Missiome's Blurred Edge

I've really been taken by the way Missiome talks about the occasional times his Church is

...effectively...closed down for the day and we're encouraged to 'get out there' and make relationships with our friends.

...hmmnn...something to think about.

Sometimes I wonder about the way my tribe approaches Sundays, often the busiest day of my week.

I've been made to think even harder when I read some of the teaching espoused at ROCKHARBOR.

Sabbath is a weekly day of rest in which we cease from our weekly tasks and pressures in order to rest and be refilled. In fact, the term Sabbath comes from the Hebrew term shabbat, which means “to cease or rest.” Exodus 20:11 states “in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” God felt so strongly about the need for a weekly day of rest that He called all of Israel to observe a Sabbath rest once a week.

On the Sabbath, we’re called not only to cease from working, but also to empty ourselves of our need to accomplish, produce, and worry about our lives for one day so that we can be refreshed and refilled. It’s a day for us to stop working towards becoming and simply focus on being. One great benefit of Sabbath keeping is that we learn to let God take care of us – not by becoming passive and lazy, but by giving up our feeble attempts to control our own lives and simply resting in His provision.

Scott Reports on A Way of Life

Mighty blogger, pastor & caffeine junkie, Scott Hodge has some interesting things to report about Rob Bell's recent spot at Q.

Q describes itself as

...a gathering for leaders in the church to become informed and exposed to future-culture. It is a space where select leaders can create, dialogue, collaborate, innovate, serve and ideate around the important topics shaping the church’s future role in culture.

With a line up of speakers including Rob Bell of Mars Hill, Purpose Driven's Rick Warren, Kevin Kelly of WIRED, Don Miller of Blue Like Jazz fame & lots of other big hitters ,Q was a dead cert to be a hugely exciting conference, so it's worth checking out Scott's other posts on this significant event.

Visit the site for much more info.

Anyhow, I leave Scott's breakdown of Rob Bell's slot, which as a Salvationist has some interesting things to tell us about the Eucharist:

EU (Good)
CHARIS (Gift/Grace)
EUCHARIST

The Eucharist is usually thought of as a ritual in which we acknowledge and reflect on this good gift of God. It's seen as a "thing" you do... But what if the Eucharist were to become a whole way of life?

A leader's life is an endless process of constantly being broken and poured out.

The Eucharist is not just a ritual - it is a whole way of life.

A church is invited to be a Eucharist to its community - broken and poured out...

The church is the only organization that exists for the benefits of it's non-members.

Does the church exist for its own ego or as a good gift for the world?

Luke 22:18 - "Do this in remembrance of me."

What if Jesus was using this in a broader sense of saying, "Do this (what you see ME DOING) in remembrance of me?" ...an invitation to be a living eucharist for the world we live in.

Too often, we try to reproduce another church's Eucharist without being broken or poured out. The reason it worked there in the first place was because SOMEONE poured out. So we need to ask the question: What does it mean for me to be a Eucharist to these people (in our communities/culture) here and now?

A question they have been asking at Mars Hill: If our church was removed from our community, who would protest?

What does it mean to be a "good gift" to our community?

There is always a cost... If Eucharist is "pouring out" you must allow time to pour back in.

Where are you in the Eucharist rhythm?

Keep checking Scott's blog. It's consistantly challenging, interesting & engaging.

Thanks, once again, Scott!

Moleskine Drive

Now, I know how many of you guys are completely in love with all that is Moleskine.

Check out this weird little mashup at WIRED

Neneh & Andi

Frustrated at not being able to see the Chelsea/Liverpool game on terrestrial TV or Freeview, I was forced to do some channel surfing, and discovered a little funky gem of a food show, Neneh and Andi Dish It Up

Maybe they don't have the credentials of the mighty Jamie, but the food looked good, the soundtrack was rockin' and the ladeez were cool presenters.

Liked the kitchen set too, described on the site as Mexican-cum-Cuban-cum-West Indian.

What year are we in?

Hat tip to Yucan Chiu, who’s post directed me towards this staggering news piece from CNN.Read it & weep.

Living for most of my adult life in and around multicultural South London, working in a thoroughly diverse environment, and as a white guy married to a black woman, this article is a shock to the system. It’s really hard to compute.

Yucan Chiu founded Ethnos with his wife Yen-Yen in San Diego, CA, in 2003, as a Church reaching their community in all it’s ethnic diversity.

This is what they say they are all about.

Ethnos is a community aspiring to:
• Love our multicultural God and neighbor
• Grow into the likeness of Jesus
• Serve those in our community, especially those who are oppressed and hurting
• Witness to the person and work of Jesus, the Savior of all peoples

Thanks, Yucan, for bringing this to my attention, and thanks for the good work you seem to be doing there in your community.

Peace & Blessings

J

Supper Clubbers

I finally made my first Supper Club last night, and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening, even if I struggled to keep up with the knowledge & speed of thought of the participants in the discussion.

TheRubicon rather grandly describes the Supper Club as

… an eclectic group of thinking individuals who are either active Salvation Army members or with some connection and/or history with the movement. “Contemplative activists”, might be a good description of the group.

I guess I struggle with that description of myself, but it was really good to meet together with each one of these guys, who were captivating company, and hugely welcoming. My brain got a work out in the process.

Good too, to spend some time with some folks I have the absolute highest regard, nay love, for; some folks who are deeply loved by other buddies of mine, some of the bloggers I read regularly (Gordon & Nick), and some(Tim & Lucy) who are about to get added to the johnnylaird blogroll.

Looking forward to sharing a journey with the Supper Clubbers!

My beauties!

I had the chance to spend some real quality time with my kids this weekend, as Janet was away for the w/end at a conference. Sometimes I just can't take on board how blessed I am to have these two wonderful bundles of joy to keep me on my toes. They are so full of life - such funny little characters, who make me break open into a wide smile if I as much as think of them.

Some words of Jesus, from the Gospel of Matthew, as per The Message:

"I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.

British Invasion

My good buddy, Lard, and his lovely family are heading Stateside.

You can read his breaking news post here:

Lloyd AKA Lard is a top geezer - a severely talented graphics, webby, arty kind of dude, who's heading to Florida later in the year to work with uber-hip mag, Relevant.

We'll miss you guys when you go, but who can resist Florida? You won't be needing those wellies!

Thoughts of a Student Midwife

Say "hi" to another Croydon Citadel blogger, at The Thoughts of a Student Midwife".

Ali is sister of Emergency Man, and sister-in-law to Anita.

Her blog is going to focus on her soon to be starting adventure as a Student Midwife.

...should be interesting.

VW Dreams

I’m lovin’ this little “idle away a few minutes” site, which is going some way to satisfy my current craving to buy a VW bus.

Truth is, it’s probably unlikely to happen, but there’s something really captivating about the notion of filling up a VW camper with Jan & the kids, a bunch of cool camping accessories and heading off into the sunset….even if it’s only a weekend at a time.

There have been days when we’ve taken a trip in the Touran, stopped to eat our sandwiches - still all tucked away inside the car – and it’s felt like the best place in the word. All because all four of us are squeezed into such a small intimate space.

The VW bus may happen, it may not….but one can dream

Traffic

Danielle Strickland(who’s becoming a favo(u)rite blogger of mine) at Armybarmy REMIX posts here about Human Trafficking and The Salvation Army.

Here’s what she says

Just thinking outloud. We MUST get busy. I'm tired of talking. The early Army used to arrange busts by 50 or so Salvationists in uniform rushing into a brothel, putting women in the middle of the crowd and escorting them to private homes to be cared for as long as needed. Are we ready?

Good to see the positive response in the Comments from TheCCat.

Sometimes there’s good stuff happening under the radar.

VT

...you have my prayers...

Macy

I love this quote from William H Macy, star of current US smash Wild Hogs

The Weekend Guardian's TV Guide supplement has a Q&A feature on the inside back cover. The questions are Song Titles, popular phrases etc. Here's Macy's "A" to the What Would Jesus Do? "Q":

...in this day and age of religious wackos taking over the world I do love quoting Jesus and reading some of the things he said in the Bible. Because it's so disarming, so simple, so true. It cannot be argued with. "Let he who is without sin..." Oh man.

Oh man, indeed, William.

Zumba!

My sister-in-law, Evelyn has just become a Zumba instructor.

She is one driven lady who I’m proud to call my sister!

You go, girl!

When I married Janet, I got a huge added bonus because I got a new family into the bargain. I’ve been completely embraced by them, and it’s just a joy to share life with them – even though we’re separated by the mighty Atlantic. In a few short years we’ve shared so many fantastic times - I’ve loved the experience of being an Uncle for the first time in my life – I have a brother & sister who I love & respect beyond measure – my world has expanded farther than I ever imagined.

I am blessed!

Thank you Jesus.

What a talent!

Sometimes I think my blog doesn't share enough about my life with my wife Jan, Mia & Noah - pics are few and far between, anecdotal stuff about daily life is limited, and there are no funky vids a la Ragamuffin Soul.

I guess I was struggling with material, so now I'm relieved to discover a source of cool pics. Here's Mia's pic of her little brother - one of the first set of pics taken on her Fisher Price digital camera.

What a talent!

Akram Khan

I was channel surfing last week – my short attention span means I’m a chronic remote tapper – when I had something of an aesthetic epiphany. I stumbled on to the Asian Arts program Desi DNA and saw a piece on Akram Khan, London-born Kathak performer & choreographer.

This guy is seriously talented, and I’m sure he’s a big noise in the world of dance (which I know next to nothing about).

Despite my ignorance, I was completely knocked out by his work.

The featured piece zero degrees displayed some incredible dance and vocal interplay where Kahn, and his collaborator on this , Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, mirrored each other's speech patterns, body language and movement with astonishing accuracy. Every pause, hand movement…breath was just locked in.

Incredible stuff.

Next time I hear of a show in London, Jan & I will have to try & make it.

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts