something beautiful » thoughts

Competition: Win Come Let Us Adore Him by the Lower Lights

headphonaught — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:08:01 +0000

Hey everyone… I hope you enjoyed our Christmas ‘nines’? It really came together and I am grateful to everyone who contributed to the episode. It would be wrong for me to single out any particular contribution… because there was a real synergy effect in action.

That said… I do want to pay tribute to music of The Lower Lights. I was bowled over when they allowed us to use their music on the show. I am a huge fan of their rootsy folk sound and it really was the icing on the cake when they said “yes”… via the wonder of Twitter.

I really love their latest album… Come let us adore Him… it combines their timeless sound with the joy and anticipation of Christmas. I do get annoyed when we only sing carols in Advent… consider the sheer power of the lyrics to “O holy night” for example:

Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease.

It really doesn’t get any better than that… in my opinion.

Anyway… due to an administrative error… I’ve ended up with two copies of Come let us adore Him and have been given permission by the band themselves to give one away… rather than return it to them… which is wonderfully generous of them.

So… it’s competition time!!!

To enter… please visit the Bandcamp page for Come let us adore Him and pick your favourite song from the thirteen songs on the album. Leave a comment on this page with the name of your fave Christmas song, as sung by the band, and give us a reason why. The person who leaves the best reason why… by midday (GMT) on Saturday (7th January 2012)… will win the CD.

I hope that makes sense? While you are there… please take the time to check out their other albums: A hymn revival is particularly strong… and please do what you can to support grassroots independent music in all its wonder flavours.

Thomas

Competition: Win Come Let Us Adore Him by the Lower Lights is a post from: something beautiful

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Clean Water for Elirose

jdblundell — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:49:05 +0000

Ariah Fine has just published his second book – a children’s book – “Clean Water for Elirose.”

His first novel, “Giving Up” deals with a number of justice issues and his latest book, continues with the same theme but shares it in an easy to understand way for younger children — alongside great illustrations by Don Robb.

The book tells the story of Maria and her friends and how they join together to build a clean water well for Elirose.

Amazing how stories can simplify so many complicated ideas — isn’t it?

The book also includes a brief discussion guide to help you and your children discuss the issues together.

You can order a copy of the book today – and a portion of the proceeds go to help build a clean water well through charity:water.

Order the book.

And if you’d like to see the book before you buy… can also read the entire book right from your computer screen – right now.

What’s even cooler — is the book is now available with a Pay-What-You-Can model. So you can pay $3 for the book or $50 and know that what you’re giving goes to make a difference in the lives of others this Advent season.

And finally….

Ariah is also giving away one book a day from Dec. 1st to Dec. 15th. And there are a few ways to enter each day:

Like the Clean Water for Elirose Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CleanWaterForElirose
Refer someone to “Like” The facebook page (proven by them posting your name on our wall as the person who referred them)
Follow @WaterForElirose on Twitter
Tweet or post on Facebook about Clean Water for Elirose linking back to the website, facebook or twitter page
Blog about Clean Water for Elirose on your blog (counts as two entries) – And you might want to post it on our Facebook or email info@cleanwaterforelirose.com just so he doesn’t miss it

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The Kingdom of God…

jdblundell — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:44:29 +0000

In this time of Advent, when we remember how the Creator God became flesh and blood and moved into our neighborhood, we reflect on his Kingdom.

An upside down Kingdom. But a Kingdom that is at hand — now — and one that we’re all invited to help bring about.

So what will it look like? The prophet Isaiah writes (65:17-25):

“Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth.

All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten.

Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I’m creating: I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight.

I’ll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish;

No more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don’t enjoy a full lifetime; One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal-anything less will seem like a cheat.

They’ll build houses and move in. They’ll plant fields and eat what they grow.

No more building a house that some outsider takes over, no more planting fields that some enemy confiscates, for my people will be as long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.

They won’t work and have nothing come of it, they won’t have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed.

Before they call out, I’ll answer. Before they’ve finished speaking, I’ll have heard.

Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow, lion and ox eat straw from the same trough, but snakes-they’ll get a diet of dirt!

Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill anywhere on my Holy Mountain,” says God.

Beautiful!

What do you think? How do you read it?

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What e-books would you buy?

jdblundell — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:48:50 +0000

With the holiday season upon us – many people are making their gift lists and checking it twice.

And with Amazon’s Kindle line getting an upgrade this year, many people will be joining the e-reader ranks this holiday season and looking for new books to read.

So we’re curious.

If you had $50 to spend on Kindle books – what would you buy?

What stories have captured your imagination?

What books have brought you to new understandings of faith, God and life?

What are those books you’ll never part with?

Take a look at the Kindle selections and let us know in the comments – what Kindle books would you’d buy with $50 to spend?

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#sb1more is live

jdblundell — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:00:50 +0000

The something beautiful 1 more event is live!

Thanks so much for everyone who participated and shared a video.

We hope you’ll take some time to view each video, listen to the messages being shared and then leave your feedback in the comment section on the page or share your thoughts on Twitter using the #sb1more hashtag.

Thanks again to all who participated and we look forward to everyone’s feedback.

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connections

jdblundell — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:54:43 +0000

Who knows what impact the connections you make today will have on future generations….

How are you making connections and being the hands and feet of Jesus to your sphere of influence?

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something beautiful #1more

jdblundell — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:07:33 +0000

Got a question, idea or dream for the church that you’re just itching to share with everyone?

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

As we reflect back on Oct. 31, 1517, we’re reminded that it was with a simple list of statements, posted on the door of the The Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany that started the Protestant Reformation.
And it led us to think — if we could say just one thing to the Church universal — what would it be?
If we could add “1more” item to Luther’s list — what would we add?
And more importantly, what would YOU add?
So between now and Oct. 24, 2011 we want to gather your voices, and your thoughts (and your videos) to put together one giant list of unique ideas for the Church.
And on Oct. 31, 2011 we’ll share those videos with the world — right here on our website. So anyone and everyone can come and listen and hear what you have to say.

Be sure to get your video together, post it online and then tell us where to find it – by Oct. 24th.

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Exposure to the sun

headphonaught — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:59:01 +0000

One of the things I learned on holiday was how much I enjoyed sitting in the sun… reading on my Kindle or listening to music on my iPod.

Previously I always considered myself an on-the-go person on holiday. Last year, when we went to Paris as a family I walked the legs off Olly and the we’ans. We had an all-you-can-eat Metro ticket but I had more fun walking from site to site. Part of me is glad we did… and part of me regrets it.

So it came as a bit of a surprise to me to discover actually how much I loved being on the beach or sitting by the pool.

Part of this enjoyment was feeling the sun on my skin. Don’t worry… I was decent. I’m not the type of person to walk around wearing ’budgie smugglers’… that’s not my style… but I did get a tan.

I read later of the benefits of Vitamin D and how we’ve become so scared of skin cancer that we’ve become terribly deficient in this essential building block.

That’s for another debate… and please appreciate I’m not condoning long exposure to the sun. Albeit I thoroughly enjoyed it and have benefited from the Vit D stored in my fat and muscles (more fat than muscles).

I believe I have benefited from direct exposure to the sun. I don’t believe there are health benefits to be had in exposing ourselves to tanning beds or pretending to be sun-kissed with fake tans etc… the only benefit comes from one-to-one exposure to the sun.

What’s more… I can’t gain anything from someone who has been exposed to the sun. I can’t get a tan from them… I can only get it for myself.

I used this analogy when talking to my friends Paul and Ovi on Wednesday passed. We were discussing theology and some of the awesome work Ovi is doing in Glasgow.

I made mention of my desire to help people to learn how to think. I am no longer interested in telling people what to think. My focus has moved from ’what’ to ’how’. This is especially important when it comes to theology.

Recently a ’prophetic christian’ (his definition not mine) told friends of mine not to invest in ’Harry Potter’ because it trivialised witchcraft. One friend in particular was upset by this and asked my advice. I went back to her and described the Deathly Hallows…

“for love to win, the hero must die for his friends. In doing so, he is resurrected and can defeat evil forever.”

I then said… did it sound familiar?

JK Rowling has gone on record and spoken about the Christian allegory within her series… what then is more important? The spurious claim that the books are trivialising witchcraft or the more substantial claim that her books point, in part, to the Yeshua story?

Please don’t take my word for it… but look it up for yourself. That’s my point… I desperately want people to think for themselves… to have the discernment that comes from engaging directly with Abba through prayer and study of the bible.

In short, I want to see followers of Yeshua who have tans through exposure to ’the sun’.

This exposure, as discussed above, only comes through direct exposure. Just as we can’t get a tan off of someone else… neither should we seek to gain our knowledge and experience of Abba through other people… we should seek it for ourselves.

We have the ability to have a one-to-one relationship with Abba… through Yeshua… and we would be foolish not to take it and instead ’outsource’ our thinking to ’trusted parties’… including me. Don’t take my word for it… do your own research… and think for yourself. Go with what Abba guides… not what the crowd demands.

What’s more… let’s stop pretending to have a tan and go out and get one. Fakes look awful anyway. It may be uncomfortable to start with and we may get burned but… the benefits of regular exposure are worth it in the long run.

Think about it.

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Sleeping through demonstrations of Abba’s power

headphonaught — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:38:33 +0000

I was recently in a beach resort just north of Venice in Northern Italy called Lido Di Jesolo. It’s a beautiful place and my family and I had a wonderful time there.

During the second week there was a massive thunder and lightning storm… which change the weather from comfortably late 20s / early 30s with low humidity to late 30s with higher humidity. The change was noticeable.

I knew there was a storm because the family were woken at 3am to the loudest crack of thunder imaginable. We then sat up and watched an amazing show consisting of both sheet and forked lightning along with some tremendous rumbles and cracks of thunder… underpinned by the sound of torrential rain. I tried to take a photo of the lightning but failed miserably… but Olly managed to get some of the ’show’ on her videocamera. It really was something special.

The thing is… the next day at breakfast we discovered fellow holidaymakers who had slept through the whole thing. Their only clue that something had occurred was the rain and the change in conditions the following morning.

This got me thinking of all the people who miss Abba working in and around them.

Abba is moving in your place… in your space… in your time… and there are people who are asleep to His working. They may see the signs but don’t get the wondrous vision of His power at work. I think this is a real pity.

Abba is moving and the vigilant have the opportunity to get behind what He is doing… to be part of His glorious mission.

We see so much that is detrimental… all the time. The English Riots in recent days have had me glued to the BBC News. Watching people demonstrate the very worst of human behaviour… looting… thoughtless destruction… reckless violence.

If this was all that I saw, I would be utterly depressed and angry too… but it wasn’t. I saw the beneficial too: people coming together to protect their communities… people coming together to clean up after the riots and to provide refreshments for the Police and Emergency Services.

It isn’t always obvious where Abba is working… but He is working… and we need to be vigilant.

I guess that’s why I love this podcast and why it has lasting so long… people showing where Abba has worked and is working in their lives and in their places/spaces.

In the days we live in… where the detrimental always seems to get more play than the beneficial… it is refreshing to hear uplifting stories that fully articulate Abba’s love and power in action.

So let us not sleep through His working… but remain vigilant and aware… so we see His power in action and can play our parts… being the men and women who Abba wants us to be.

My sincere thanks to JD, Travis, Johnny and Stewart for keeping the momentum going. We are always looking for stories that we can tell… and new voices willing to share. Get in touch if you have something to share or think of someone we could talk with.

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Splash

jdblundell — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:48:02 +0000

Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge | Photo by John Picken

The Sunshine Skyway bridge spans the mouth of Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida. It carries thousands of cars everyday. It’s also become one of the top ten places to end your life. This is the story of the many who jumped, one lucky guy who survived, and how broken bones and a collapsed lung made him a new man.

A story of death, rebirth and redemption.

Listen on PRX.com

If you’re hurting, or need someone to talk to – know that it gets better.

Take a moment and ask for help – 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)

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It gets better

jdblundell — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:48:56 +0000

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All is Grace – Brennan Manning

jdblundell — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:57:51 +0000

All is Grace - Brennan Manning | Image via David C Cook

A new trailer has been released for an upcoming memoir by Brennan Manning:

From the publisher:

It has been over twenty years since the publication of The Ragamuffin Gospel, a book many claim as the shattering of God’s grace into their lives. Since that time, Brennan Manning has been dazzingly faithful in preaching and writing variations on that singular theme – “Yes, Abba is very fond of you!”
But today the crowds are gone and the lights are dim, the patches on his knees have faded. If he ever was a ragamuffin, truly it is now. In this his final book, Brennan roves back his past, honoring the lives of the people closest to him, family and friends who’ve known the saint and the sinner, the boy and the man. Far from some chronological timeline, these memories are witness to the truth of life by one who has lived it – All Is Grace.

I’ve often been blown away by the words of Brennan Manning so I’m really looking forward to this look at his life — in his own words.

As mentioned above, Brennan wrote (several years before before Love Wins):

The love of God for man is, “A union that not only transcends every political, social, cultural and religious consideration and not only infuses them with ultimate meaning, but defines the very purpose of life itself.”
“For His love is never, never, never based on our performance, never conditioned by our moods — of elation or depression. The furious love of God knows no shadow of alteration or change. It is reliable. And always tender.”

It’s a message the world needs to hear.

It’s a message I need to hear.

And it’s a message we’ve been invited to share with the world.

But until we really grab hold of it ourselves, we’ll continually struggle in sharing it with anyone else.

The book is set to release in October 2011. But you can pre-order it today on Amazon.

Until then – how have you seen this deep, deep love of God in your own life?

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How To Be The Church (You Tell Me!)

Travis Mamone — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:06:26 +0000

photo © 2009 Philippe Du Berger | more info (via: Wylio)
(Originally posted in my personal blog.)

A few months ago Brett McCracken wrote an article for Relevant Magazine asking why so many young evangelicals are leaving the Church. Throughout the article (which he wrote in between his numerous blog posts drooling over Terrence Malick movies), McCracken basically suggests it’s all because of our generation’s rampant individualism. While there might be some truth to that, here’s the reason why I think so many young people are leaving the Church:

We do a really crappy job of being the Church.

Let me give you an example. McCracken’s right when he says there are a lot of young evangelicals who have a “me first” mentality, but that’s only half of it. In my own experience I’ve seen whole families that treat the Church like it’s only something you do for an hour every Sunday and that’s it. They get into their nice little polo shirts and khaki pants (or if you’re a girl, a blouse with open-toe shoes), sit in the pew, sing the songs, listen to the sermon, take communion, and then when it’s over they go straight home where they eat their Sunday meal and then watch football (because nothing says “keeping the sabbath holy” like watching men grope and pulverize each other). Then it’s the same thing next week, and the week after that, and the week after that, etc.

The problem is Church is more than just a Sunday ritual. In fact, if I’m reading my Bible right, it’s not something you do . . . it’s something you are.

It’s the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5).

It’s being Jesus’ ambassadors to a dying world (2 Corinthians 5:20).

It’s about living in community and having all thing in common (Acts 2:44).

And yes, I do a crappy job of being the Church just as much as the next Christian.

So I want to ask you, my dear readers, how you and your local faith community try to be the Church. I want to know how you try to live like an actual family rather than a bunch of individuals who only see each other once a week. I can’t wait to hear your answers.

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Guided by Scripture… rather than guiding Scripture

headphonaught — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:09:26 +0000

Last Friday (3rd June) I read an article purporting to be from an “insider” to the “Britain’s Got Talent” / “X Factor” camp that made very strong allegations against Simon Cowell and his company. In essence, he was accused of “fixing” the talent contest… and manipulating the viewers for commercial gain.

Unfortunately I can not link to the allegations because they have been removed from the blog they were posted on… albeit copies are still available.

Anyway, the following Saturday my daughter was watching a rerun of the most recent episode and I exclaimed to Dayna that it was all nonsense and a big fix. My wife, Olly, called me out on it… saying “I wanted the article to be true”.

My wife has this wonderful ability to make me stop and take stock… and this is what I did.

I wanted these allegations to be true because of my dislike for “Britain’s Got Talent” or “X Factor”. I consider their commercialisation and commoditisation of the most beautiful of all art forms to be one of the reasons why the music industry in the UK is declining.

Music should be something that comes from the heart and not the wallet… with success coming from hardwork, a great deal of hardwork, and a desire to meet the fans’ desires. As such, it’s not something that can be predicted nor should it be something that can be guaranteed.

That said… I did want the allegations to be true because it helped me to feel vindicated in my beliefs. I saw this article as justification for my dislike… I was like “there… I told you so!”

This thought then got extended… as most of my thoughts do… to matters of faith. I had a discussion with Innes Johnston recently… where, while debating the difference between persistence and stubbornness, we came to the realisation that the Bible can and does get used to justify a wide range of things.

Take human sexuality, for example… those for LGBT acceptance and inclusion will quote their verses… and those against LGBT acceptance and inclusion will quote their verses.

We read the Bible as a means of vindicating our beliefs and justifying our stances. This is because we cannot approach the Bible in an objective manner. We read the Bible through the “glasses” of our own worldview.

I read the Bible as a mid-thirties, Scottish, white, male, heterosexual, married, father-of-two daughters, follower of Jesus… who worships at the Salvation Army… is obsessed with Apple, photography, music, Tolkien and design… and strongly believes in social democracy, egalitarianism and the common good.

As such… I read the Bible subjectively… framed by my worldview.

Objectivity is not possible and anyone who claims otherwise is, unfortunately, deluding themselves.

This does not mean I cannot take the truth from the Bible… because there is universal truth contained within Scripture that is true for all people with all worldviews.

I look to the religion scholar of Luke 10 who summed up the law, when asked…

“(…) love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and (…) love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

Love is universal: Love for God. Love for Jesus. Love for our fellow man and woman.

We may argue with our approach… with all our subjectivity… but if we hold to love of this kind… a love that is patient, kind and does not delight in evil… then surely we cannot go wrong?

We need to approach Scripture humbly… with the discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit. We should try to leave our worldviews at the door when we seek to learn from the Bible. Yes… we’ll never approach it with true objectivity… but we do need to leave room for movement… and have the humility to acknowledge if we’ve had it wrong before.

We should seek to be guided by what scripture says… in the context it was said in… with a spirit of love… and apply it to the lives we lead and the context we are in… with the same spirit of love. Rather than looking to guide scripture to justify our lives, our context and our approach.

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On criticism

headphonaught — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:01:25 +0000

I have been thinking about criticism over the last few days… after highlighting the fact that Salvation Army’s “ISB120″ festival had received it’s fair share of attacks from folk who didn’t get it.

One voice in particular has come to my attention. This voice comes from a person on twitter who goes by the handle of “@skeleton_army” who is being very vocal with his/her views on the Salvation Army.

Now… I can hear you shouting “don’t give them publicity, Thomas”… and “remember the Streisand Effect”… and yes… I understand by naming this individual I am giving them attention and the oxygen of publicity… but I have nothing to hide in this because I can see the value in his/her criticism and I won’t dismiss him/her nor try to ignore him/her.

In this case, what he/she has to say has value but the manner in which he/she is expressing him/herself it is reducing and diluting the effectiveness of this value.

Firstly… by posting anonymously on twitter in a passive-aggressive manner… he/she is diluting the value of the points he/she is raising. It may be easier to hide behind anonymity… and yes, their approach has gotten the attention of the Salvation Army’s twitterati… but it is not effective in the longer-term when you are seeking to out wrong and bring transformation.

Why..? by doing so and remaining anonymous he/she risks coming over as a deranged, unhinged and cowardly ranting troll who isn’t prepared to stand for what they believe. Anonymous people do not stand up, out and by what they believe, in my opinion… and I think this opinion is shared by the majority of folks on the Internet.

Secondly… by refusing dialogue with representatives of the point of criticism, he/she is again diluting the effectiveness and value of his/her message. Transformation can only come through relationship.

Why..? If you don’t engage in dialogue then you are shouting into the wind… and change will not come that way. People genuinely want to understand and this understanding only comes through conversation and engagement. Dialogue, not monologue, is what’s needed.

One thing I am mindful of is that I have been more than forthright of my criticism of the Salvation Army in the past… but believe I have the freedom and, dare I say, the right to express my views because I am part of the movement… albeit on the fringes. Effective change doesn’t come through walking away but by fighting from within for what is deemed to be right and necessary. I am part, I am a participant and I hope to continue. The Pharisees haven’t broken me yet

Thirdly… in generalising their situation and experience as being representative of “the whole” he/she risks further diluting the value of his/her message. No one has the monopoly on absolute truth… everything is seen through the lens of subjective perception. Whilst the experience expressed maybe the opinion of him/her it is only part… and we must respect this… it is not the whole story.

That said… this isn’t all one-sided. We need to consider our manner in this… and how we approach our critics is of vital importance. We need to, at the very least, be gracious to him/her. I have witnessed people, obviously riled by what they have read, attacking him/her. This is wrong for two reasons:

Firstly, this person is speaking from his/her experience… and his/her experience is of equal value to yours or mine. You may not like what he/she is saying but you shouldn’t attack him/her for saying it. The ability to freely express an opinion is what makes the West a wonderful place to live. If you take away the right of someone to express themselves, however repugnant or malicious that expression is, you become an oppressor… and oppression is not the way of Jesus.

Furthermore, we must be mindful that in responding we are putting forward our opinions and, similarly, we can not make sweeping generalisations because we too only have part of the picture.

Secondly, as followers of Jesus, we are called to love and to love with everything we have. In fact, we are to be known by our love. If we act in any way other than with kindness, patience, graciousness and self-control then we lose something of our love. Let’s not stoop to the personal attacks of our opponent but love them… after all aren’t we meant to love our enemies? This isn’t optional.

In addition… we shouldn’t be dismissive and write off the concerns expressed as being simply the musings of a troll looking for attention. I have given the points raised the prayerful and introspective consideration they deserve and every member of the Salvation Army should do so too… just as critics of Christianity should be given the respect of being heard and, more important, listened to and not dismissed outright.

I would love to see some resolution to this. I believe there is value in what @skeleton_army has to say and I pray there can be some form of dialogue.

In fact, if @skeleton_army would like to air his/her views on this podcast, then I would be more than happy to blether with him/her. I am reaching out to him/her… let’s do this right… let’s be constructive rather than destructive… and work together to build a better Salvation Army.

Your call.

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All is Grace

jdblundell — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:38:38 +0000

shaun groves

Shaun Groves is getting closer and closer to releasing his latest (crowd-financed) album.

It’s been great watching from a far as he’s blogged about the process from the original song writing, to rewriting, to the recording process and now sharing one of the mastered tracks – All is Grace.

It’s a beautiful track with a simple lyric, reminding us of grace and how we respond.

You have loved us
You have loved us all
You have loved us all so
We love all

You have blessed us
You have blessed us all
You have blessed us all so
We bless all

Thank you for Christ and cross
Through us still wandering
Thank you for making peace
Through us love our enemies

You have loved us
You have loved us all
You have loved us all so
We love all

You have given
You have given all
You have given all so
We give all

Thank you for daily bread
Through us fill the empty
Thank you for bodies whole
Through us mend the breaking

All is grace…

The album releases in August but you can pre-order it now for only $10!

In addition, Shaun just returned from another Compassion Bloggers trip to the Philippines. Be sure and check out all the great posts from their blogging team as well.

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Not everyone has an iPhone

headphonaught — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:22:17 +0000

Not everyone has an iPhone. I know this may seem like an obvious statement to make… but if you are surrounded with folks who all like the same kind of things that you like then sometimes you forget.

I need to be reminded that some people have phones that run Android… or laptops that run Ubuntu. Apples are not the only fruit… literally and metaphorically.

I also need to realise that there isn’t one way to approach God. There are many ways to worship God and there are many interpretations of what church is… (almost as many as there are theological outlooks).

I am currently a member of the Salvation Army. I don’t wear the uniform although I am still “officially” a soldier. I don’t participate in the band and I am not a member of the choir. I am on the fringes… and I am comfortable there.

Recently the Salvation Army had a big shindig in London where fans of brass band music gathered to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the founding of the premier band in the Army: the International Staff Band. As part of this celebration, staff bands from throughout the world… as far afield as Japan… came to the Albert Hall in London for a huge concert… and a public procession down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. They did other things but these were the main things they did.

I’m not a fan of brass band music… apart from when it is part of a bombastic orchestra or it has someone as awesome as Lester Bowie at the helm. It’s not my thing.

That said… just because it isn’t “my thing” doesn’t mean I don’t consider it an effective ministry and outreach channel. The best people to reach brass band fans are brass band fans. This is simply reiterating that like attracts like or “birds of a feather flock together”.

Not everyone is like me. Whilst my ego would love for everyone to be like me… it’s a hard fact I have to acknowledge. I can’t effectively reach a brass band fan with ultra post-modern worship that involves ambient soundscapes and meditative liturgy expressed as slam poetry. However much I’d love to… I can’t.

Just as brass leaves me flat… so does the stuff that gets me going leaves others flat. There is not one way of doing worship.

By now you are probably shouting at me… saying faith should be relational and transcend experience and what we like… and this is true. Relationships can and do transcend the ways we define and divide ourselves… but you do tend to enjoy the company of like-minded people… it’s only natural.

ISB120 has received criticism from folks within the Army… and bless them, I get what they are saying… but they are missing the point. There isn’t just one way of doing worship and being church… and no one way is more right than the other.

Let’s be honest for a moment… Missional isn’t a “capital M” noun kind of thing… or at least it shouldn’t be. It is and must always be considered a verb… its a doing word not a naming word. Everything we do should be missional… because everything we do and everything we are should be in tune with what the Lord wants.

Was ISB120 a “Missional” event..? No way! It was exclusively for brass band fans… and people should be honest about this. However, was it used missionally… or did it have the opportunity to be used missionally? Of course it did… because people with a heart for God’s mission ~~ceased~~ seized the opportunity presented. I know of one dear sister whose brother came back to God as a result of the event and, more importantly, her.

People were blessed at ISB120 and began their faith journeys there. This is awesome news and, in my humble opinion, vindicates the cost and effort involved in putting on the event.

That said… it should not be the only form of worship encouraged. All forms of expression should be given an equal footing… because they all have the opportunity to reach someone.

Consider your hand… most people have four fingers and a thumb. Think of each finger as a channel… a means of reaching someone. We need all the fingers to work in harmony. Otherwise we are not as effectual as we could be… just like someone trying to touch-type with the index fingers of both hands… we could do so much more if all the fingers were in use.

We need ALL expressions of church to work together for our reach to have the greatest effect. The first step in this is to realise that my way may not be your way… or, to use a metaphor, not everyone has an iPhone.

Not everyone has an iPhone is a post from: something beautiful

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Serving rather than being served

headphonaught — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:50:35 +0000

I went with my wife and two daughters to see “Thor” yesterday. It’s a great film… imho… with a strong story underpinning a visual treat.

To cut a long story short… for those of you that haven’t seen the film… Thor is banished to Earth for causing trouble and has to, in essence, get over himself… get rid of his arrogance and pride… before he can regain his position as the Son of Odin and Heir to the throne.

There are two scenes that signify this transformation:

In the first one (before he “gets it”) he is in a diner and demands to be served… by smashing, as was his custom, his cup on the floor.
In the second one (after he “gets it”) he is seen serving his companions breakfast… a breakfast he made himself.

The transformation is apparent… the served has become the server.

When we consider our spiritual expression… this is a prime example of someone “dying to self”. No longer are we concerned with what we can gain… we put our neighbour before ourselves and seek to serve them.

This isn’t some “pie in the sky” philosophy or political ideal… this is the life we are called to. This is the plan the God invites us to participate in.

I always remember a wee acronym I learned as a bairn in Sunday School. The secret of JOY is…

Jesus first… Yourself last… and Others in-between (and… noticeably… before you)

Ask yourself this… is serving others in the centre of all I seek to do? Or do I want my neighbours to serve me?

This is a vitally important question… it’s the difference between merely living and living a life in all it’s fulness.

So with this in mind… please share the more innovative things you are doing in your spaces and places to serve others.

Serving rather than being served is a post from: something beautiful

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The Crucifixion According to Radiohead

headphonaught — Tue, 24 May 2011 19:54:57 +0000

I found this video from Scott Erikson very moving and wanted to share it with you. In it artist Scott Erickson combines video, the music of Radiohead and his engaging painting to create a multimedia meditative art performance focusing on the crucifixion of Christ.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more detail, please head over to create visual culture.

The Crucifixion According to Radiohead is a post from: something beautiful

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Some thoughts on Rob Bell’s “Love Wins”… part 3

headphonaught — Sun, 22 May 2011 22:31:39 +0000

So… the big question posed in Rob Bell’s book “love wins” is…

does God get what God wants?

God is great. I affirm this in my life. I am here because of Him and I give Him the glory for all the blessings He has bestowed on me.

I believe He is greater and more powerful than I could ever dream or imagine… He is the catalyst through which all things were and are made. He’s that great.

So when it comes to the fate of billions of people… I think God is more than capable of doing something beyond great.

“God has a purpose, something He is doing in the world, something that has never changed, something that involves everybody, and God’s intention all along has been to communicate this intention clearly.” (p98)

If God has a purpose, and I believe He does, then does He get to fulfil His purpose… or does He fail?

As I read scripture and follow the verses presented by Bell, it becomes clear that God doesn’t fail… but us humans do… regularly!

God wants to bring everyone back to Him. This is the whole purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice. This is the whole purpose of grace.

Reconciliation. This is what God wants. Not just with “the chosen” but with all people. God has very big arms that open very wide… in this regard.

The problem is… and this is clearly communicated in the book… that whilst God wants everyone to come to him… not everyone will.

Freedom to choose is exactly that… the ability to decide, by ourselves, whether we are for or against something. And with this choice comes the consequences of the decision.

“God has to respect our freedom to choose to thievery end, even at the risk of the relationship itself. If at any point God overrides, co-opts, or hijacks the human heart, robbing us of our freedom to choose, then God has violated the fundamental essence of what love is.” (p103-104)

I get infuriated when I hear the phrase… “beggars can’t be choosers”. In my time working with Glasgow’s homeless… one thing I will always affirm is that THEY CAN AND MUST. When I remove choice then I become an oppressor… and the choice-less person becomes someone I oppress. The relationship changes and it becomes something contractual & forced… not loving.

God is love and as a loving God, He gives us choice… and this choice could break His heart.

God’s love is universal but He isn’t a universalist… only those who return God’s love… those who trust in His love… are the ones who will participate in His new creation… as new creations. Bell clearly affirms this in “love wins”.

“…if we want nothing to do with light, hope, love, grace, and peace, God respects that desire on our part, and we are given a life free from any of those realities.”

Peace has been made. Through Jesus’ death on the cross… peace has been made. Once. For all.

“…God has inaugurated a movement in Jesus’ resurrection to renew, restore and reconcile everything “on earth or in heaven” (Col.1), just as God intended it.” (p134)

The point then is whether we want to be renewed, restored, reconciled or redeemed back to God. The hard work has been done… all we have to do is let go and trust.

This is the crux of the Gospel and is very eloquently described by Bell.

Let’s be honest… we may not like Bell’s writing style… we may want the answers given to us rather than having to think for ourselves… and Bell does make us think rather than giving us answers to blindly follow. We may not like his style but his enthusiasm or his faith can not be questioned… and if we do… I would strongly suggest we blaspheme the Spirit in doing so.

We need to ask questions. We need to question that which we are too close to. We shouldn’t accept things without first challenging it. We have the gift of discernment and we need to use it or we’ll lose it.

I enjoyed “love wins” and have taken a great deal from it. I haven’t mentioned everything in it… because I want you to read the book for yourself.

I hope and pray that love does and will win in the end.

Some thoughts on Rob Bell’s “Love Wins”… part 3 is a post from: something beautiful

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