Eyes of Faith #1
I'm taking part in the Eyes of Faith photo challenge. At the moment, I only have my phone camera but I hope as the year progresses, I'll become a better Photographer.
Make a monochromoe photograph today. Either use a single color subject/background or make it monochrome in post.
I see God here at my place of work - a church where I can be myself, I can be creative and I can be unashamed of the Word of God. Thanks be to God.
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Church like McDonalds
Upon arriving in my new location, Maryland, three things struck me within the first week.
- The heat.
- The food
- The religion
It is so, so hot here. My English readers may hate me a little for that, but I promise you I'm not enjoying the heat. The weather widget on my computer tells me it's going to reach a high of 35 Celsius. On top of that, it's humid. It means I hide indoors where there is the cool, dry Air Conditioning. I dare say it's necessary for productivity to be possible here.
Also, everybody eats out all the time. If you talk about lunch you're talking about fast food. People think I'm a little odd for bringing in a lunchbox every day (or a can of soup). Same goes for coffee. The Americans know how to make coffee. Nobody would drink instant. Unlike in the UK, filter coffee is not a luxury but normal - as it should be, in my opinion! But, there is always a queue at Starbucks and people will buy coffee rather than making it themselves. I found that odd.
This sunday I really went for the American food culture. I had to get to Church for sometime before 8 AM to set up, so I stopped at McDonalds for breakfast and picked up a cup of coffee with my Bagel (I enjoy bagels and the Americans are big fans, too). Then when I got to Church I realised that the snack bar had been laid out with... Coffee and bagels! I went around the corner for something I could have gotten for nothing.
Speaking of fast food, there are outlets for it everywhere. It's huge in this part of the country. People are too busy to cook and prepare food and so rely on a massive catering industry to hand them lunch. Drive down any main road and you will see gas stations with snacks, drive-thru's, diners, coffee shops, bars and restaurants. That is one of the biggest differences I have so far encountered.
So, I drive down one of the main roads, seeing the gas stations and food places on either side, when out of nowhere I see a church. And another. And another. I drive for a couple of miles down this road and there are churches on either side of the road. I might have passed ten of the things! Each one looked roughly the same, each with a sign out the front with a catchy, encouraging statement and sermon advertisement. Each one was a different tradition - half of which I'd never even heard of.
I don't think I'd ever seen so many churches in one place. The cynic in my grinned with sarcastic wit - noticing the fast food places nearby. Fast food places with their slogans, advertisements and signs outside. Remembered the convenience of Air Conditioning, I thought these churches with their many different ideas and theologies and programs could conveniently fit into anyones life.
You could go to any of these churches as find a different meal for your soul - whatever you felt like. If you didn't get enough from one place, you could always go next door. Customise your religion! 'Have it your way!'
The cynic in me is notoriously unfair and cruel, but at the same time I couldn't ignore the silliness of all this religion. The pastor in me (That's what I'm doing this year, a pastoral internship) felt empathy for all the Church leaders, each trying to be faithful in a culture which idolises the self and bends the world to serve the individual. Somehow, it seems Church has become this way too.
As I drove on from this place, I tried to put the cynicism to rest and remember that the ministers, priests and pastors who preach each sunday are trying to be just as faithful as me. Sometimes I think Christianity is made to look too convenient. Sometimes, just like I went to McDonalds, I know I become too settled in the order of the world and forget Christ's call.
“Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (Peter, Acts 2:40)
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The Church’s best kept secret
Dan Brown's book, 'The Da Vinci Code" has been sold, according to Wikipedia, 80 million times. It has propelled him into super-stardom as an author. Conspiracy theorists love the secret organisations he writes about and cynics believe everything he says about the Church. In fact I know some Christians who have been up in arms over the content of the book. Claims that Jesus had a human heir and the Church has hidden it for 2000 years.
These theories are all well and good, but Dan Brown has got nothing on what the actual secret of the Church is. The real biggie. The one truth that brings the whole institution down on itself.
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Prayer
(via)
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- Eyes of Faith #1
- God doesn’t do ‘ordinary’
- The pursuit of God
- Ode to Christchurch or my first sermon online
- Warplane Almighty
A God I don’t fully trust
When I lack strength, self will and control. The urge to do right has left me and desire to love doesn't come easily. Once the stuffing has been squeezed from my seams and I'm flat on the floor, does God still care?
It is really easy too feel passionate and enthusiastic in youth. Read a book that makes you think you can change the world. Go to a concert and feel like the country could be different. Throw the bottle away and never leap to the bottom again. For a few weeks it will last. Be assured, boycotting and writing letters can be fun and lobbying parlament is a rush. One can even change the parts which sit in shadowed shame. For a season. Yet the endeavours began in faith fall short. Passion burns to apathy and anger. Goodness is suffocated by sickening sins. As for righteousness? Robbed by so many defeats.
The summer time is usually a significant time for Christian young people. Summer camps and events ignite these kid's hearts to the things of the Lord, to transform reality. Conferences that say there is no Trans-National so big that it can't be reached by the cries of the poor. Speakers who like to stand on platforms and say that a life lived in the light of God will count for something.
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- God doesn’t do ‘ordinary’
- Ode to Christchurch or my first sermon online
- He who has ears
- Sovereign over suffering
- Treasuring Jesus over sin
Ian the cross-cultural missionary
I'm writing this five hours before many of my readers will see it posted! How strange is that? You see, I am in America, five hours behind England. I'll explain how I got here some other time, but I will suffice to say that it might have involved a TARDIS. Yeah, I'm sort of a Time Lord.
Speaking of Doctor Who, would you believe many people have not heard of it over here? Much less seen the wonder of David Tennant in the long brown coat? It's not exactly mainstream. In fact many aspects of British culture aren't mainstream. For example: Did you know Muse aren't a super-band over here? Last year they had to ride U2's coattails on a tour. No-one has heard of Mumford and Sons, either (but I promise to change that). Cars are all automatic (go-karts) and driving is more different than I expected. I mean, there aren't speed limit signs everywhere and no speed cameras.
In sum, this is a completely different culture to that of home.
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Over the pond
I'm off to America for a year, today.
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What would you #tweetjesus
Soul Survivor day 5
This week I’m promoting some resources in the Soul Survivor toolshed. Away from the ‘Big Top’, one tends not to see many exciting or unusual manifestations of the Holy Spirit. However, I am convinced that God is just as involved in what all these Christian charities and organisations are doing as he is with the young people in the main meetings.
So, whilst I am here I shall endeavour to learn the stories of some of the organisations around me.
As I sit in my little booth, above me and slightly to my left hangs a large banner. On it are the words "what would you tweet Jesus today?" Using many post-it's we have been asking delegates to write their responses. It's a great conversation starter and the stand is covered in tweets!
As this week had progressed and the teenagers have progressively become smellier and smellier and I have progressively become more and more irritable, I have enjoyed seeing what the young people have put up on my little wall.
It's amazing how open they are:
I could use your help, seeing as you’re awesome. Should I be Christian? I know you can help #tweetjesus
I don't know what story lies behind that and I don't remember who wrote it but in that brief glimpse into a person's heart, one can't help but feel compassion at their confusion but not without admiring the simplicity of child-like faith being birthed in them. It's funny, at places like this young people often begin to notice more and more the marks of New Life growing up within them. This thing which isn't them, but is with them and in them and doing something unexpected.
IOU for the other night, and everything else too. #tweetjesus
As strange as it sounds, I 'get' that one. I don't even need to know what miracle that person experienced, but I get it
But there are still miracles yet to be wrought
Hi Jesus, It’s me, molly. I want you to keep people going in the world, mainly my mum because she has cancer and I want you to fight it.
If Molly had told me this, personally, I would have no idea what to say. She didn't tell me, she told Jesus. Faith through thick and thin is faith which goes to Jesus for everything. What could I say to her, anyway? What wisdom could I possibly offer? No, it is better to go to Jesus and to be found by him in the midst of such anguish. Her words sit with all the others on my wall, the endless cries and shouts of the saints.
Praises of thanksgiving:
Thanks for walking in when the world walked out #tweetjesus
Cries of petition:
Please speak to me more often so I know I'm doing the right thing #tweetjesus
And the absurd!
Who's your favourite: Peter or Paul #tweetjesus
My favourite is this one:
Give me the strength to come to you. #tweetjesus
Peace.
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In Jesus’ Name
Day 4 at Soul Survivor
This week I’m promoting some resources in the Soul Survivor toolshed. Away from the ‘Big Top’, one tends not to see many exciting or unusual manifestations of the Holy Spirit. However, I am convinced that God is just as involved in what all these Christian charities and organisations are doing as he is with the young people in the main meetings.
So, whilst I am here I shall endeavour to learn the stories of some of the organisations around me.
In economic downturn it is easy to become concerned with money. In fact, everything we see on the news encourages us to be so. Yet in many countries, that which is small change to us can actually make a big difference.
Compassion are here at Soul Survivor to promote their child sponsorship scheme. At small cost to us, we have the opportunity to transform the entire reality and existence of a whole family in the Global South.
What I love about Soul Survivor is that it's not all about Soul Survivor. It is an amazing platform for young people who love Jesus to meet people who are actually out in the world serving him! Compassion is a great way to connect with the lifestyle of Jesus, through grace-empowered giving. Compassion have a large presence here, running a café and a large stand to get the idea across. The big idea is this: Worship doesn't end in the Big Top. Worship is service and we serve God when we serve the poorest of the poor. It's like this week-long festival is a demonstration of the sort of life a lover of Jesus should expect to walk into.
Compassion are one of many organisations who seek to love those who are forgotten, speak for those who are gagged and lift the burden of the oppressed. It gives me hope that one day, maybe, the Church of Jesus Christ will be know again for it's humble and gracious service. Pray for the day.
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The bood of the martyrs is the…
Day 3
This week I’m promoting some resources in the Soul Survivor toolshed. Away from the ‘Big Top’, one tends not to see many exciting or unusual manifestations of the Holy Spirit. However, I am convinced that God is just as involved in what all these Christian charities and organisations are doing as he is with the young people in the main meetings.
So, whilst I am here I shall endeavour to learn the stories of some of the organisations around me.
...Seed of the Church.
I'm going to have to break my own rule a little. As I was sitting in the main meeting this morning, one of the guys speaking really caught my attention and I had to tell you all about it.
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