-
I’ve just about finished writing an article for the International Bible Society.
I was asked to write on the topic of ‘The Recovery of Liturgy in the Emerging Church’.
Continue reading »
-
This Christmas, during the season of advent, in preparing to receive Jesus, I am captivated and enthralled.
I am brought to my knees again, in worship of my Lord, my Master, my Saviour, my Teacher, my brother, my basis for living and being, the one who enfolds my life with all things, into eternity…my King.
‘Christ has come, He is present in the world today, and He will come again in power’.
May we all know something more of the love of God in Jesus this Christmas.
‘For to us a child is born
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’
Isa 9:6
Continue reading »
-
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has converted to the Catholic faith.
Continue reading »
-
The UK government earlier this week launched a consultation on how the government can best support faith communities’ engagement with one another and with their local communities. Addressing a reception attended by over 200 representatives of Britain’s faith communities, including the archbishop of canterbury, the secretary of state, Hazel Blears, Secretary of State said:
Continue reading »
-
It’s that time of year when everyone starts looking back before looking ahead.
I know I’m trying to finalise everything today, so I’m ready for our communities last organised events this weekend, before some time off. And I’m looking more and more into my diary for 2008, wondering what will happen in the light of this year.
The New York Times, has produced this article (thanks to Tim Wright for the heads up), that looks back at 2007, with regards to the key ideas that shaped and made 2007.
Continue reading »
-
Given my research interest in Consumerism and Christianity, I just have to watch this film, What Would Jesus Buy?
From the producers of Supersize Me, it’s a docu-comedy, with some serious aims.
Continue reading »
-
I was reading the other day a statistic that I had heard before. That in communication, only 7% of what is communicated actually comes from the words we say, the rest is from the tone, and body dynamics.
Then I thought about academic writing of which I read much and am trying to produce my own, and how it has such a narrow focus not just in terms of topic, but in terms of communication medium/style.
It’s why a blog to throw ideas around with others like you to interact with, or teaching classes where I can interact with people, really helps my learning process.
Continue reading »
-
I’ve been doing some reflection and thinking about organizations, and in particular structure, hierarchy, and the nature of institutions.
I’m convinced that institutions are the enemy of good practice. By that I mean that any institution that forms to deliver good practice will always wrestle with becoming so bureaucratic and concerned for itself, that it undermines the very thing is seeks to deliver.
We see this with hospitals for example. Places dedicated to providing medical care to human beings, can become so caught up in politics, and management conflicts that the medical care they are supposed to provide are undermined, and in many cases people are harmed.
We see the same with Church. The organisations of the church to facilitate the incarnation of the gospel, quickly becomes an obstacle to the very nature and purpose the church in the first place, and people are harmed more than helped.
Continue reading »
-
I’ve seen a few emails doing the rounds, asking Christian’s to boycott the new film ‘The Golden Compass’, mainly under the premise that the stories author is an ardent atheist, and anti-christian.
A sure fire way to make people watch it, and have people think Christians are unstable fundamentalists.
Now it’s a few years since I read his books, and I enjoyed them, and found the ‘doctrine of creation’ he articulates in the books, more christian than the forms of christianity he rails against. And there’s the rub for me; Pullman writes against a form of Christianity that is a parody, something of his own ‘monster making’ (much as Richard Dawkins does).
Continue reading »
-
I’ve hardly had time to sit down since getting back from the Emergent Germany event. You should be able to find all the main session by Brian McLaren and I, from the 3 days here. I thought I’d blog about some reflections and highlights from my time there.
1. People: So many people, several hundred over the 3 days, from so many backgrounds. High Church, low Church, state church, independent, charismatic, non charismatic, young and old. Also a wide range from theology professors, to people with no theological training.
2. Challenge: Trying to do an introduction to emerging church in three locations, with limited time, with such a diverse group, was a challenge. I’m sure for some it was too light, and lacked substance, and for others it was too dense and needed more introduction. But overall the buzz and feedback from most people was encouraging.
Continue reading »
