Monday Fun

If you think you might need a holiday, here's some help in just how to approach your boss.

Belonging and Believing: How Newt Gingrich Became a Catholic

"All I can tell you is that for a decade I went to the basilica where my wife sings in the choir. I found myself growing more and more comfortable and more and more accepting. The head of the basilica began the conversation four years ago, and I found myself being a part of the Catholic community and being a part of the Catholic faith." Newt Gingrich in an interview with Christianity Today. You can read it all here

Looking up to understand

"Skylines provide the simplest test of what a society values, and where its surpluses are controlled. A few centuries ago the greatest buildings in the world’s cities were forts, churches and temples; then for a time they became palaces. Briefly in the 19th century civic buildings, railway stations and museums overshadowed them. And then in the late 20th century everywhere they were banks. Few believe that they will be for much longer. But what will come next—great leisure palaces and sports stadiums; universities and art galleries; water towers and hanging gardens; or perhaps biotech empires? We need to rekindle our capacity to imagine, and to see through the still-gathering storm to what lies beyond." Taken from After Capitalism, article in Prospect Magazine. Read the whole thing here

I still love Rick Warren - and this is a great story!

A number of years ago I signed up for Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox. You get an e-mail from Pastor Rick every week with an article on a particular subject. There's a few other resources as well, but Warren's own contribution is usually the highlight.

This week his piece is You Need A Mentor. It's all practical down to earth stuff as you'd expect. But he tells the story of a mentor he had named Billy. Billy had had a mentor himself. He - Billy's mentor - was the pastor of a church in Texas. One day Billy asked him a question: "I'd like to know how you stay fresh?" The pastor replied that he read the New Testament every...I'll not spoil it for you. You can read the whole thing here. Be ready for a double surprise!

TV can be unkind to sceptics too!

Even sceptics can become fodder for entertaining tv. Barth Ehrman, an American critical scholar, get his comeuppance on The Colbert Report. You can find the video clip here . (Thanks to Mike Keeping for the heads up on this).

The Importance of Being Earnest

"Earnest" is a word seldom used these days - and no I haven't misspelt Ernest. It is probably as little sought after a virtue, however, as Ernest is a Christian name. "Sincere" is powerful adjectival put down masked as gentle commendation. Scetpicism, irony, even thinly disguised cynicism is more in vogue these days, even, sadly, in the church.

Which is why I liked this post by Seth Godin. You'll read it in seconds, but its impression might last significantly longer.

Working under pressure

This is one of those occasional but rare stories of unsung heroes. In this case it's cooks in the services. One of them is a chef on a nuclear sub, two others worked as services chefs in Afghanistan - one setting up a field kitchen while coming under attack from the Taliban!

The Narnia Code

Thursday nights after prayer meeting is usually wind down with a cup of tea (and this time some excellent chocolate cake donated by a kind church member!) and Newsnight or Question Time. But no Question Time this week, instead a documentary on BBC1 with the title The Narnia Code. I was going to Sky Plus it, but it hooked me.

A scholar, Dr. Michael Ward, claims to have found a hidden code in the Narnia Chronicles.

He argues that there are three layers to the books. First of all, they are fairy tales. Then, they are also a fictional representation of Christian themes of redemption. However, that's not all. In his view the seven books of the series represent each of the seven planets of the medieval world view. At this deeper level, he claims Lewis is giving us a universe that is divinely ordered and permeated by God - and rescued by Christ in His resurrection from the dead.

I found it fascinating. I was also pleasantly surprised that the whole thing was treated so sympathetically by the BBC. Well done, Auntie!

You can catch up with it on iPlayer .

The Day After Easter Sunday

Saw this on the Between Two Worlds blog. It's S.M. Lockridge's voice - who brought us "That's My King". And of course it's all about the King of "That's My King". Great video.

Articles of faith

A few Easter articles for some reflection.

Rod Liddle gives the C.o.E. a hard time in the The Spectator .

Archbishop Sentamu reminds us of the hope Easter brings in The Telegraph .

Joel Rosenberg brings us some very encouraging news from the Islamic world.

The religious right in the U.S. admitting they are in trouble here and here

And just when you thought it was history, The Turin Shroud seems to be making a come back.

Power in the blood of Jesus

I didn't get to post anything on Good Friday - very busy day ending at 1 a.m. today after an evening on the streeets with Street Pastors.

So here's my first Easter post. This is a fantastic hymn sung by one of the greats of Gospel music. This captures the heart of what Easter is all about -Christ shedding his blood to atone for the sins of humanity.

Just as I am

People of a certain eveangelical generation will be familiar with the hymn "Just as I am". It was often used when the altar call was made. Like many aspects of the evangelical sub-culture of a generation ago, it has been subjected to mild ridicule and seen as a sentimental relic of a bygone age.

This video that tells the story of Charlotte Elliot - author of the hymn - reveals how the hymn was borne out of great pain and a discovery of God's amazing grace.

Just get ten (or twelve,perhaps?)

I am so pleased to have discovered Seth Godin and his blog. I find his posts are though provoking and really challenge the kind of conventional wisdom that is rapidly becoming unwisdom.

At one level, Seth's posts are marketing related. At another, you gain an insight into the way society works in the early twenty-first century. I would recommend anyone who wants to reach the world of today to read his blog. I realise that the preceding sentnence might not make sense - after all what other world can we reach other than the one of today? Sometimes, however, our thinking is more appropriate to reaching the world of yesteryear.

The post First,ten, I think, is very helpful in understanding how ideas spread in our world. This could help us in our thinking about mission and discipleship. I seem to remember that Someone Else started out with a similar sized group - twelve in His case.

Monday Fun

Worship leading and saying grace a la Tim Hawkins.

At the hub of the community

The Times recently reported on the government's plans to help charities and churches to deliver health, day care and post office services. Such a move would put church right back at the heart of local communities.

This really could be an opportunity for the church to serve its community in really practical ways. No doubt the exposure and accessibility created would have potentially very positive spin offs.