I have a problem, I am not a pacifist, but very close to one. I am a person who has been in two professions where I have been given the power to use minimal force in order to achieve my objective when life is at risk. The point I am bothered about is this: I [...]
Archive for April, 2009
The disciple who pulls a blade out…
Posted in Christianity, Conflict, Control, Crime, Culture, Danger, Deception, Easter, Empire, Ethics, Fear, Integrity, Justice, Maundy Thursday, Prison, Theology, Violence, War on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A flood of articles, yes I know!!
Posted in Uncategorized on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Yes, I have posted a lot of other people’s stuff today. I have been clearing out my saved area and putting them up on the blog. I am in the process of clearing out various folders and sources with a view to keeping on top of things from this point on…. but I doubt if [...]
Bonhoeffer and Making the Best Use of Everything
Posted in Christianity, Church, Communion, Compassion on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
from internetmonk.comI generally enjoy the Kindlings Muse podcast from Dick Staub, but the episode I listened to today was especially good. It was a full introduction to the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and martyr. This presentation was done by the outstanding Presbyterian preacher and author, Earl Palmer. [...]
Church and Mission
Posted in Church, Evangelism, Institutionalism, Integrity, Mission on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
http://www.backyardmissionary.com/2008/12/ecclesial-missions-or-missional-ecclesias.html
ECCLESIAL MISSIONS OR MISSIONAL ECCLESIAS?
Ok, so maybe that’s a bit pedantic, but we do sometimes get horse and cart the wrong way around. The church was birthed because of mission and since then we have been trying to make sure we don’t simply morph into a club for the converted.
Even when we start to use [...]
He Stands
Posted in Christology, Church, Liturgy, Poetry on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
He stands, poised on the brink of two worlds: One, land of eternal day, the other, earth of mire and clay.
Behind Him, legions of heavenly host, bright faces covered, praising, all chanting, voices raising.
Before Him, chaos yawning, [...]
Salt Spreading
Posted in Christology, Church, Culture, Integrity, Justice, Postmodern, Theology on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | 1 Comment »
A convert to Jesus Christ lives in the world as well as in the church, and has responsibilities to the world as well as to the church. I think it is the tendency of churches to ‘ecclesiasticize’ their members which has made so many modern Christians understandably wary of conversion and church membership. Conversion must [...]
Matthew 25
Posted in Christology, Communion, Compassion, Henri Nouwen, Prison on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Matthew 25. Some quotes to make you think….
Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew (2006), p. 212:
A people shaped by the practice of the works of mercy will be a people capable of seeing through those who claim to need power to do good, but in fact just need power. Great injustice is perpetrated in the name of justice.
Karl [...]
Going to those margins… of the church
Posted in Church, Communion, Compassion, Henri Nouwen, Integrity on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
http://prodigal.typepad.com/prodigal_kiwi/2008/11/henri-nouwen-meditation-going-to-the-margins-of-the-church.html
“Those who are marginal in the world are central in the Church, and that is how it is supposed to be! Thus we are called as members of the Church to keep going to the margins of our society. The homeless, the starving, parentless children, people with AIDS, our emotionally disturbed brothers and sisters – [...]
QUANTUM OF SOLACE– A QUOTIENT OF PAINS
Posted in Christianity, Culture, Justice, Law, Revenge, Violence, Wrath on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
As always, Ben Witherington writes some excellent articles. This has been in my saved space for some time, but it is well worth a read. The link to Ben’s Blog is QUANTUM OF SOLACE– A QUOTIENT OF PAIN
Vengeance, revenge, wrath. It is often the human response to being deeply wounded, or having someone you love [...]
Eucharistic tensions
Posted in Christianity, Christology, Church, Communion, Freedom, Good Theology, Holiness, Integrity, Theology on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The mood really suits me////
http://sallysjourney.typepad.com/sallys_journey/2008/10/eucharistic-ten.html
The table is set,
the bread prepared,
the wine poured,
the white linen,
silver plate,
and goblet
have been
carefully positioned.
My ears are ready
to receive the invitation,
come!
And then
as bread is broken open
I am called forward.
Can I meet you
in the beauty
of this ritual?
You who were broken,
torn apart for us,
in a place where beauty
could not,
dare not reside.
But somehow I find [...]
