Nike Sucks (I forgot to mention it...)

My previous post about accountability and my Nike runners lounge was met with a great point:
"Nike factories workers are paid wages insufficient to meet their basic needs, are not allowed to organize independent unions, and often face health and safety hazards. Do they talk about this at the Running Lounge?" I think I'll bring it up!

FOR MORE INFO:
I know a girl who tried to order a high end Nike sweatshirt (you can do this online and get anything embroidered on it) she ordered one that said, "this was made in a sweatshop". But they wouldn't fill her order! Let's keep thinking... and then just do it already!

Rwanda

So in direct contrast to 300 - check out Shooting Dogs... a film about the 1994 Rwandian genocide.
It is about the Catholic School that was the base for the UN and protected about 2500 Tutsi's from the massacre... that is until the UN was ordered to pull out... the priest of the school chose to stay - when his helper asked why - he said because God was among the suffering... WOW. The teacher left on the last truck. The priest gave his life to save some children - I'd say that was a good way to die. 'Sacrifice is the highest form of love' - the surviving girl says of the death of her priest in exchange for her life - now, to live well is a way to return the love.

The time we have been given is a gift. We should use our lives well to return the great love that Christ showed us when He died in our place. It is like a way of returning love to the Father. Not a bad definition of true worship.
The subtitle of this film asks the question, What would you risk to make a difference? I think that's a good question too.

300 movie discussion guide

Saw the movie 300: "At its most basic, 300 is a retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, which took place in 480 B.C. Although the particulars are clouded in legend, the facts are not in dispute: an inferior number of Spartan soldiers (generally accepted to be 300) under the command of King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) held out against a vastly superior Persian force (estimated to be anywhere between 200,000 and 2,000,000) led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Although the Spartans did not win the battle, they dealt serious losses to the Persians which contributed to the defeat of Xerxes' forces a year later at the Battle of Plataea."
WARNING: This movie is very violent and explicit. (I don't recommend it for those reasons).
BUT IF YOU ARE GOING ANYWAY HERE IS A LOOSE DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR THE FILM:
I've always used the Spartans as an example of warriors. When they approached the battle they ran towards the line (see David approaching Goliath) and it struck fear into their enemies - particularly the Persians who were paid to fight.
The potential discussion from this film is great - here's a few questions to get you started:
1. What is the difference between soldiers who are 'free' and those who are paid? Can you see a connect in 'ministry'?
This is a key question in our time in church history. There is a revolution of warriors who are rising as 'free' to fight in the thickest of battles... can you see a connection between the Kingdom and the Spartans?

2. How are Spartans like God's army? How are they different?
I was struck by the extreme realities of this answer in the film. Sometimes the things they would do (in training and battle) were worth emulating - and somethings were the exact opposite of the Christian faith... very interested paradox.

3. What is the significance of the 'hunchback' in the film?
Think about the excluded, the wounded and the hurt. Also, begin to think about how the weak and despised things can be the very things that are used for God's purposes... an interesting trajectory of thought here...

4. Is there any honor in choosing death?
Obviously a quick overview of Fox's book of martyrs will give you Spartan like courage in the heat of eternity... but also a quick read down the list of Muslim Martyrs in waiting - wanting to die by suicide bomb is sobering as well. In a New Testament concept what does a glorious death look?

More Bono...

Great Preaching again!

Farewelling

Well, this month has mostly been about saying farewell.
The boxes arrived today and I've started the physical packing process. Oh joy oh bliss.
As much as it is a pain it is also a journey of remembering.
I'm not good at that usually. I'm more of an 'in the moment' kind of a girl. Thankfully, I'm able to turn off my emotional valve to avoid awkward public displays (to those of you who can't I'm not trying to rub it in!!).

But, as I'm wrapping, I'm remembering - everything I have to make my home a home is from somewhere and someone.
The $180 cast iron candle holder from a self denial auction (it was a bidding war between Steve and I)...
Candles from friends - their aroma still present in my life.
Photo's from around the world - memories of God's great faithfulness and grace in my life.
Priceless paintings of solid love.
Wedding gifts... still ablaze after (almost) twelve years of bliss. :-)

We had our official farewell last Sunday, so many people were gracious about the memories of our time here in Vancouver.
It truly has been a blessed experience... God has been here and is still. What a gift this place has been to our family. I think we honor one another and the Lord with these words: We will not forget.

It is important to God for us to remember.
It seems that the wisdom of the old is in the memories... lessons learned, battles fought, joys given, pain endured, hardship, sacrifice, love, relationships, fruit, pain... it's all there. In all of the memories in this place - God is the constant. He is present in all things... even the Prophetic lament (Lamentations 3) in the OT finds hope: "I remember my wanderings, the bitterness and the gall - but this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed. For His mercy is new every morning. Great is His faithfulness."

So I remember the constant presence of Jesus in my life. In all things, in all circumstances, in all friendships - He is present.
"I am" says the Lord - and I agree.

Accountability & Nike

So, for some months now I've been frequenting a Nike Runner's Lounge (I found it on my running route).
This is a place for runners to come and try on new nike shoes and gear and then go for runs compliments of nike.
It's meant to target a market group and build 'good will' and a brand allegience...

Although I know it's a marketing ploy - it's been a lot of fun.
One thing I was able to try was the nike+ system. This consists of a chip that fits into your shoe and another little thing that clips on to an ipod... then while you are listening to your tunes, every kilometer a person comes over the headphones and tells me how far I've run and how much further my goal is and what pace I'm running... it's quite amazing.

What I've discovered is this: I run much better with the system. I know it's a ploy, a commercial conspiracy... but the thing of it is this: we all run better with goals and accountability.

Measurable goals, and knowing you are reaching them is a good way to run the race.
It made me start thinking about the measurable goals in my own life and ministry: sometimes in my work people shy away from measurable goals because they think they are anti-relationship. But I disagree. Every relationship can have it's own goals of depth - meaning, accountability, covenant. Indeed, the marriages I admire are ones where the people have worked at being good spouses and bettering their relationship with one another.

Other people I admire make measurable goals with their relationship with Jesus.
I'd like to spend more time with Jesus in prayer. Good intention. Now how to make that a reality?
1. get up 1/2 hour earlier every day to pray.
2. book a war room shift once a week.
3. set up a prayer partner to pray with (and who will ask me if I'm praying - aka keeping my measurable goals).

Without being functionally rigid - I think we could do with more intentional goals.
Imagine the scandal of God using nike to stir me on.

A Meditation for Lent

by the Rev. Roger Bowen

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from criticism; feast on praise.
Fast from self-pity; feast on joy.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from jealousy; feast on love.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from selfishness; feast on service.
Fast from Fear; feast on faith.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from concern; feast on compassion from others.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude

For those of you who haven't considered fasting for lent... try a few of these on for size!
Great Grace.