URBANarmy

There are perks and draw backs to living in a city whose infrastructure is largely Victorian! Anyone who has lived in London during the last four to five years will have experienced transition. This transition is from an older way that had lost its efficiency, to a new way that is recapturing an efficiency of old. That which likes to see itself as emerging would do well not to lose that which it calls institutional and, that which likes to see itself as institutional would do well not to lose that which it calls emerging! This transition has been messy and inconvenient. It has had to be well planned and articulated. It started when the problems were realistically acknowledged but seen as not being insurmountable. The old Victorian water pipe work that had become corroded, broken and in a general state of increasing decay, while still achieving its aim, could not be ignored. It leaked, it didn't achieve what it was meant to achieve hemorrhaging galleons of water a minute. ( here )...

It was always a risk going to see Billy Elliot. We wanted Eryn and Bethan to see the dancing and experience the whole West End show atmosphere. But we were a little wary because of the intensity of the language. From the outset it was full on. The story was compelling, the dancing was electric and the language, no doubt about it, spectacular. It was a great night, shame that the key dance was left incomplete because of a stage prop problem. Next day on the way to school I talk to Eryn about the show. Eryn asked me if I enjoyed it. "It was great but I am worried about one thing" . "What's that...?" "Well Eryn, the language was a bit bad..." Eryn looks up at me and says, "...don't worry Dad ...." ".... I knew them all!"

God 'will not give happy ending' is an article on the BBC News Website found here . Drawing attention to the 'disastrous damage' that humanity is wreaking on the environment Dr Rowan Williams in a lecture calls for a 'radical change of heart'. Shalom in terms of right relationship often seems to stop short of this, but of course would include right relationship with our environment. Rowan Williams suggests that selfishness and greed is seen as the issue that leads us to 'ignore our interdependence with the natural world'. "We need to all do what we can now, or we're giving up on this world."

Derek sobbed from his very being, deep shudders of emotion. I felt them as I sat next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Estelle felt them as she held Derek's hand. The whole room at Faith House felt them as they watched on and listened. We'd heard a lot from Derek that night. Slightly the worse for wear he had pushed boundaries, let his agitation spill over into the group, patiently the men at the drop in gave him space to do his drunk thing in their community. His day hadn't been good, kicked out and banned from five other places he came to Faith House and he had something to say. Through the tears and the sobs he caught the attention the whole room. As he was kicked out of McDonald's a mother and a child ran after him with some french fries and a coffee. Something profound in that simple act of kindness hit Derek between the eyes and took him back to what he had read. "For fifty years I've been banging my head up against a brick wall, but now I know......

I stumbled across this site with pictures of unusual churches. Part 1 and part 2 give you 40 different unusual church designs. No sign of Chelmsford SA as of yet!

The enigma of Frank Smith has intrigued me for years and it has been good to get an insight to this man through a paper given several years ago to the National Salvation Army Social Services Conference by Norman Murdoch. If ever there was a lost voice of Mission within TSA it is Frank Smith. The one time Commissioner who led TSA work in the US and Canada (1884-1887) and who was TSA first Social Wing Commissioner 1888-90 resigned and left TSA to become a founder member of the British Labour party. With his ‘desertion’, the cloud under which he left descended further to almost fog any influence he had within the formation of a holistic missiological theology that shaped TSA then, and continues to do so now. There is very little historical recognition of Frank Smith and his influence, seemingly an awkwardness and embarrassment he simply is not considered. He warrants a minimal attention in Sandall’s historical account of the development of TSA, which is reflected in almost a denial that h...

Henri Nouwen points out that: "judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one" We spend an enormous amount of energy making up our minds about other people. Not a day goes by without somebody doing or saying something that evokes in us the need to form an opinion about him or her. We hear a lot, see a lot, and know a lot. The feeling that we have to sort it all out in our minds and make judgments about it can be quite oppressive. The desert fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one. Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we will experience an immense inner freedom. Once we are free from judging, we will be also free for mercy. Let's remember Jesus' words: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged" (Matthew 7:1). There is an irony that it is demanding and tiring carrying this weight, yet it is so difficult to let go and put this weight down!

Not far from any sermon illustration website is the name and thoughts of Søren Kierkegaard. I've had a book of his parables on my bookcase for years and have started to slowly make my way through. Here's the first one. THE HAPPY CONFLAGRATION What happens to those who try to warn the present age? It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought is was just a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning, they shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid general applause from all the wits, who believe that it is a joke. "Too often I worry that a prevalent 'consumer bar code Christian' theology covers much of the profundity of God with stage paints, a big red nose, outlandishly large shoes and a ruff." -Kierkegaard Kierkegaard, S. (1989). Parables of Kierkegaard (Kierkegaard's Writings) . Princeton: Princeton University Press. I suppose the idea of these sayings and parab...

Charles Ringma has been a constant companion through his books for several years. I've just finished Seek the Silences with Thomas Merton and have benefited greatly from this guys interpretation of Merton's thoughts and reflections. Periodically I'll post a particular insight that has been helpful to me. "In our contemporary religious world many are the voices that trumpet the gospel of fullness. Fed by the narcissism of our culture, this gospel knows only the message of fulfilment. God's blessings are given to make us better, whole, integrated and empowered... There is a flipside to the gospel of fullness. It is the gospel of emptiness... Just as the spiritual life can't flourish without the smile of God's shalom, so it can not mature without the dark night of the soul. The bounteous muchness of God's Grace is to find its counterpoint in the blight of the desert wind. Merton makes the point that 'unless we are grateful for our own existence, we do...

Camael does not really like to give too much away. He has been coming along to Faith House for several months and conversations usually come to an end when you ask him where he comes from. It is clear from his accent that he is from Eastern Europe but for some reason he is sensitive to anyone showing too much interest. Camael certainly enjoys his football and knows his stuff. A huge Man Utd fan who can talk with authority about fringe players and up and coming talent. Not only that he knows his La Liga from his Serie A. Camael came to life as we drank tea and talked about managers tactics, classic football from years gone by. I didn't dare bring this to an end by asking where he was from so I ask. "So Camael who'd you support as a kid?" " Steaua Bucharest...! the first eastern European team to win the European Cup final." he offers, "Romanian...?" With a sip of his tea and a smile he says "Of course" . It is interesting that thes...

I had a few moments of thought while in a lecture last week and jotted some bullet points down as people were coming up with three things that community should be built upon - I quickly jotted Faith Hope and Charity should I be asked (I wasn't!). Something earlier was said which got me thinking about what it might mean to fast from yourself or give yourself up for lent. A spidergram quickly grew When we fast from ourselves we give up the need to - Project a better image of ourselves Justify our actions Make excuses Draw attention of ourselves through the use of humour Blame others Be defensive Cultivate selfishness Have the loudest voice in a discussion Seek glory Seek affirmation Manipulate situations Maintain our rights As I've thought this through in the context of wholeness, it has made me think how often the choices we make are about us and how the consequent impulses displace God with our needs to be met. Eryn who always takes lent seriously, once giving up tea and news...

I've stumbled across this questionnaire on Religion, Spirituality, & Personality . I suspect it is there in order to get insights on Faith and Religious Psychological Development. The personalized feedback on your responses and comparison to other people's is a little disappointing but nevertheless the direction of the questions is insightful.