http://www.sojo.net/
Recommended by Justin: "It is a Christian mag with a strong emphasis on politics, social justice and environmental issues (the tag line on their website is Sojouners - faith, politics, culture). A major contributor is Jim Wallis, who was out here a couple of weeks ago promoting a book he has written God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It."
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Comparing churches?
7 Ways to Rate Your Church
This article takes a look at some aspects of churches that affect how people experience them. What do you think this means for us in Hawthorn? Some things we could learn here? Or completely irrelevant?
This article takes a look at some aspects of churches that affect how people experience them. What do you think this means for us in Hawthorn? Some things we could learn here? Or completely irrelevant?
Surviving Abundance
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/002/18.59.html
This was a challenging article for me to read...does this ring true with you? How has living in a situation of extreme financial wealth compared with most of the planet affected the way you live your life?
This was a challenging article for me to read...does this ring true with you? How has living in a situation of extreme financial wealth compared with most of the planet affected the way you live your life?
Creating Sustainability
What is Australia's global footprint? Actually, we come out quite well - we're not needing more landmass than we have, unlike say, ooh, the USA - easy target :) But it brings an interesting question - what are YOU actively doing to reduce your level of devastation on God's creation?
The Jesus Creed
Pinched from Signposts.org.au
What do you think of this? We don't have a formal consitution at HWBC - does that mean we can't have a creed either?
The Jesus Creed
This creed was originally shared at the Emergent Convention, Nashville, May 2004.
By Brian McLaren
We have confidence in Jesus
Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed.
And even raised the dead.
He cast out evil powers and
Confronted corrupt leaders.
He cleansed the temple.
He favored the poor.
He turned water into wine,
Walked on water, calmed storms.
He died for the sins of the world,
Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father,
Sent the Holy Spirit.
We have confidence in Jesus
Who taught in word and example,
Sign and wonder.
He preached parables of the kingdom of God
On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes,
At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns,
By day and by night.
He taught the way of love for God and neighbor,
For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien.
We have confidence in Jesus,
Who called disciples, led them,
Gave them new names and new purpose
And sent them out to preach good news.
He washed their feet as a servant.
He walked with them, ate with them,
Called them friends,
Rebuked them, encouraged them,
Promised to leave and then return,
And promised to be with them always.
He taught them to pray.
He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places,
Fasted and faced agonizing temptations,
Wept in a garden,
And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.”
He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept.
We have confidence in Jesus,
So we follow him, learn his ways,
Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example.
We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him,
As a branch in a vine.
We have not seen him, but we love him.
His words are to us words of life eternal,
And to know him is to know the true and living God.
We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus.
Amen.”
What do you think of this? We don't have a formal consitution at HWBC - does that mean we can't have a creed either?
The Jesus Creed
This creed was originally shared at the Emergent Convention, Nashville, May 2004.
By Brian McLaren
We have confidence in Jesus
Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed.
And even raised the dead.
He cast out evil powers and
Confronted corrupt leaders.
He cleansed the temple.
He favored the poor.
He turned water into wine,
Walked on water, calmed storms.
He died for the sins of the world,
Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father,
Sent the Holy Spirit.
We have confidence in Jesus
Who taught in word and example,
Sign and wonder.
He preached parables of the kingdom of God
On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes,
At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns,
By day and by night.
He taught the way of love for God and neighbor,
For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien.
We have confidence in Jesus,
Who called disciples, led them,
Gave them new names and new purpose
And sent them out to preach good news.
He washed their feet as a servant.
He walked with them, ate with them,
Called them friends,
Rebuked them, encouraged them,
Promised to leave and then return,
And promised to be with them always.
He taught them to pray.
He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places,
Fasted and faced agonizing temptations,
Wept in a garden,
And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.”
He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept.
We have confidence in Jesus,
So we follow him, learn his ways,
Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example.
We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him,
As a branch in a vine.
We have not seen him, but we love him.
His words are to us words of life eternal,
And to know him is to know the true and living God.
We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus.
Amen.”
Sunday, May 14, 2006
NT Wright and The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
"Brown’s achievement, in fact, is so spectacular that it is hard to begrudge him his newfound millions. He has taken a set of ideas and speculative historical reconstructions, each of which is highly implausible in itself, and by weaving them together has not only created an exciting if ultra-fanciful plot, despite his wooden and stereotyped characterizations, but has also made the several implausible elements appear for a moment as though they just might be true..."
"Brown’s achievement, in fact, is so spectacular that it is hard to begrudge him his newfound millions. He has taken a set of ideas and speculative historical reconstructions, each of which is highly implausible in itself, and by weaving them together has not only created an exciting if ultra-fanciful plot, despite his wooden and stereotyped characterizations, but has also made the several implausible elements appear for a moment as though they just might be true..."
Mystery Worshipping...
Mystery Worshippers Visit Australian and NZ Churches
This site tells you as much about the worshippers as the churches. An interesting read to get some angles on Christian life you may not have come across before...like people more concerned about the angle of an altar cloth than anything else in the church...
This site tells you as much about the worshippers as the churches. An interesting read to get some angles on Christian life you may not have come across before...like people more concerned about the angle of an altar cloth than anything else in the church...
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