Tim Abbott

May I be...

I loved this from Joe Knight, reflecting on the life of the community he is part of in Gloucester.

May I be quick to bless
And slow to hurt
Quick to build up
And slow to injure
Quick to listen
And slow to react hastily
Quick to be honest
And slow to blame
Quick to gentleness
Slow to forcefulness
Quick to humility
And slow to superiority
Quick to make peace
And slow to divide
Quick to be meek
And slow to over confidence
Quick to affirm
Slow to argue
Quick to keep an open heart
Slow to manipulate
Quick to be selfless
Slow to defensiveness
Quick to discern
And slow to judge
Quick to patience
And slow carelessness
Quick to love
And slow to break friendship
Quick to see you Jesus
And slow to reinforce my image
Quick to let you speak
And slow to my own opinions
Quick to hear your words
And slow to my own interpretations
Quick to let your kingdom come
Slow to make my will be done
Quick to seek and find you
And slow to hide from you
Lord Jesus,
Fill my heart, my mind and my mouth
May they be you to others
And for you forever
Amen

I wonder...

I often wonder what God thinks about those who think they know the most about God.

(Inspired by some musings by Banksyboy on the current Rob Bell debate/fight)

Possibilians vs Agnostics

Possibilians vs Agnostics by Kevin Kelly picks up on Neuroscientist David Eagleman's new religious vocabulary for the belief state between Atheism and religious faith including a link to Eagleman's 20 minute talk at Pop!Tech.

To me, this gives language to the way many (young) people approach the problem of not knowing for sure if there's a God. It's about a fascination with the questions, rather than simply deciding not to decide.

 

CCM Praise Songs We Have Trouble With - A meme [re-edited]

I've been watching this one doing the rounds.

Please try to name ONE (I know, there are so many to choose from) CCM praise song that you find unbearable and at least 2-3 reasons why, pointing to specific lyrics if you must.

I orginally posted some thoughts about "When the music fades" by Matt Redman, a song I still find problematic. However, the conversation has moved on somewhat and in response I felt strongly that I should edit this post so that it doesn't contradict my developing view on the subject.

I ended on a couple of positive notes. I still find "Revelations Song" (Kari Jobe) scriptural, powerful and singable. For a rather full on production try here.

And I'm also enjoying Future of Forestry who, to my mind, seem to be able to balance truth, confession and a hint of the prophetic with musical excellence.

I tagged Rach, who wrote a great response!

Update: Valuable reflection (rather than reaction) by Tim Chesterton and some well chosen words from Sam

Doing God in Education

Theos, the public theology think tank, have just published Doing God in Education, written by Professor Trevor Cooling, the Director of the National Institute for Christian Education Research at Canterbury Christ Church University.

The report is a response to the argument that education should keep faith out of school because of the belief that human knowledge and rationality are objective and therefore independent of the “clutter” of religious beliefs. Whilst this view has a veneer of common sense, it excludes the life and faith experiences of huge numbers of people whose knowledge of what it means to be human have been constructed from within a belief framework, nurtured into a worldview from the earliest age. Instead of excluding god from education, Professor Cooling argues for an inclusivist approach that recognises the contribution that can be made when diverse worldviews are regarded as a precious resource.

He writes:

“Doing God” is therefore a strategy for promoting inclusive education that draws on people’s beliefs in the cause of the common good, in contrast to the anti-inclusive strategy of excluding God, which implicitly indoctrinates pupils into the idea that religion is “the problem”. On this view public theology, understood as religious communities developing positive theologies that enable them to contribute as full partners in public life, should be actively encouraged in the cause of the common good.

Journey to Disbelief

My friend Tom has recently started a blog to record his journey to disbelief as a former Christian. Tom had a remarkable conversion experience several years ago and for a time worked with us in schools. He has a sharp mind and a compassionate heart and I found in him both a good friend and a stimulating thinker - we shared many a theological conversation, reflected hilariously and painfully on some of the tragic and embarrassing manifestations of Christianity, and created some quality materials for our work in schools. Tom was one of the people involved in creating the first Sanctum prayer room for pupils back in the spring of 2008.

More recently a whole series of cruelties, both evangelical and relational, caused a major crisis of faith and mental health for Tom leading, among other things, to a thoughtful re-evaluation of the basis of his Christian faith and its impact on his life. Today Tom describes himself honestly as an atheist.

Journey to Disbelief is Tom's blog documenting his thoughts as an atheist and former Christian. I can thoroughly recommend it. Tom is by nature humble, honest, gracious and thoughtful and his record of his (dis)belief journey is one which anyone involved in the church today should read. Tom is not alone, and to ignore or disregard stories like his would be to miss something of great value.

iMonk - Why I’m Not A Young Earth Creationist

I'm part of a Christian Impact study group that meets occasionally to review and reflect on films and books from a mainly missional perspective. This time we're reading Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament by Peter Enns.

In a similar vein, this re-post from some years ago popped up on Internet Monk (the blog of the late Michael Spencer, now maintained by friends) where he explains Why I’m Not A Young Earth Creationist. In it he explores the tricky subject of Biblical interpretation of a pre-scientific text in a scientific age. There is some healthy debate in the comments section too. Personally, I'm with iM & Chaplain Mike on this one.

Shane Claiborne in Esquire magazine

Esquire magazine asks Shane Claiborne to address those who don't believe.

He begins by apologising:

"To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends: I feel like I should begin with a confession. I am sorry that so often the biggest obstacle to God has been Christians. Forgive us for the embarrassing things we have done in the name of God."

Then he moves onto the good news:

"I want to invite you to consider that maybe the televangelists and street preachers are wrong — and that God really is love. Maybe the fruits of the Spirit really are beautiful things like peace, patience, kindness, joy, love, goodness, and not the ugly things that have come to characterize religion, or politics, for that matter.
The Bible that I read says that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save it... it was because "God so loved the world." That is the God I know, and I long for others to know."

h/t: Banksy

5 Deeply De-Christian Doctrines Meme

Joe tagged me with this so I thought I ought to play ball and join in.

List 5 doctrines that are taught within the Christian church that you believe to be deeply de-Christian.

I will interpret 'taught' in it's broad sense. Some of these things may not be preached from the pulpit, but are often taught by what we do. Also, I'm pretty much on the same page as Joe with the five things he listed so the pressure is on to find another five.

1. The longer / louder your prayer the more likely it is that God will hear it.

2. When Jesus said 'make disciples'; he had in mind a teaching series delivered by an expert

3. That holiness is more about what I do than what God does

4.The body of Christ looks like a (our?) church rather than the church (with all her faults, diversity and character)

5. That running a business is less spiritual than running a church / Christian organisation

Most of the people I might have tagged seem to be on a blog holiday however, should they wish to join in, for perhaps a more youth work tinted view I tag Ian, Sarah and Alice.

Sunday influences

Today...

This made me angry
The woman who is standing up to feral thugs

This made me sad
Niki Made Her Choice and, Apparently, So Did We

This inspired me
How to think, what to think, and thinking outside the box
(though note the story is fictional)

And this made me smile
Dave, exploring the meaning of sabbath in a whole new way (and I'm slightly jealous!)

Rounded the day off by joining with friends at Pub Church, but as this is still something of an underground movement I can't say any more than that!