and dialogue can be opened up, I will take a look at how we might filter people through a reasonably simple process so that comments can be posted. I will blog my findings in due course. :)
I was pleased to have the call and I explained that the blog is set-up, as many are, to stop people being able to post comments before a moderator has seen the content. The reason for this is simply that I have experience of forums, bulletin boards and blogs which, if open, seem to attract every nasty, foul person on the planet. These people take delight in just blasting your site with whatever will ruin it - often this is porn or links to porn. That's why we typically keep people out.
Nonetheless, since the blog is getting noticed by people in the parish and dialogue can be opened up, I will take a look at how we might filter people through a reasonably simple process so that comments can be posted. I will blog my findings in due course. :)
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