AND, not just either / or

I’ve just finished a book called Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be). Having read a few books recently by authors in the emergent movement, I felt like I wanted a different perspective on some of the things I was reading. (This book is more about emergent than emerging.) I think this book tried to give an honest critique of key issues - while commenting on many positives they are honest about some problems they see. Some things they discuss include: the idea of a journey without a destination, if doubt and uncertainty should really be seen as humility, the emergent view of modernism, the need for propositions, boundaries, and recognition of theological error, problems with “give me Jesus, not doctrine” perspective, an over-realised eschatology, the emergent view of scripture, the place of preaching, penal substitution, God’s wrath and much more. But I think they manage to join the ‘conversation’ in an often humorous, but humble way. You can check out part of the book on their website here. And here are a few reviews from various sides: Tim Challies, Dan Kimball and theooze.com.

In the last chapter (the best I think), one of the authors reflects on the churches in Revelation and highlights the need for emergent and non-emergent churches to be careful not to be lopsided churches; learning the beauty of AND, not just either / or:

“...my hope is that [the church] could be marked by grace and truth, logical precision and warmhearted passion, careful thinking and compassionate feeling, strong theology and tender love, Christian liberty and spiritual discipline, congregational care and committed outreach, diversity without doctrinal infidelity, ambition without arrogance, and contentment without complacency...I believe this is God’s vision for the church.” p257

closer than you think

I was talking to my mum today - she says that people in Jos are really struggling at the minute with the cost of basic food supplies. Most of the people that she’s meeting at the clinic can only afford one meal a day, if even. This time last year, a mudu (a bit more than a kg) of rice was only 90 Naira, now it’s N320.

I know that the price of food has been rising around the world, but somehow I maybe didn’t realised quite how connected Nigeria’s food prices are to global market. Surprisingly, fuel prices haven’t peaked as much as they have here; but the changes in the world market are definitely impacting the poor the hardest. This time of year is the toughest as well because people have only recently begun planting, now that the rains are arriving; so people are using the last of their meagre supplies from last years’ harvest before the new crops arrive. The government seems to think that it will be fine again after June, which seems unlikely given the size of the prices hikes in recent months. Maybe some of their attempts to change things will work in the short term, but being a global problem, their fate is surely in the hands of the global response. In the meantime, the prices are hitting the most vulnerable now. When I read things like this: “One SUV tank of biofuel uses enough grain to feed an African family for a year” it makes me feel a bit sick.

A place that usually feels a world away, feels that bit closer today... for once, not in a good way as our economic woes are being echoed and even magnified in the pockets of Africa's poor.

cry, the beloved country

It’s so sad to read about what’s going on in South Africa at the minute. On this day 14 years ago, Mandela said this in the opening of parliament in 1994:

"Our single most important challenge is therefore to help establish a social order in which the freedom of the individual will truly mean the freedom of the individual. We must construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political liberties and the human rights of all our citizens." (speech at the opening of the South African parliament, Cape Town 25 May 1994)
His dreams of a peaceful rainbow nation seem a far cry from the reality of the last week. Growing up in Africa, violence that often accompanies deep-rooted tribalism is all too familiar - unfortunately. It makes me think about this quote from Paton's great book, written about a different time. But it may still resonate this week in the fears of foreigners living in SA:

“Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much.” — Cry, The Beloved Country, Chapter 12.

After establishing relative peace and unity in government between the two sides of the community, the attacks start to become against the migrant population... does this sound familiar.. ie: here?

the beautiful game

What can I say - brilliant game tonight. Classic game of two halfs- United great in the first half, Chelsea better in the second, an equal extra time and gut-wrenching penalties. Great game for a neutral (although who is really neutral if united are playing - They're a bit like marmite: you either love them or hate them usually!) with loads of chances, hitting the bar twice (thrice including penalty), dodgey ref decisions, fights, red card, penalties and overall beautiful football - what more could you want? Halfway through the penalty shootout I thought there was going to be some bittersweet irony with Ronaldo having the best season of his life and missing a penalty and losing a Champions League final; but in the end it was Terry's worst nightmare (but who somehow didn't deserve to cry like a baby for a second's slip on a soggy pitch), an Anelka shocker (surprise surprise) and the noticable absense of the big-headed, red-carded Drogba. Another season over - the only reason I wasn't so keen on United winning tonight is that we'll have to put up with their gloating all next season that they're the best in the Premiership and best in Europe. Will Chelsea fall apart over the summer now? Or become united in defeat? Got to love football to provide some drama...

tracing rainbows

A heart at peace brings life to the body... Prov. 14:30
I’m starting on the next chapter of my year and am so excited about what the next few months hold :) I feel like somehow a sense of peace is trickling back into my life after what has been a strange and at times, stressful few months. My piano has been a major stress reliever over the last month especially and I’ve somehow been drawn to playing old hymns I think maybe because the words seemed to resonate and captured what I was thinking... and pointed me to promises:
"O joy that seekest me thru pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow thru the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be."
-George Matheson, 1882

morality?

I thought that this was a terrible opinion piece in The Guardian today regarding the debate in parliament this week. I guess that’s what it is though – opinion. At the end of the article she writes with a depressing, sweeping brush implying that “religious teaching” is against science, is not progressive, does not care about relieving suffering, and that it abuses minority groups... such a misrepresentation of faith. I find it interesting that the morality argument has been taken up by both sides of the argument with Gordon Brown saying that the research was an “inherently moral endeavor”.

With the passing of the “saviour siblings” part of the bill today, somehow I can’t help but think about a book I read a few years ago called Never Let Me Go - a very far-fetched strange book by Kazuo Ishiguro which presents a hypothetical world with cloning for the purpose of providing organs. But somehow there may be echos of the same issues in relation to the ethics of someone being created for a specific purpose of the health of another person. But again in the debate today, the moral argument was used with Labour ex-minister George Howarth saying: "There is a powerful moral argument in support of the measures contained in the Bill.”

It has got me thinking about the relationship between morality and religion. Coming from my psychology background and having Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene as a core text for one of my classes has introduced me to the evolutionary perspective that generally people are dominated by ruthless selfishness (with the possible altruistic action if it benefits the individual). The question is, as I read about these politicians giving their moral arguments for these laws, it makes me wonder if it really possible to be moral without being religious or having some basis for that sense of objective morality?

In trying to think through the issues, I came across this article asking whether we can be good without God – here’s an excerpt:
“I want to argue that if God exists, then the objectivity of moral values, moral duties, and moral accountability is secured, but that in the absence of God, that is, if God does not exist, then morality is just a human convention, that is to say, morality is wholly subjective and non-binding. We might act in precisely the same ways that we do in fact act, but in the absence of God, such actions would no longer count as good (or evil), since if God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist.”

I guess would rather have a politician who is still has some sense of moral objectivity rather than moral relativism but somehow is the debate today, both sides are claiming the moral high ground.

old women over their tea?

I think I might be sort of addicted to the news. Is that strange? Do you ever watch the news in the evening and no story is actually new because you’ve read about all the day’s events already? And you’ve read the analysis of the events, not just the unbiased (ha) BBC website reporting so you feel like you’re a step ahead? It’s probably just habit - a routine, and if my life changed (ie: i left the country for a few months as I will in June...) it might change again. I don’t know why, but I just have to get my daily fix of news at the minute. My main news stops at the minute are http://www.bbc.co.uk/ (especially the Africa section), http://www.timesonline.co.uk/, http://www.guardian.co.uk/, http://www.drudgereport.com/, http://www.politico.com/, (the last two taken with a pinch of salt - obviously showing my interest in the pointless media pontificating regarding the US elections as if there wasn't already enough in the first 3 sites!). Is it just knowledge for knowledge’s sake and largely a waste of time? Generally, I don’t think so. If it takes up too much time, then yes - but I think I have a better perspective on the world and my place in it because of the news. But I know that every newspaper/news website has a different perspective and interpretation of events, some with specific agendas (many of which may be wrong)... but that doesn’t mean I should stop reading them altogether.

Henry David Thoreau's view was that "news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea."
On the other hand, Dr Pete Lowman puts it this way which I’ve found helpful:

“The newspaper may be a selective mirror, and a distorting mirror, but for many issues and events it's the most in-depth mirror we have; it gives us perceptions that are admittedly as seen from particular angles, but are still often the most in-depth clues we have about the issues in terms of which we must live our lives....
...There are things we can do. One is to liberate ourselves by educating ourselves; learning to decode what we read. A trick loses its power once it's revealed for what it is. Once we've truly perceived the one-dimensional character of the picture our newspapers present, we're able to complement it with other kinds of awareness; if we see that we're being brainwashed into ignoring or marginalizing the most ultimate aspects of reality, that very awareness can turn our attention back towards those vital aspects.
It will not be easy; the picture coming at us from the papers can seem so vivid, so authoritative. So we will need to expose ourselves in depth to the alternative and 'entire' world-picture of the Bible, prayerfully and reflectively, if our thinking isn't going to be swamped, day by day. We will need to be reminded, in depth, 'what the world is really like', if we are to `decode’ rather than be deceived by the partial pictures from the news media.”
Check out the rest of his article here.

The question though, is how does what I read move from me being informed to it actually transforming how I take action, pray, or engage with the culture / world around me?

sunshine

So, the sunshine is a bit of a distraction at the minute... it IS lovely and went up to Knockagh monument after my exam today to clear my head and see the gorgeous view - but I have to say it always seems to arrive just in time for exam season! Think my verse for today/this week is....
"Whoever watches the wind will not plant, whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." Ecc 11:4
In other words, stop thinking about the sunshine and get back to the books! All I can say is that it better hold out till saturday when I finish!

Just thinking as I write a post about the weather that I have definitely been away from Africa for too long if I'm distracted by sunshine... ahhh...

The cyclone and earthquake this week put a different perspective on watching the wind. Watching the news tonight from Burma and China, I feel like sometimes my life can be so wrapped up in the trivial. But somehow I know God is still God in the earth-shattering storms at the other side of the world as well as in the mundane of revision and sunshine.

break

It has been one of those days where I have been perfecting the act of procrastination... it's a familiar, yet unpleasant feeling where I know the inevitability of my exams will actually happen next week whether I'm ready or not (not being the consensus today).... which is exactly why I should be off the internet and back at the books. Alas, I'm still here.

Just found a new song! It's called 'Break' It seems to reflect the mood I'm in...(and not in the sense of being on a study break). I think I need to explore Son Lux's other music a bit more... but after this week is over!! :) enjoy...


Ok, back to respiratory physiotherapy...

valleys and springs

And how blessed all those in whom you live,

whose lives become roads you travel;

They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,

discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!

God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain,

and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

Ps 84:5-7 (the message)



I love this verse... the recognition that life is full of both the lonesome valleys and the cool springs on this journey. Yet the amazing hope of what is ahead...

Speaking of mountain - the countdown has begun. 1 month till cape town... wahey! Here's link to photo below. Can't wait!

follow close behind

As I've been thinking about the mind over the last few days, it has led me to reflect on the mind of Christ. Helen Roseveare say this:

"Only as we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to change us into the likeness of Christ, truly giving us the 'mind of Christ', that we might think as He thinks, love as He loves, weep as He weeps -- only then will we be motivated to move out, as Christ left heaven to become flesh and dwell among us. Only then will we be willing to be spent and not count the cost."

Thinking about Jesus coming among us and about the cost of following Him, I'm reminded, at the beginning of Lent, about Jesus' journey to the cross and His call for me to follow. I have part of a verse written on the front of my journal and it reminds me of that journey.
It says:
"my soul follows close behind you..." Ps 63:8 (The Living Bible)
I just love the image it creates of following... That's what I desire: to follow hard after God; to follow close to Him; to have more of the mind of Christ; to being willing to be spent and not count the cost in the coming days as I journey...

minding my head...

Just back from a crazy weekend wrestling with how my faith can engage with all areas of life because of the all-encompassing lordship of Christ. It was so good to be able to have space to just raise questions, have some questions answered and realise that i'm not alone in my fascination and desire to know more about the relevance of my faith in relation to a wide breadth to topics. To give you an example of the things that I discussed or thought about over the weekend (whether that was in a formal session or just over coffee/dinner etc) : philosophy, history of christian thought, what is a critical mind, reformation, calvinism & kuyper, moderism, post-moderity, biblical narrative, embryology research, abortion/pro-life, IVF, theistic evolution, the age of the earth, the faraday institute, dawkins/mcgrath debate, science & 'book' of nature, theology & the bible, psychology of pain, human rights, position/role of church in society, human worth, centrality of Jesus, women's rights, art&faith "caress and collide", music, expression, observation of society, colossians re:mixed, relationships, intelligence, missions, worship, resting in jesus, sovereignty of God... and I really could go on but you probably get the point. So much to think through- almost don't know where to start!

Then tonight, so blessed to meet up with a good friend and to talk honestly about life and the down-to-earth realities and decisions that we're both facing as well as airing some issues raised from the weekend. As much as I love stretching my brain, it's only in fellowship and friendship that all the head stuff is put in perspective and teased out into everyday life...