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...