Category: <span>Christianity</span>

Published May 1, 2008 by

All things new

Henri Nowen wrote this little book (and I say little, because it is) called, Making All Things New. It was truly interesting reading coming off the back of some of the stuff that Geoff and I have been contemplating since Forge about the pace of life and some of the things I’ve been thinking about personally – solitude and community – not polar opposites

It is a simple and quick read that holds quietly given suggestions that are thoroughly there and entirely applicable despite it being written some time ago.

Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life by Henri Nouwen is a short, clean, clear book about how to begin finding the peace of mind to hear the voice of God. The book’s epigraph, from Mark, is anchored in Jesus’ words: “Do not worry.” Nouwen acknowledges that worry is so ingrained in many people’s daily lives that it seems to be an integral part of positive achievement and self-protection. Yet he explains, with devastating directness, the destructive effects of busy-ness and its attendant habit of worrying, then shows how Jesus responds to these worries, and finally describes some disciplines that “can cause our worries slowly to lose their grip on us, and which can thus allow the Spirit of God to do his recreating work.” Nouwen’s voice sounds like that of the mentor or spiritual director that many people have always wished for: his authority stems from a talent for realistic comfort rather than forceful coercion. So when he writes the following words, it’s eminently possible to believe him:

A hard struggle is required…. But this struggle is not beyond our strength. It calls from some very specific, well-planned steps. It calls for a few moments a day in the presence of God when we can listen to his voice precisely in the midst of our many concerns. It also calls for the persistent endeavor to be with others in a new way by seeing them not as people to whom we can cling in fear, but as fellow human beings with whom we can create new space for God.-Michael Joseph Gross

Books Christianity Life

henri nouwen

Published April 14, 2008 by

Base level and back to insight

Apologies for surviving on coffee for the past three or so days – the posting quality indicates that although the good black stuff is a stimulant, it sort of just exists to taste nice and to keep you awake, rather than provide any kind of clarity of thought.

I must rave on about some of the stuff at Forge. I did find the whole deal very different to last year’s gig. Dangerous Stories was this beautiful play of theory and inspiration. Grassroots was more a lovely kind of depth filled encouragement basement that affirmed the heart behind things rather than just ideas.

I say encouragement but in a small way I need to flip that on end again and say I came away with a little lingering sense of hope while staring at a mountain with this bloody big compulsion to change. Erm… I hope you get the gist

My favourite workshop of the whole weekend – and possibly my favourite of the lot (besides Danielle Strickland who was hilarious and just really good, oh, and Tall Skinny Kiwi) – was a workshop by Steve Drinkall – ‘God doesn’t need another Church’.

I was going to explain it through but after a short Google search to find a link, I found the stuff pretty much explained.

Monks, Cheerleaders and Activists.

It was so good to hear about something that’s being lived out and it is stories like these that give me confidence (For a sometimes very young feeling 22 year old) that I can be a part of something similar and that it’s something that I want to be on about.

Christianity Church Coffee

Christianity Forge grassroots mission

Published April 13, 2008 by

Forge Day 2

Day 2 of Forge Grassroots, churned along nicely with a great big breakfast to kick us off. I drank a lot of coffee yesterday.

Sally Morgenthaler in the morning, she took a bit to win me over but once things progressed passed a fairly stock standard call about being okay with self it developed interestingly and got quite personal. People should always, always share stories – they are so much more powerful. Alas my story sharing, although prolific online, is more a ‘tell information’ type of thing in person.

Oh yes, I had a funny little realisation yesterday driving home about how my collecting gene (Once thought to be put to a peaceful and thankful rest), spills over into how I think. I collect information – in a sense, subconciously – and if it’s relevant, I share it. This isn’t always a good thing.

Tom Sine storytelling – he was excellent, so excellent I went and bought his book (After remembering that I already own Mustard Seed vs. McWorld)

Then went to a work-shop and elective on Micro Church (The elective was probably not worth our while, but the workshop was great).

And heard Tall Skinny Kiwi in the evening – which was really helpful (and good) on all kinds of levels. He is a fellow blogger, that I haven’t followed very well at all.

And now I have to run and head off to the city! More elaboration later.

Christianity Church Life

Published April 11, 2008 by

Away with your noisy

Tonight Forge – Grassroots started. Mike Frost spoke around Hebrews and the warning of falling away (5:11ff) with the correlation between ‘slowness to learn’ and our ideas that aren’t completed with action and so cemented or true. I cannot possibly do it justice, but the following you tube clip (Jon Foreman) may express a small sentiment. Thanks to Anne Jackson for sharing the clip.

Christianity Social Justice

Christianity Forge Justice You Tube

Published April 1, 2008 by

The overlap and an even playing field

soccer“Because truly responsive care goes far beyond providing a basic means of survival. If we treat every crisis as it were a survival situation, then we end up only designing for someone to live from day to day. But if we treat it as if it’s about renewal and rebirth, then we’re focused on creating and generating life. This is where design should play an incredibly important role. Our sole purpose is to provide a better environment for all, whether it be for someone from the Upper East Side or from East Africa. Using design to introduce the opportunity of rebirth into somebody’s life, whether it is something that may seem frivolous or a product or structure that would help a family grow, is just as important as having each other. So the idea of a soccer ball is extremely important because in any part of the world, if you drop a soccer ball on the ground, forth kids are suddenly talking.” – Cameron Sinclar (Interview: design like you give a damn)

This caught both Geoff and my attention (he was reading over my shoulder on the train home) and in a small way captured something really exciting. Something exciting in design but perhaps even more so in following Jesus. I love it when there is this magnificent overlap, even if it is small.

I must also exclaim over part of an interview I saw last night on the ABC – Julian Burnside is a barrister who works with asylum seekers along with all kinds of other pro-bono work. There is a short quote on the top of his website by James Thurber (…which reminds me, I never did finish the Thurber Carnival, I wonder where it went?)

“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why. – James Thurber

It kind throws a pointer at that Vocare stuff again. And then read this (from the interview with the ABC last night),

“PETER THOMPSON: For both you and your wife Kate, your work with refugees goes beyond the courtroom.
JULIAN BURNSIDE: Yes, yes, it does. Kate set up spare rooms for refugees partly as a symbolic response and partly as a practical measure, because people who come out of detention centres need somewhere to live. Kate had the simple practical idea that many Australian houses have got a spare room, so that’s a neat way of solving a housing problem.
PETER THOMPSON: You’ve opened your own spare room?
JULIAN BURNSIDE: Absolutely. You can’t encourage people to do that and not do it yourself. So, we’ve had refugees living here since early 2002…”

He does it! He lives what he preaches. I am inspired.

And this pushes on illustrating sharing life, and diatribo (props to Kim Hammond for the word). It is inspiring, it is difficult, but when we participate then we are His hands and feet.

art link

Christianity Culture Design

Christianity Design Diatribo God Jesus Julian Burnside