Just watched the Robert Beckford documentary that was on over Chirstmas. Who wrote the Bible. It was great intro to the historical context of the writers and writing, and raised some good issues. The links to Bush as an evangelical Christian were very interesting. Beckford made some excellent comments about where the Spirit is in the Bible today after his findings that related to the selective inclusions by the authorities who put together the final cannon.
By way of a bit of an intro I have posted an article called Why Sundays papers which goes into some of the reasoning for the blog and what you may find.
Why Sunday Papers.doc
I have found myself called back to areas and people recently that I have probably been sub-consciously avoiding. Going to these places and people filled me with dread, would I be accepted, criticised, could I cope. At Greenbelt I came across this quote from Bishop Fenelon (whoever he is) who said “The trying things which you fancy come between God and you, will prove means of unity with Him if you bear them humbly. Those things that overwhelm us and upset our pride, do us more good than all that which excites and inspires us�
I guess I was feeling very overwhelmed, but the Bish helped me identity how it much pride was a root of these feelings. I still feel like I am walking into a lions den but at least I am ready to stick my head around the corner to see what’s there.
It has been great to follow some discussion on Mission and alt worship on Steves blog at Smallritual (see new link posted)stirred by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. Their book “the shaping of things to come” has a lot of good stuff, but I find their view of church too narrow for the missional context we are in. (for an extract check out http://www.blahonline.net/features.php) I talk more about this in “Off the Beaten track” sorry about the shameless plug if you want to get a copy check out link to OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.
I love that Steve’s notion that alt worship is missional and about reconnecting church to people and he is honest in about the limitations of current stuff (often a bit too high brow culture for me anyway). In a chat with him at Greenbelt he was open about grace needing the time find their way in worship and now they are asking the questions about mission. However I cant help thinking this is church before mission and may hinder rather than help mission. I advocate Mission INFRONT of church, rather than mission outfrom church. Perhaps if we see church growing out of mission context we will answer some the issues Steve raises in the blog on fight club for introverts
I was pointed to a site the other day http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/ small actions to change the world. I wonder if we have disconnected church, mission, and action. Jonny Baker is asking on his blog What is mission? In Off the beaten track i talk about as church as BOTH the city on the hill AND the journey to the city on the hill. Questioning both concepts mission and church which are so fluid, dynamic, undefinable is great but maybe the answer can only come in the actions we do as we seek to define them. And actually the mistakes we will make along the way are probably more a part of the answer than the successes. So here’s to making mistakes.
Great time over the weekend flying the kite in really strong winds at Saunton Sands. This new kite is excellent and with the stong winds I could manage to get the wing tip to touch the ground and keep the thing afloat by taking it right to the edge of wind. It was when the kite was right on the edge of the wind that it was at its most grace-full the rest of the time, towards the middle of the wind it was gusty and all over the shop.