2love

Once again, another great Sally Army site coming out of Australia – this time from the 2love youth crew.

In the Salvation Army world, Australia seems to have really grasped the power of the internet.

It’s encouraging too that there seems to be some synergy between Oz/US/Canada as the gap year opportunities for Australian Salvation Army kids point them in the direction of amazing ministries like Order614, Revolution Hawaii and Ignite.

With leaders like Jim Knaggs regularly using Twitter and blogging at TCSpeak, other initiatives like Salvos Out There, CitySalvos and the Make Your Mark Officer Training site there is a level of connection and sense of ease with this at once emerging and ubiquitous technology which marks them out as front runners.

It does, though, make me wonder if we in the SA in the UK are falling behind in terms of understanding and using this technology as we – corporately – engage with the world and each other.

HT to 2love for the pics

(BTW, Anyone notice Steve Chalke lurking with his friends the Sally Army?)

Shifting sands in the Mid West

It’s interesting to me that two of my favo(u)rite bloggers, Carlos Whittaker and Scott Hodge both announced some major new initiatives in their live/ministries on the same day.

Scott announced his new senior pastor mentoring program for pastors leading Church communities in transition, and Los dropped a surprise by announcing his move to Soul City Church in Chicago, for some radical incarnational living….pretty much on Scott’s doorstep, btw!

Scott uses the phrase

“deep in the trenches on transition”

in his vid. That has such resonance for me right now.

Exciting Announcement! from scotthodge on Vimeo.

I also like Soul City Church's emphasis on whole life 7 day a week discipleship.




Inspired by, and praying for both you guys!

Cardboard

A friend of mine was working for these guys….but he had to pack it in!

I was thinking about it, but I don’t think I’m really cut out for it.

Good job really…cause I hear they’re about to fold!

Badda boom!!

HT Contemporist for the pics via Benjamin Boccas

Speak Human Please

I’ve got to say a big thanks to my friend Eric Bryant for pointing out this excellent post from Charles Lee, creator of the Idea Camp.

Charles in turn is quoting something from Erwin McManus when he was talking about the inability of many faith leaders to “speak human.”

Charles goes to pose some important questions for those who are involved in communities of faith, or in fact any tribe or people group:

• Would someone outside of our organization or business really understand our language and mission?
• Do you spend intentional time developing and choosing words that build bridges and creates access to those on the “outside”?
• Why do you use the words you do and who is it intended for? Think layers and context.

I’ve been asking myself similar questions in the context of my own tribe for a few years now, as I increasing struggle with our tendency to talk in riddles, acronyms and language that was birthed in Victorian times. We Salvationists are so prone to speak in the exclusive language of the insider.
It reminds me of a previous post where I was riffing on a similar theme.

Do I know you?

Do you ever have one of those experiences when you walk into a room, and notice someone you think you recognise, but can’t quite put your finger or where or when you know them from?

It happened to me this week at a Moot event.

When I first arrived, as a Moot newbie, and something of a “Billy No Mates” I was just chatting to whoever was kind enough to chat to me (and there were a number of very kind people) when I spotted someone I thought I knew - but for the life of me couldn’t figure out what the connection was.

My curiosity was so profound that I had to ask the guy if we did, indeed, know each other.

In fact, we didn’t, but I was glad to have struck up the conversation. There were multiple threads – mutual Twitter and Facebook friends, a couple of mutual friends here and there and a definite cross over in terms of world view and ideas about Church & community. It’s a reminder to me that we all connected, and I’m grateful to live in an age when it’s so easy to stay so connected.

So much of how we live our lives as followers of Jesus is about…community.

So, say hello to Steve Lewis AKA spiritfarmer.

Check out his excellent blog, and if you see him, tell him Johnny sent ya!

HT to Steve for the pic

Citysalvos

…so happy to see a decent Salvation Army church site here at Citysalvos.

This is just a thing of beauty.

Clean, elegant and attractive.

Kudos to whoever was behind this.

Mumbo Jumbo…and none the worse for that*

It is a good thing when you do things on the spur of the moment or at least within a day of finding out about them.

I’d stumbled on this blog post on the Moot blog on Tuesday, and by Wednesday evening I found myself at the The London Centre for Spirituality to hear Dave Tomlinson talk and unpack some of the ideas in his new book re-enchanting Christianity

Now, I have to admit Dave Tomlinson was a new name to me, although I did know a little about his previous hang out Holy Joe’s, and as ever did a bit of web trawling to see what I could find out. Dave is currently Vicar of St Luke’s in Holloway.

Having met him, found out a little bit of his story and connected a few of the threads of that story together I now realise I should have been paying more attention!

Dave’s clearly a guy worth listening to on all kinds of subjects. Last night ideas were fizzing on Church and culture.…Scripture, spirituality, sexuality, snot, social networking and social justice …but most of all grace

I’ve added Dave’s book to the wish list that I’m carrying around in my head. I’m sure it’ll be a good read.

Big thanks to Moot’s Ian Mobsby getting the word out, and encouraging me to get there.

* Mumbo Jumbo…and none the worse for that

- a strange name for a blog post. It’s just alludes to one of Dave’s stories on the night that made me laugh out loud.

HT to Dave for the pic

Sally Hoodie

Gotta love those crazy West Coast Sally Army kidz!

Not for the first time, they’re coming up with creative little bundles of goodness

NEW :: Salvation Hoodie from SayTV on Vimeo.

For more vids, check here

DigiMission

…looking forward to checking out the EA’s DigiMission event in London early in December.

Some really good guests as well as a live video link up with Shane Hipps of Flickering Pixels fame.

Ed’s story: More from Ed Dobson…still Living Jesusly

Can I encourage you to check this site – Ed’s Story – and particularly to watch the short movie.

I’ve blogged several times about the inspirational Ed Dobson and am keen more people hear about his story.

Ed’s Story
Living Jesusly

Travelling Jonesberries

Having regularly read Andrew Jones’ blog for years now, I don’t know how I missed this other great site - Jonesberries - from the Tall Skinny Kiwi giving the full low down on the adventures of TSK and his family as they criss cross Europe in Maggie the Motorhome.

This is the stuff of dreams – amazing bravery. I’m impressed and ever so slightly envious.

I wonder if the Jones family will ever bump into Croydonite Andy Pag of Biotruck fame?

They seem like kindred spirits.

Still my rock

It’s been a while since I put a picture of Janet on my blog, so I’m remedying that today.

She’s still my rock
Still my better half by a country mile
Still my inspiration
Still my love

…a gift from God

TransFORM

I kinda already heard a little bit of a buzz about these guys on the web, and Chris’ post at This Fragile Tent drew my attention to them with a little more fine focus.

TransFORM: Missional Community Formation from TransFORM on Vimeo.

There are some good people here, and I like what they are saying…

A prayer for the earth

It's not for me to be preachy about this, but I'm also checking out Hopengagen right now. You may want to too