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Hardly believable that my little nephew Mark is getting married this weekend to Emma. Seems only yesterday I was in Woolworths buying Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,Thundercats, and He man gear! So it is off to Sweden tomorrow for the wedding in Gothenburg on Saturday.

The point is not, in other words, that the new humanity will exist in a place called 'heaven'. Rather, it will originate there NT Wright takes a great deal of time working through particularly Paul. Trying to understand the concept of resurrection and its implications in terms of new creation as a first century Christian. In others words, what actually was Paul saying. In particular he starts to undermine any concept that suggests that there is a framework that can explain the resurrection body within ideas of 'astral immortality'. In other words: "The point is not, in other words, that the new humanity will exist in a place called 'heaven'. Rather, it will originate there, where Jesus himself currently is in his own risen and life-giving body; and it will transform. the life of those who are presently located on earth and earthy in character.." (pp 355) This is where his arguments pick up speed - it is quite a shock to discover that any concept of hea...

Lectio -Read the passage slowly several times. Meditatio - Reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one's own life. Oratio - Respond to the passage by opening the heart to God. Contemplatio - Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Given a few emails from comment shy lurkers I think I'll persist with a weekly lectio divina. Like a good Salvationist I'll use the gospel readings from the lectionary!! Take time to read through the account slowly- possibly 2 or 3 times, then... Identify what 'shimmers' for you? Where is your focus drawn in the account ? What for you is the main point? What is your point of contemplation? Which word or phrase has touched your heart? What have you "heard" or "seen"? Only one rule - remember that this isn't a bible study more a place of contemplation of scripture, so read comments with respect and be released from needing to respond to someone else'...

"...so do you know what grace is?"... "course...." I'm surprised, but wait for 'it is what we say before we eat at Nan's' My draft file on blogger needs some attention, while I was doing a little weeding I found this tucked away from the good ol' Poplar days. ----- I'm helping Ian download some MP3 tracks in youth club when he asks for "Amazing Grace..." . We ascertain that it isn't anything to do with the pipes and drums of the Scot's guards but a more recent Mariah Carey recording that has been flirting with the charts....apparently?? There were 4 or 5 young people in the IT room so I ask "...so do you know what grace is?"... "course...." I'm surprised, but wait for 'it is what we say before we eat at Nan's' . Between the taps of a keyboard Lisa says "It's a girls name, and so there must be something pretty good about her... 'Amazing Grace!'" The tapping continues ...

"Nothing can make me holy except the presence of God." Ringma points out that: "The Christian life is growth in love, holiness, and service. Holiness is growing in Godlikeness and this is the product of the grace of God and the empowerment of the Spirit. It is not the result of spiritual techniques." Mother Teresa goes to the heart of the subject. She comments, "Nothing can make me holy except the presence of God." Ringma continues "Christlikeness is the formation grace of Christ. It is becoming like Christ in obedience to God and in service to the neighbour. It is the growth to becoming a reconciling and healing presence in the many relationships of life." Holiness makes no sense without mission and mission makes no sense without holiness. Our spiritual formation if it is to be authentic needs to go beyond us as individuals to that of our community.

We had our first one day conference today at the college. It really was a pilot to test the waters whether the college could host these kind of events more often - it seemed to work pretty well. Near on 120 people were there to hear Malcolm Duncan of Faithworks as he took us on a journey looking at that place where Mission and Spiritual Formation collide. It was interesting to hear him say that he thought our sacramental theology of the sacramental life was right for TSA and was something that was a gift to the wider church. "You have something to teach us....." It was interesting hearing his concept of Spiritual Formation only making sense when it impacts our communities through us. It was interesting hearing him point out that Mission without Spiritual Formation makes as little sense as Spiritual Formation without Mission. It was interesting hearing his unrelenting proclivity towards 'the poor'. A point that stayed with me was when answering a question that was ...

Only one rule - remember that this isn't a bible study more a place of contemplation of scripture, so read comments with respect and be released from needing to respond to someone else's comments. I found the last Lectio Divina fascinating so I thought I'd try again using the lectionary reading for Sunday last. As last time - feel free to stay anonymous if you want. Only one rule - remember that this isn't a bible study more a place of contemplation of scripture, so read comments with respect and be released from needing to respond to someone else's comments. Take time to read through the account slowly- possibly 2 or 3 times, then... Identify what 'shimmers' for you? Where is your focus drawn in the account ? What for you is the main point? What is your point of contemplation? Which word or phrase has touched your heart? What have you "heard" or "seen"? Luke 7:36-8:3 A Sinful Woman Forgiven One of the Pharisees asked Jesus him to e...

"One of the most striking features of the early Christian movement is its virtual unanimity about the future hope" - NT Wright starts part two by suggesting that you would expect the first Christians to have developed a spectrum of beliefs that would mirror the Judaic context from which it emerged and the Paganistic culture it entered, however eschatological hope was firmly rooted. Interestingly NT Wright develops the thought that Paul has Genesis 1 and 2 underpinning his understanding and thereby 'sees the final act of redemption not as a rescue from creation but as the renewal of creation'. I like how NT develops this and draws on Philippians 3:20 imagery of heavenly citizenship - the point being that "Citizenship is a point about status and allegiance, not a place of residence" (pp230). Therefore, "For Paul, the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the heart of the Gospel... it is the object of faith, the ground of justification, the basi...

I've been ' umming ' and ' ahhing ' about whether to use Magnolia in its entirety for a session I want to do on the beatitudes next week following an idea in the epic resource Pungente , J.J. and Williams, M.(2005)Finding God in the Dark . The problem is that it certainly is a bit fruity in places and I don't want to make anyone feel awkward. Fruity or not it is listed as a significant watch on the top 100 spiritually significant films - listed here . Interesting list. Here is what Christianity Today says about Magnolia... The unflinching portrayal of spiritually lost characters in Magnolia may scandalize some believers, but there's no denying it's one of the most often cited favorites among Christian film buffs, with its wonderfully human (and profoundly admirable) Christian cop, its intricate moral and relational complications, and its undeniable acts of divine intervention. Punch-Drunk Love, a less obviously religious film by the same director, al...

Everyday I drive past this church at least twice a day and I have only just noticed it.... Our route to school takes down a street where there is a church that is so noticeable. Not because of a clever noticeboard, not because of a glitzy facade, not because it is bathed in light or that it has a trendy programme. For 9 months we have driven past this church and have become surprised when the doors are closed. This church says 'we are a presence in your community, we are here for you' simply by communicating that it is available, through nothing more than an open door. I've only just noticed - after 9 months - that there is a church opposite that has bright pink doors, bright pink steps. I was astounded that I had missed it. Everyday I drive past this church at least twice a day and I have only just noticed it. Now I am surprised when its doors are open! Its doors open only on a Sunday and for an hour on a Wednesday evening to proclaim its message! A message hidden behind ...

Jim Wallis' sojouners are highlighting the problem with Burger King: Farm workers who pick tomatoes for Burger King's sandwiches earn 40 to 50 cents for every 32-pound bucket of tomatoes they pick, a rate that has not risen significantly in nearly 30 years. Workers who toil from dawn to dusk must pick two tons of tomatoes to earn $50 in one day. If this is correct there is something not right. Even MacDonald's are trying to sort the inequity out! Tell Burger King here

I've been preparing for something I am involved in tomorrow, part of which I want to lead a group Lectio Divina on Luke 24:13ff 'the road to Emmaus'. It struck me that it might be interesting to do Lectio Divina on the blog to see what comes out - feel free to stay anonymous if you want. Take time to read through the account slowly- possibly 2 or 3 times, then... Identify what 'shimmers' for you? Where is your focus drawn in the account ? What for you is the main point? What is your point of contemplation? Which word or phrase has touched your heart? What have you "heard" or "seen"? The Walk to Emmaus Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you disc...

I'd completely forgotton about this site. However for Monthly Missional Reflections, links, quotes and resources missiology.org is worth a visit. Thanks for the reminder Andrew AKA (Grinner).

Brian D. Russell at realmealministries.org invariably has something worth reading as he draws out missional themes from the Old Testament. He has been putting some thoughts as to what constitutes a Missional Community which you can read here . Missional communities stop worrying about being corrupted by the world and instead dream about ways to influence the world. Missional communities focus on the needs of the world rather than on the likes/dislikes of insiders. Missional communities speak human rather than communicate in shibboleths and other insider jargon. Missional communities unleash all of God’s people to deploy their gifts, talents, and passions for God mission. Missional communities are communities of transformation. God is in the business of transforming lives and igniting persons to live the lives of God’s dreams. Missional communities stop worrying about the transitions in their neighborhoods and instead give thanks for all of the new people that God is sending their way....

Despite an encrypted wifi set up someone takes delight in piggy backing our network so invariably our use of wifi is so slow as to make it a nonsense! However making our connection intermittent seems to have worked so I am enjoying an afternoon in the garden enjoying flicking through my feeds. So officially this is my first blog from the garden!

Since hearing NT Wright speak last year I've been intrigued at his suggestion that we are missing the point when it comes to our theology of heaven. His claims that a theology based on 19c Hymn writing has shaped our understanding away from the text and closer to a form of Gnosticism (beyond the blue horizon there's a better place I know!) have certainly got me thinking hard. The questioning of a woman at that day's conference will remain with me. "Am I to say that I have spent the day with Bishop Tom, NT Wright only to come away to say there is no heaven?" ... "You can say what you want but make sure you base what you say on the text" A good evangelical answer! - base what you believe on the word!! Is he saying there is no heaven? I'm not sure he is. I'm on a journey looking through the third in his trilogy " The Resurrection of the Son of God " to see what he is saying. Too be honest it so far has been a heck of read so I aim to s...

Rob AKA Shiny Headed Prophet points out a pretty cool website TV Links with 24; Lost; Prison Break and vintage Flash Gordon what more could you want? Could be the end of hoping a friend remembers to video 24 off Sky. Jack "I'm Back- send me a patch...!"

Sa lvationists V aluing E thnic D iversity The latest Multi-ethnic newsletter is available here

I pushed 'send' and immediately... kind of regretted it! A strange exchange of emails happened today. Before I realised it, I was communicating with world famous Christian author Gordon MacDonald. I thought I was in communication with his publisher but it became apparent that I was talking to GMAC (to his friends) himself. A shared first name that, let's face it is not that trendy, led to an anecdote of his walking in the Alps and discovering that Gordon means 'he that climbs...', I reciprocated of course by sending him a youtube link to Jilted John's 1978 punk classic 'Gordon is a Moron!' with the story of my informative years at a roughish inner city school! Anyone with the first name Gordon who didn't suffer Jilted John's prose for years at secondary school - needs to know what I went through! I would have hated for world famous Christian author Gordon MacDonald to have missed out.

There are MP3's available of the Act Justly conderence I went to a while back and mentioned here . The afternoon plenary is here : The evening talk is here : The NT Wright page is a wealth of info - enough MP3's to keep me ironing until I retire!

'You looking for God in there...?' I'm not sure that this is the time for a debate into the omnipresent nature of God - so I reply 'I guess I am...?' Arriving late to Laos (The Youth Congregation of TSA where I attend) is a good way of meeting the outside crew ! Jim sits on the wall outside Nunhead Salvation Army and gives me a cursory 'lright?' I reciprocate with my own 'lright' and smile. 'You going in there...?' Jim gestures over his shoulder to the entrance to the church where worship can be heard. 'I thought I might...' Jim continues 'You looking for God in there...?' I'm not sure that this is the time for a debate into the omnipresent nature of God - so I reply 'I guess I am...?' 'Well you'll be wasting your time - I wouldn't bother...!' 'why's that then...?' 'he's moved' 'moved...?' Nodding over his shoulder to the door Jim continues 'yeah... last week ...

A soggy week under canvas was inevitable but nevertheless enjoyable. I enjoyed late night DVD watching with the portable DVD player up to my nose to simulate my much loved front row at the cinema! So enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest , was disturbed by Kidadulthood (thanks Nick!) and was intrigued with the account of the last days of Hitler in Downfall . Caught up with some reading: Tony Jones' The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life ' - Excellent and highly resourceful. Mark Yaconelli's ' Contemplative Youth Ministry : Practicing the Presence of Jesus' - OK - worth borrowing Gerald Hughes ' God of Compassion - has started well! Managed to beat Kate at scrabble - no mean feat! Had a great time with the Eryn, Bethan and Kate in the New Forest, but yet fail to see the point of crabbing!