Andrew & Lesley's Wedding

An absoluteley brilliant day yesterday: Andrew (my son) and Lesley (new Daughter-in-law)now married.

From Andrew & Lesley's Wedding

A new landscape

I found this post, and the material it refers to fascinating.

Tall Skinny Kiwi on "Christianity's next challenge"

President Obama's speech in Cairo

Missional Downsizing

Here's the video I made with Jody. We'll be using it at Keswick convention in the "Earthworks" exhibition.

Powerpoint slide

Having spent some time on this slide I thought it might be worth sharing.... (animated powerpoint available on request)

A lifebelt (for Darwin)

Been meaning to read something on Darwin / Evolution / Creation / Theism for a while now.  So when this book "Rescuing Darwin" dropped through the letterbox, (intellectual) laziness and stinginess took hold and I decided to read it.  

I fell asleep a bit (been working at an exhibition all week), but enjoyed the read.  

Thanks to Christian Research for sending it out.

I have to say it uncovered whole valleys of sloppy thinking in my mental landscape - but then what's new!

The book gives a good understanding of both contemporary and older forms of "creationism" as well as "intelligent design".  

It also looks at the current fad amongst "evangelical" atheists for using Darwin as a blunt weapon in arguing against the existence of God.  I'm torn between pictures of God being amused and angry at their views....

Oh - and at the end I found that it is released under a Creative Commons license - cool!  So if you like you can download it for free.

New cycle - same mission

Got a new bike - hooray!  Saved up all my birthday money, Christmas money, ill gotten (Ebay) gains and got a new bike.  First time I've ever had a new one.  

I've noticed a worrying tendency to want to wash the mud off, and to lock it up V carefully...

Thanks for the photo Chris - makes me realise that all that money (200 squids) was wasted on a lighter frame - because my own frame appears to be heavier.

Big Buck Bunny and the post greed economy

I sort of like this cartoon - it is funny, and technically clever - but that isn't the point. The point is that it is licensed under the (fantastic!) Creative Commons license. So for you and me it is free (but even that isn't really the point).

So you can download it for free - even in HD. Or you could buy a copy.

But it doesn't stop there - if you wanted to you could download all of the source material - the materials and objects that form the animation - a bunny's eye, a blade of grass, a musical score.

It doesn't even stop there - you can also download - still for free - all of the software that was used to make the movie. (Blender is one key part)

Now don't be fooled - 99.99% of us have ZERO hope of making a good (or even semi-good) cartoon! I have to say I'm a bit fed up with the thinking that goes "I could do good stuff if only I had the right/latest/grooviest software" NO - we cannot.

But I do love the fact that God's creative spark exists in all of us (well buried in my case...)

And I love the post-greed economy that exists out there - particularly creative commons. I have been instrumental in puttting some CC tracks on a CD - and all my Photos on Flickr are licensed CC.

Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady

Thanks to Glenn I've started using Spotify - and today U2 No Line on the Horizon became available - excellent - as I have no cash for the CD right now having just blown all my savings on a new bike....

Album is of course brilliant - complete with this great quote from the lyrics of "Stand up comedy"

Charismissional

I love the idea of this fusion of Missional thinking into a Charismatic environment.

Read about it here...

There is so much danger of an inward looking approach inherent in charismatic/pentecostal circles. Though I have to say that Pentecostals have been in the vanguard of much missional activity.

I am using my own perspective on "missional" - Missio Dei - yes - but looking practically at the life of Jesus there is this balance of the "miraculous" - the doing - the works of the kingdom, balanced with the sense of priority that he seems to give to his purpose - that of announcing the kingdom - the word - the preaching.

Then of course my second hobby-horse - balancing local and global...

Things I dont like about running websites...

Having to post this news, The whole bigger story is unutterably sad and brings home the tragedies being acted out in S Australia right now.

Rarely do you see a county's leader crying and being so angry on TV.

Has the world gone mad?

No - wait.... - it is just the BBC.

Or - no.... actually it is the BBC management. (Am I right??)

Read this BBC "news" story. And Hurrah for Tony Ben!

I am so angry at the BBC I find myself resorting to that great british form of anger - sarcasm. (This for non British readers who happily do not suffer from this rather unattactive trait.)

I am shocked that once again the management of the BBC are going to stifle "charity" in the name of "objectivity". It is quite clear to me that BBC management understand the true meaning of neither of these words. (There I go again - sarcasm....)

This reminds me of the ridiculous coverage of Live8 - where in the name of balance they covered all of the music (where musicians had signed up to play in order to make a point) but cut the very sections (the videos between acts) that explained why. Again - in the name of "balance".

Now I have written and read broadcast news, I have even taught it. - So I am not totally ignorant about these things. (Just a bit)

The thing is this is not an issue of balance being made by professionals in the field - ie journalists and news editors - no this seems to be being made by managers!

BBC MANAGEMENT: "I'm so sorry that you appear to be dying, and I could help you with very little effort, but it is my principles you see"

My heart bleeds - or something does.

I'm off to write an email.

Rough - but Ironic

Kez got there first - and go read...

This Rough Sleepers thing has got to me too. (And I only did one evening) Sunday night I was chatting with the guys who came in from the cold - in Church - they having been the first to pray out loud when space was given (gobsmacking). One of them (boyfriend of the pregnant woman) asked if I had a spare bed.

Now I sort of do - and sort of dont - for one thing the house isn't mine. (I'm housed by the mission I work for). But for 2 pins....

Back home Flora agreed - it would be really daft - but.....

One of the ironies was Andy's sermon (and for once he didn't cry - got close though) - one of his passages was the parable of the banquet - inviting all of the rough sleepers in.

The big irony though was Christmas night - the shelter was open, and in our church we had a pregnant woman come in from sleeping rough.

Sometimes irony is really beautiful - but very sad.