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Diversity & Grace & Wisdom

For almost all of my life most of the social groupings I’ve found myself in – Church, school, work, friends, and family – have enjoyed a healthy degree of diversity. Sometimes it’s been immediately apparent, and other times it just takes a little bit of awareness to appreciate it.

It doesn’t take a very deep scratch under the surface of society in much of the Western world to get to a rich tapestry of ethnicities, cultural & social backgrounds….a mixed marriage here, time spent living in another culture there…we are all a kaleidoscopic mash up…and I like that! We are the richer for it.

Some time ago I wrote about the particular mix in my place of work, and if I were to list the nationalities today, it will have shifted again. It’s a dynamic organic thing, and I love it.

So, this excellent post from Eric Bryant goes some way to explaining some of the reasons why I find a tribe like the perfectly named Mosaic so captivating. This community of Jesus followers have dealt with this diversity with such grace and wisdom…it’s inspirational.

Eric’s closing point says it so well…

“Diversity reveals God’s heart. Our world is more and more diverse. In fact, people are more diverse themselves. Rather than just a mixture of European cultures, Americans are a blend of Latino, African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and European – sometimes all in one person. The path to diversity begins with the mission of Jesus.
When we choose to reach out and love all of those around us, we will experience a glimpse of heaven on earth.”

Beautiful…

Abject stupidity

It’s a very fine line between sheer bravery and abject stupidity and I’m tending towards the latter at the moment, having being persuaded to take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon here in London in October.

Those who know me best know that I’m not at all athletic, not especially disciplined when it comes to active pursuits, hardly in the best shape of my life, just plain old and occasionally have a tendency to be all mouth and no trousers! (I hope that translates well for anyone reading this from outside of the UK)

What tipped the scales for me was the chance to do something practical to show my support for my old buddy Andy who is battling hard with the Big C and the inspiration of fitter, stronger, younger mates like Stu who’ve done the same.

Check out Andy’s initial response to the news – complete with Anglo Saxon language - to the news here.

Andy’s blog - Grumpy Old Git - is a gritty and authentic reminder of the complete life change a person goes through when they and their loved ones are hit by this terrible disease. Anyhow, Andy’s a fighter and is taking it full on with a vengeance, so don’t his expect the blog posts to be all sweetness and light!

So, the time will come before too long when I start badgering you for money.

Now I know that’s a big ask at this point in time, and I also realise that Social Networking has made it easier and easier for more and more people to ask you for money, but you’re going to have to bear with me as I make my own particular pitch for your cash.

So, to share a little bit of an e-mail conversation I had with Andy…

• Did my longest run* in months yesterday! Felt fine….very very slow, though.

• Bought my copy of Runners World as per your recommendation!

• Printed off a Training schedule

• Watched bits of the London 10k on telly..

• It’s going well!

…I may have peaked! ;-)

* Which for me probably means about 3 miles at a guess?

Stay tuned and go here!

Salvation Army guerrilla marketing

Like many Salvationists, I sometimes struggle when we involve marketing folks with our mission.

There’s always the danger that the public perception of The Salvation Army as a huge global social service agency outshadows our primary calling as a people who are followers of Jesus

However, I can’t argue with the creativity of this latest campaign from Portland, Maine.

Check it out here


HT to SavationArmyDonate and Via Marketing for the image

Beautiful place...

..loving the piece on the beautiful home of El Salvadorian architech José Roberto Paredes in the May edition of the wondrous Dwell magazine

Check the article for more pics

HT to Dwell for the images

Thanks Erwin!

Having devoured Erwin McManus’ fabulous book, The Barbarian Way a couple of years back it was so cool to go and hear Erwin speak at Kerith Community Church in Bracknell this weekend.

It was such a good day…inspirational on all kinds of levels.

Erwin is such a dynamic, engaging and challenging speaker; it’s hard not to be motivated by what he says. A special word too for the beautifully produced short films which acted as bookends to each session. Each was a poignant and thought provoking film which made you really think. Amazing stuff.

There was so much to compute…so much good stuff to take on board that I’ve not had time to put my thoughts down. I’m still processing it all. I’m kinda hoping there’s someone better and brighter than me who was there, who is going to commit their thoughts on the day to the blogosphere! Hopefully, though, as the days go on I can actually manage to get some of my response down on paper.

Most significantly I was glad that through all the teaching, Erwin constantly brought us back to Jesus.

Also, it was fascinating to hear something of the story of Erwin’s tribe - Mosaic in LA and the rich diversity of the community there. One phrase that jumped out to me

…”we like people who are not like us”.

I love it!

It was great too to hook up with Neil Nakamoto from Mosaic, one of I think eight guys who’ve been travelling with Erwin on this European trip. A kinder and more gracious guy you’ll struggle to find. Knowing that Neil, Eric Bryant and Adrian Kohler are on staff at Mosaic with Erwin must mean those guys alone make up part of a rocking team!

…wonderful too to finally meet Sam and Rachel Radford from Mosaic in Sheffield, all the guys from The Salvation Army in Histon and fellow Twitterer Ben Pocock

Anyhow…an awesome day...I bought my copy of another Erwin book, “Wide Awake” – looking forward to reading it.

Thanks, Erwin!

If you know nothing about Erwin or Mosaic, the stuff online is really worth checking out.

Culture

Those of us who read Scripture often assume this passage from Romans talks about the “culture” outside of our faith community…our ekklesia…our Corps. I wonder how much it can also be applied to the very culture of our tribe.

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking... The Message

• This son of the regiment is becoming increasingly troubled by our excessive use of Christianese and the tendency to retreat into our Salvationist culture bubble.

• This CSM is finding it hard to cope with our love of the acronym…IHQ, THQ, DHQ, ISB, YPSM….and occasionally toys with the idea that some of those letters represent anachronism as much as acronym. Why do we have to talk in riddles?

• This uniform wearing Salvationist is struggling with the weekly donning of the blue serge..

I don’t have a problem with being visually identified with The Salvation Army. In fact, I’m glad to be so, but I’m not a great fan of the particular FORM of uniform we’ve worn since the early ‘70s or thereabouts.

I’m no longer convinced that the uniform in it’s present form is broadly recognized by society at large....

Many folks seem not to be able to distinguish it – particularly when we are wearing white shirts- from any number of similar uniforms. Security staff, Airline or Parking attendants etc.

White shirts aren’t always that slimming!

I find serge heavy & uncomfortable

Sundays are the only day of the week I have to wear a tie

Somehow our buttoned-down starched uniforms don’t speak to me of this radical Army of Salvation

I’m a big fan of The Salvation Army’s Red Shield logo, and would rather see that employed more readily as part of our uniform


Yet…..I am a Salvationist…probably to the core…inspired by the words of William Booth when he said “I’ll Fight”…but first, and most importantly I’m trying hard to be a follower of The Way of Jesus.
Love God, Love Others

Mucky Paws

Hat tip to Stewart Cutler for pointing me in the direction of elegant little Abbotsford Parish Church site, and in particular Mucky Paws, described by their Rev Roddy Hamilton as “A collection of contemporary liturgies and creative moments from the last month in Abbotsford.”

There’s a simple beauty which seems to come out through everything done at Abbotsford. Check the Photo Albums for a glimpse of that beauty.

If you want some wonderful original liturgies, just bounce Roddy Hamilton an e-mail through the site, and he’ll kindly oblige

One of the liturgies I received is just beautiful:

The Jesus we miss

When we’ve finished with the theological discussion and the denominational differences
may we discover you, O Jesus, laughing at our debates
When we’ve repeated all our creeds and affirmed all our doctrines
may we discover you, O Jesus, looking for hand to feed the hungry
When we’ve preach all the sermons and established all our church credentials
may we discover you, O Jesus, drinking tea with the left-outs
healing saviour
and human friend
prince of peace
and heavenly rebel
wisdom to the wise
and comforter to the lost
Lord of glory
and companion on the road
We come to meet you
the Jesus we miss
who explains all of heaven
in the squeezing of our hand

rgh
30th January 2009
Epiphany 4B
Jesus, everyday, seeing

Qnoomaharvestf 09

Are you going to Qnoomaharvestf 09?

Its a kind of diginetworkingworshipyonlinecommunity held in Bognor..we all wear dark framed glasses & whisper talk in ancient Hebrew

Why Bognor?

It’s what Jesus would do...and at qnoomaharvestf we are big on WWJD (and curries)...also it’s hard to say Bognor without smiling

How much will it cost?

£1500.early bird £1700+free spectacles+qnoomaf tee..retweet for place in prize draw..free coffee all week for emergent churches!


When asked if Macs were compulsory, Qnoomaharvestf founder and chief cultural maven @darrinreeves said

..Macs are so qnoomaharvestf '08. '09 we are living Celtic tradition, writing on animal hides whilst listening to the wind...

Here's a man who clearly knows what he's talking about!

Jason’s thoughts on Movements

I love this fabulous post - The Thing About Movements - from Jason Salamun’s excellent LIVE FREE blog.

From where I sit – as a Salvationist – it’s a timely reminder, and so good that I wanted to share it here:

If you want to kill a movement.

Institutionalize it.

Make it the norm.

Get people comfortable.

Movements are like kites, they need a wind to rise against.

Movements tell a different story than what is being told.

Movements require an antagonist.

If you look at movements in history, this is a common thread.

Jesus sparked a movement of love against the backdrop of a fallen world.

America was a movement of freedom against the backdrop of a monarchy.

Rescue Missions are a movement of generosity against the backdrop of poverty.

But.

If you want to ignite a movement.

Don’t just find an enemy.

Find a cause.

A rallying cry.

A better story.

Fix your eyes on it.

Advance in that direction.

And don’t stop.

When you encounter some wind.

Grin.

Because it’s not just resistance.

It’s traction.

And you’re on your way to becoming a genuine movement.

Just make sure you’re moving in the right direction.

Thanks Jason!

Jason is founding Pastor at Project Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. Read his blog – it’s much better than mine!

HT to Karen Yee Lim at SayConnect for the pic It speaks to me of life and energy, and I'm always glad to see a Salvationist in uniform who doesn't look like a security guard! ;-)

Conference Junkie?

OK.

I confess.

Given the right set of opportunities…being in the right place at the right time…having the available funds….I could easily become a conference junkie.

In some ways it’s just as well that I’m this side of the Atlantic, because this early part of 2009 has seen a raft of fascinating events that I would loved to have been able to get to.

Since January 09, we’ve seen The Idea Camp and Catalyst West, and now Q.

For me, there’s something hugely attractive and stimulating about these hothouses for stories, big ideas and vision casting.

Web presence is high in all of these cases, so you might want to check them about.

HT to Q for the pic

The real deal...

Check out Headphonaught's blog for this account of this weeks trip out on the Sally Army Soup run in Glasgow.

This is the real deal.

HT to Thomas for the pic.

St George

Happy Saint Georges Day to all my English buddies!

Let’s do lunch!

An interesting bit of synchronicity for me here:

The Times are running a piece today called "the rise of the office canteen", outlining corporate efforts to vastly improve the food and lunchtime environments of workers.

It’s a good little read, if a bit idealistic & utopian. I’m sure many people grinding away at work will barely recognise the places described, but its fun all the same.

…From the Fairtrade chocolate to the in-house sashimi, everything is free in the state-of-the-art staff restaurant ….

Freshly made sultana muffins, a Victoria sponge and paninis are on today…

… everything from home-made yoghurt with seasonal compôtes to superfood salads…

I guess it’s no surprise - because it’s The Times - that it sounds like the Sunday Supplement brought to life!

They do give some great tips on how make a cracking lunchbox of delicious sandwiches, though.

This notion of the hip packed lunch slots in nicely alongside the fabulously inventive GRAZE idea I’ve just come across.

The funky people at GRAZE produce wonderful little biodegradable cardboard lunch boxes full of healthy goodies for you to snack on through the day. You order online, and it comes whizzing through the post to you. Nice idea. Nice food…Really nice site.

(HT to @james_brooks from ArtistsforChrist for pointing it out)

Thanks to The Times for the pic

Mahalo Revolution Hawaii

Redeemer!

I know my Redeemer Lives.

That's the life changing message of Easter.

Space Up!

This is not new news….but it’s new to me.

I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on one of these funky little beasts should they ever materialize.

Hope it doesn’t go the way of the Microbus, which never arrived.

HT to Autoblog for the pics

Happy Birthday Ev!

For each of my nephews and niece I posted a little Birthday tribute, so it would be remiss of me not to do the same for my sister-in-law, Evelyn…even though it’s day or two late!

Ev is my allie
One half of an outstanding dynamic duo, Don & Ev
My vacation running partner
An outstanding example for her kids
A mighty prayer warrior
The one who encourages me that there is life beyond the internet, and that grocery shopping online is not the answer to all my woes! ;-)
Love you my sister

Do we need a WIRED UK?

If you know me well at all, you will know that I’m a bit a magazine head.

It seems to me that I’ve been interested in mags, and have poured over their content week in week out for most of my life.

I was even prompted at one point to title a blogpost “My life through magazines”.

Having said that – and this is hugely out of character; I’m not a natural cynic – I’m finding it really hard to drum up any enthusiasm for the new UK version of WIRED, which hit the streets earlier in the month.

Despite having read the original US version of WIRED for years, the positive endorsements of some of my trusted Twitter buddies and even a tiny piece of direct Twitter dialog from UK Deputy Editor @BenHammersley I still haven’t shelved out and bought a copy.

It may be that I’ve become increasingly drawn to online mags like Worldchanging and Inhabitat or that my world feels increasingly borderless and connected. Geography, identity and time zone feel less fixed and fuzzier now that the internet is not simply an add-on or a tool but something that is woven deep into the minutiae of daily life.

The natural extension of this for me is this: does a mag that purports to look to the future really need some kind of localized version? I’m not sure it does

Is there something in all of this, or am I just turning into an awkward little beggar?

Don’t take my word for it, though. Check out WIRED UK for yourself. It will fly or die regardless of what I think.

If I buy a copy, I might have to eat my words

Third Culture

hhhmnnn.....interesting


Third Culture Video - Short from Newsong Media on Vimeo.