Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Google Street View
View Street View in a larger map
I saw a Prius approaching with a big thing sticking out the roof... (Teardrop marker) hope I'll be famous one day - if they add this road to street view. The Prius was moving quite quickly - hope the accelerator wasn't stuck.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Disconnected
It bothered me all day... what was wrong? For some reason I felt like I was just going through the motions - doing my bit. Preaching, singing, praying, breaking bread; like it was a job.
I don't often feel like that - so I'm glad it bothered me that I felt that way today.
I thought about it all day... what was bothering me?
Then I realised; I was busy with stuff before the service and didn't get a chance to connect to people when they arrived. I've grown used to serving a small church, a church where everybody knows everybody, I expect to connect with the congregation quite intimately.
This is the first time I've been a part of such a small church, and I am the minister. I really love it; and I'm glad that on most Sundays I get to experience our connectedness when we worship together.
I think my disconnectedness was rooted in that I was showing the congregation the way this morning, but not leading with them - a subtle difference I suppose.
Anyways - my words and my experience don't totally match up here. But some of you will know what I mean.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Herod's Temple - Slideshow (re post)
Herod's Temple Complex
I'm using this slide in my sermon on Sunday about Jesus' cleansing of the temple. If Google Docs is co-operating, you can download it here.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Homosexuality, The Bible and Ethics - 4: Kinky or Sincere
My friend Ecclesia (a Methodist Minister) was 'discontinued' for entering a civil union with her life partner; she is no longer allowed to be a Methodist Minister because she is gay and OK with it.
In the last post I spoke about the difference between trusting and knowing; seeing the Bible as a list of rules about what we should think and do versus seeing the Bible as an unfolding story that helps us to see the heart of God. For some - the two interweave easily, for others, it is more complex.
In the second post I spoke briefly about homosexuality - some say it is a 'lifestyle choice' others argue that it is 'the way they were created.' On the science side - I believe that some people are just born gay. On the morality side - I think some people (gay and straight) - have very (perverted) unhealthy and harmful (to themselves and others) ideas and practices around sex and sexuality.
So - how do we tell who is kinky/perverted and who is sincere?
Well then you would have to have special insight into their 'thoughts and their works' (Is 66:18); or be able to 'judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart' (Heb 4:12); things that only God (Jesus) does.
Although I am quite convinced by the scientific evidence for some people being 'naturally gay' rather than straight; being a people person I put more weight on the testimony (experience) aspect. So many gay people just 'know' that they are gay, they 'know' that they are loved by God, my discipline (as a Methodist) says I should:
'Believe evil of no one unless fully proved; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.'
- 5th rule of a helper
So my approach is to trust; and leave the judging up to God.
I do say the 'Apostle's Creed' with my fingers uncrossed and I do believe in the coming justice of God - or the day of judgment. I believe with Paul (Romans 14:10-12) that each of us will stand before God and have to account for our actions and perhaps our convictions; I believe that God will judge us thoroughly - knowing our hearts; I'm not sure exactly how that will take place - what it will look or feel like...
I'm not sure how 'But the Bible says..." will stand as an excuse for the way we have treated people on that final day. I think God might say: Bible Shmible; I gave you science, I gave you compassion, I broke open my love for you and all people on the cross, I poured out my Spirit, and you justify your behaviour with the letter of the law! God might point us to the suicides, the depression, the horror our legalism has resulted in and we might just have to defend it.
These are my opinions, not my church's, and maybe they shouldn't be yours, because hey - I won't stand before God on your behalf.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
The problem with Theologians...
Imagine a dull grey room with a window that looks out into a beautiful garden. The room is filled with religious people.
The religious people spend their days studying this beautiful window.
They marvel at it and all its colours, shapes, and movements. The characters that the window reveals playing in what looks to them like a garden.
They become disciples of the window.
They never notice, or maybe they don't want to notice that next to the window is a closed, but unlocked door.
The religious people spend their days studying this beautiful window.
They marvel at it and all its colours, shapes, and movements. The characters that the window reveals playing in what looks to them like a garden.
They become disciples of the window.
They never notice, or maybe they don't want to notice that next to the window is a closed, but unlocked door.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Only 31 years?
worked out for me; 1636 weeks is a lot of sermons, even if you take
away annual leave and the odd rerun...
Oh well - I hope the 1636th one is perfect at last ;)
Friday, February 05, 2010
Books I'm going to read in the next 4-6 months...
Busy with an Old Testament Block in my MTh; these are the books my prof. chose; I'm going to go to the library and get one of them on Monday; which one should I start with?
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Thursday, February 04, 2010
Interpretation...
"Interpretation is a hostile act in which interpreter victimizes text" - Mark C Taylor in Deconstruction in Theology
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Disciple Course reading material...
Some of the resources I recommend for those doing the Disciple Course.
Any you think I should add?
Any you think I should add?
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