URBANarmy

If you understand it is not God you understand...! - Augustine

I've just had Mark Lawrence's art recommended. They look stunning. See them here

"....it is our business (not like so many peddlers of God's word but as men and women of sincerity) to speak with our hearts (which is what sincerity means) and to bear witness to, and live out of, and live toward, and live by, the true word of his holy story as it seeks to stammer itself forth through the holy stories of us all." Buechner, F. (1984). A room called Remember: uncollected pieces . San Francisco: Harper & Row. pp 56

Summary of stage 3 - The Productive Life - rewards and exalts us The life of discipleship develops into a practical outworking of that discipleship, in other words faith is working for God. This stage is characterised by a striving for uniqueness in the faith community and a seeking for responsibility. Great value is placed upon symbols or form with a need to achive perceived spiritual goals. As a result, frequently people here are characterised by being overly zealous and self centred seeing life as a performance. Moving on comes from a variety of sources including a loss of certainty that can come from experiencing personal/ faith crisis or feeling abandoned or recognising the need to look for direction. The catalyst for moving on can come from an acceptace of vulnerability and a letting go success Hagberg, J. O. (2004). The Critical Journey, Stages in the Life of Faith, Second Edition (2nd ed.). Salem, WI: Sheffield Publishing Company pp 86

Commissioning last year was conducted by The General, as part of his sermon he highlighted what Luther saw as the characteristics of a minister of religion. Study - mind Prayer - heart Affliction - empathy completed only then with action I wish I could find the reference as it resonates with Catherine Booth's thoughts of officers who should be people of head, hearts and hands. The strength of WBC for those who can see it is the commitment to encourage a framework of knowing, being and doing. There is a difference between the function of training that is shaped by the 'essence' of ministry and that of a function of training that is shaped by the 'form' of ministry. Luther's characteristics are a good reminder of what should shape what training should take. I've just seen the plans for the new reception at WBC; when it is finished will be dominated by Jeremiah 3:15. "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledg

Thanks Simon for this link. A great summary of Richard Horsley and application to the birth narrative. http://thepangeablog.com/2010/12/20/when-a-poor-baby-in-a-manger-overthrows-the-empire/ Sent from my iPod

I saw this article from The Independent and thought it might be of interest to you The little red book that swept France Take a book of just 13 pages, written by a relatively obscure 93-year-old man, which contains no sex, no jokes, no fine writing and no startlingly original message. A publishing disaster? No, a publishing phenomenon. © 2009 Independent News and Media Sent from my iPod

Books of 2010 Moltmann, J. (2010). Sun of righteousness, arise!: God's future for humanity and the earth. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. Morisy, A. (2009). Bothered and bewildered enacting hope in troubled times. London: Continuum. Rowling, J. K., & GrandPré, M. (2007). Harry Potter and the deathly hallows . New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books Ackerman, J. (2001). Listening to God: spiritual formation in congregations. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute. Faragher, C. (2010) Other voices : exploring the contemplative in Salvationist spirituality. Salvo Wright, N. (2008). Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. New York: Harperone. Mandelson, P. (2010). The Third Man: Life at the Heart of New Labour. London: Harpercollins Uk. Brengle, S. L. (1978). Guest of the Soul. Atlanta: Salvation Army Supplies Brookmyre, C. (2009). A Snowball in Hell (Unabridged ed.). Cairo: Isis. Horsley, R. A., & Siberman, N.