Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Divine Order


Taught a class at the training college yesterday on Chaotic Order. A fascinating study actually and we spent some time on what God's kind of order looks like. We broke it down to the seven stages of creation with Chaos as the starting place.
1. Light (revelation)
2. Expanse (big vision)
3. Living land (organic structure)
4. Seasons (constant change and rhythm)
5. Fish and Birds (complex and simple truths emerge together)
6. LIFE and Co-creators (reproduction)
7. Rest (because we are not slaves)

Not a bad cycle of creativity and life-bearing fruit... why not take a few minutes to read through the cycle and see where you are or if you've been resisting God's order for your own control and human systems that often have little light, small measurable steps, static structures, no change, incremental learning, and control based non-empowering partnerships... oh, and rarely is rest part of human system rewards.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

It's All About Me

time to get out of self-centred worship? just a thought.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Love is an orientation.




I've been reading this book amazed at the depth of knowledge and insights God has given Andrew Marin (check out the Marin foundation here) Andrew's been living in Chicago's boystown to bring the incarnational message of God's transformational love to a people who have been misunderstood and marginalized for generations. God speed Andrew. And I highly recommend this book as a must read for every Christian.

One incident cited in the book is about Billy Graham who was being criticized and questioned about some support he gave to Bill Clinton after the sexual scandel... Billy said, "it's the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love." Sounds like the gospel truth to me.
Now to live and love.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Friday, April 17, 2009

Journey


Well, I've just survived a long journey. It's the downside of living in tomorrow... it's a long way away - although in Australia we stay ahead of the rest of the world.. it's a painful cost when travelling.
On the flip side travel creates opportunities to see, meet and get to know new people of all shapes and sizes and often there are times of great refreshing hidden between the hassles, waiting and security checks.
What's most interesting to me is recognizing the whole of my Christian experience as a journey. the Psalmist proclaims a blessing for all those set on pilgrimage and Jesus Himself was the journeying kind... not to mention the apostles. Travelling in and for the Kingdom and it's coming is an adventure well worth the cost. In my own spiritual pilgrimage I wonder if I've allowed sufficient times between the epic moments of rest, and sleep. Then I've wondered if I've spent long times waiting only to arrive without being ready... and on and on it goes. The parallels are endless. Needless to say we are always home if we understand that God is with us. And my heart is set on pilgrimage indeed... here's to God's kingdom come.. to new places with the familiar air of God's presence and purpose and for travel toothbrushes.

Friday, April 3, 2009

demonstrations




Spent a day in London yesterday (hattip XC) and among the highlight footage was the occasion when we ran into the large demonstration - it was the global summit... and accompanying global leaders talking about the future of the world are many voices and people trying to get their messages in. here's a few photos... not sure I agree with everything in the protest but it is nice to know we live in a world where people care, people are free to speak and leaders are trying... (we could all pray for godly wisdom to emerge from the global summit).
Grace
D