What would he think I wonder?
One of the greatest bands, with one of the greatest singers and entertainers sing a song that, I'd argue, we should all sing ... think about ... and then act for change.
Take a look at the lyrics ...
Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feed
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need
Is this the world we created?
What did we do it for?
Is this the world we invaded
Against the law?
So it seems in the end
Is this what we're all living for today?
The world that we created
You know that every day a helpless child is born
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Waiting for life to go by
Is this the world we created?
We made it on our own
Is this the world we devastated
Right to the bone?
If theres a God in the sky looking down
What can he think of what we've done
To the world that he created?
I wonder?
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Radical Revolution
Well ... after a summer of reading I once again have more questions than answers!!
If our desire to have steaks and burgers in North America and Western Europe mean that native tribes are displaced from their ancient homes in various areas of the world,and they lose their sense of identity, community and life, and if our desire for steaks and burgers means that the land is turned into grazing, leading to de-forestation, and so adds to the issue of climate change, which affects the more disadvantaged coountries more ... then can we realy say we're helping the poor and needy by throwing a bit of money their way?
Looking globally (and I'll stick my neck out here and say that equates with thinking more like the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) ... surely the most important factor is that we die to self, and sacrifice our greed? Not as easy, but more Godly.
Take the same idea and have a think about our desire for holidaying, or even more spiritual 'mission' trips, but not paying for the carbon emissions we create ... radical?
What about buying goods from places that don't practice fair trdade, or don't treat their workers well, or don't act ethically and environmentally in their communities, and worldwide ... revolutionary?
The more and more I think, then the more and more I am convinced that we have diluted the message of the Gospel to simply, giving a bit of dosh, and doing nice things ... it's not revolutionary, it's not radical.
We highlight breaks as good things, which they are ... and we encourage folks to go on them, and I'm just back from a wonderful break ... do we also add that we should pay the extra to make up for the emissions? No, that's a personal choice isn't it?!?
Spend money wisely, yes ... give ten per cent, yes ... but what if our money goes to multinationals, or local, businesses that abuse their workers and the environent ... probably something for individuals to decide isn't it??!!
Eat healthily, be sensible ... but what if our eating habits are causing harm to this 'one of a kind' planet ... challenege it? Best not to, we may offend some folks!
I want to hear a cry rise up that says injustice is wrong, and here is how WE will bring about justice through OUR actions.
I want to hear a cry rise up that says environmental exploitation is wrong, and here is how WE will ensure that a more sustainable way of living is developed in OUR community.
I want to hear a cry rise up that says WE will rest at nothing, including looking at ourselves, our families, our church and our community and bringing about change in each of those areas, to make sure OUR world becomes a better place for ALL OUR brothers and sisters.
I think this year I'm going to be more offensive, more radical and more revolutionary ... so to those who may become offended ... don't get angry, get activated!! :o)
Well ... after a summer of reading I once again have more questions than answers!!
If our desire to have steaks and burgers in North America and Western Europe mean that native tribes are displaced from their ancient homes in various areas of the world,and they lose their sense of identity, community and life, and if our desire for steaks and burgers means that the land is turned into grazing, leading to de-forestation, and so adds to the issue of climate change, which affects the more disadvantaged coountries more ... then can we realy say we're helping the poor and needy by throwing a bit of money their way?
Looking globally (and I'll stick my neck out here and say that equates with thinking more like the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) ... surely the most important factor is that we die to self, and sacrifice our greed? Not as easy, but more Godly.
Take the same idea and have a think about our desire for holidaying, or even more spiritual 'mission' trips, but not paying for the carbon emissions we create ... radical?
What about buying goods from places that don't practice fair trdade, or don't treat their workers well, or don't act ethically and environmentally in their communities, and worldwide ... revolutionary?
The more and more I think, then the more and more I am convinced that we have diluted the message of the Gospel to simply, giving a bit of dosh, and doing nice things ... it's not revolutionary, it's not radical.
We highlight breaks as good things, which they are ... and we encourage folks to go on them, and I'm just back from a wonderful break ... do we also add that we should pay the extra to make up for the emissions? No, that's a personal choice isn't it?!?
Spend money wisely, yes ... give ten per cent, yes ... but what if our money goes to multinationals, or local, businesses that abuse their workers and the environent ... probably something for individuals to decide isn't it??!!
Eat healthily, be sensible ... but what if our eating habits are causing harm to this 'one of a kind' planet ... challenege it? Best not to, we may offend some folks!
I want to hear a cry rise up that says injustice is wrong, and here is how WE will bring about justice through OUR actions.
I want to hear a cry rise up that says environmental exploitation is wrong, and here is how WE will ensure that a more sustainable way of living is developed in OUR community.
I want to hear a cry rise up that says WE will rest at nothing, including looking at ourselves, our families, our church and our community and bringing about change in each of those areas, to make sure OUR world becomes a better place for ALL OUR brothers and sisters.
I think this year I'm going to be more offensive, more radical and more revolutionary ... so to those who may become offended ... don't get angry, get activated!! :o)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Amazing Grace
Have just watched the film ... cried through most of it ... and so many lines hit home.
"How can we live in houses like this, when others are living in boxes?"
"No matter how loud you shout, you will not drown out the voice of the people!"
"Remember that God made men equal"
"I think he (God) found me! Do you have any idea how inconvenient that is?"
What if Wilberforce had decided it wasn't worth the cost?
What if he thought that others wouldn't stand alongside him, so there was no point?
What if he'd settled for a simple life, instead of the tough road he walked.
What if BECAUSE it wasn't safe, secure, sensible ... he'd backed off?
BUT ... he sacrificed, he took up his cross, he stepped out
AND ... the world was changed.
What if I step up?
What if I don't?
Have just watched the film ... cried through most of it ... and so many lines hit home.
"How can we live in houses like this, when others are living in boxes?"
"No matter how loud you shout, you will not drown out the voice of the people!"
"Remember that God made men equal"
"I think he (God) found me! Do you have any idea how inconvenient that is?"
What if Wilberforce had decided it wasn't worth the cost?
What if he thought that others wouldn't stand alongside him, so there was no point?
What if he'd settled for a simple life, instead of the tough road he walked.
What if BECAUSE it wasn't safe, secure, sensible ... he'd backed off?
BUT ... he sacrificed, he took up his cross, he stepped out
AND ... the world was changed.
What if I step up?
What if I don't?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The times they are a changing!
So it's 2008 ... a new year ... new challenges ... new possibilities and all that jazz!
It promises to be a fairly interesting year ... potential house move and job change! Then at the end of June it'll be back to Uganda ... then onto Canada!
Goodness knows what the next while holds, I don't really have much of a clue and I'm not sure I'd really want to, one day at a time seems to be the current catchphrase!
In terms of what I've been reading ... Shane Claiborne's "Irresistable Revolution" stunned me, as did Ronald Snider's "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" ... so what do I do with that? Who knows?
I tend to hear an awful lot about 'processing things' ... and in many ways that's great advice ... the only thing is, I'm currently watching a programme about 'processed foods' ... apparently they're crap!! When things are raw and natural then that's where they have the most 'goodness'!
Oh for a year of raw and natural love ... whatever that may look like!
So it's 2008 ... a new year ... new challenges ... new possibilities and all that jazz!
It promises to be a fairly interesting year ... potential house move and job change! Then at the end of June it'll be back to Uganda ... then onto Canada!
Goodness knows what the next while holds, I don't really have much of a clue and I'm not sure I'd really want to, one day at a time seems to be the current catchphrase!
In terms of what I've been reading ... Shane Claiborne's "Irresistable Revolution" stunned me, as did Ronald Snider's "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" ... so what do I do with that? Who knows?
I tend to hear an awful lot about 'processing things' ... and in many ways that's great advice ... the only thing is, I'm currently watching a programme about 'processed foods' ... apparently they're crap!! When things are raw and natural then that's where they have the most 'goodness'!
Oh for a year of raw and natural love ... whatever that may look like!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
__active: Put in your own prefix!
So ... just over two months ago I left for Uganda and the continent of Africa.
What I saw out there amazed me, disturbed me, encouraged me and horrified me all at once.
I'm still processing what I saw, what I experienced, what I thought ... and significantly, what I am thinking now ... or trying to get a handle on and process now!
Being someone who desperately wants to call themsleves a genuine Christ follower I have to confess I have struggled hugely coming back to my western home.
I look around and struggle to understand how our MP3's, our fancy cars, widescreen TV's, surround sound systems and wireless networks can be justified in the face of starvation, dehydration and disease that rob Africa of so many young people each year!
How will 'we', as the western church, justify our expenditure on countless doughnuts, bottles of water and laptops ... all in the name of relevancy and connection with our culture ... when so many millions have died?
Rather than simply wearing a WWJD bracelet ... should we be honestly and critically asking ourselves, "What is Jesus thinking?"
Do we bring a smile to His face, or sorrow to His heart?
Pleasure or pain?
Delight or disgust?
I feel like all I've ever been taught, been told, been encouraged to believe is now out for examination!
My 'faith' has been exhumed from it's nice resting place ... and is being scrutinised like never before ... and I am afraid!
I am afraid because I'm not sure my 'faith' will actually hold up to the tests, and instead there'll be a case of false testimony, where the final analysis doesn't match up with the evidence.
Personally I feel angry with myself, with the western church ...
Why I'll probably jump into in later blog entries ... but basically I think we can claim ignorance at best, and at worst, a case of complete negligence that's led directly to the deaths of millions of people!
At the moment, that is my struggle ... which brings me to the 'Put in your own prefix!' comment.
Inactive ... doing nothing.
Reactive ... responding to situtations after they occur.
Proactive ... trying to change situations through action.
If you had to write a report for the western church and 'our' response to poverty, to starvation, to malnutrition, to dehydration, to injustice ... which prefix would you use?
Would you say the same of Jesus? If not, can the western church claim to be 'Christ followers?'
I've answered that for me ... it makes me feel uncomfortable, makes me feel angry, makes me feel ashamed.
I'm shaken ... but I guess the more important question is ... will I be stirred?
So ... just over two months ago I left for Uganda and the continent of Africa.
What I saw out there amazed me, disturbed me, encouraged me and horrified me all at once.
I'm still processing what I saw, what I experienced, what I thought ... and significantly, what I am thinking now ... or trying to get a handle on and process now!
Being someone who desperately wants to call themsleves a genuine Christ follower I have to confess I have struggled hugely coming back to my western home.
I look around and struggle to understand how our MP3's, our fancy cars, widescreen TV's, surround sound systems and wireless networks can be justified in the face of starvation, dehydration and disease that rob Africa of so many young people each year!
How will 'we', as the western church, justify our expenditure on countless doughnuts, bottles of water and laptops ... all in the name of relevancy and connection with our culture ... when so many millions have died?
Rather than simply wearing a WWJD bracelet ... should we be honestly and critically asking ourselves, "What is Jesus thinking?"
Do we bring a smile to His face, or sorrow to His heart?
Pleasure or pain?
Delight or disgust?
I feel like all I've ever been taught, been told, been encouraged to believe is now out for examination!
My 'faith' has been exhumed from it's nice resting place ... and is being scrutinised like never before ... and I am afraid!
I am afraid because I'm not sure my 'faith' will actually hold up to the tests, and instead there'll be a case of false testimony, where the final analysis doesn't match up with the evidence.
Personally I feel angry with myself, with the western church ...
Why I'll probably jump into in later blog entries ... but basically I think we can claim ignorance at best, and at worst, a case of complete negligence that's led directly to the deaths of millions of people!
At the moment, that is my struggle ... which brings me to the 'Put in your own prefix!' comment.
Inactive ... doing nothing.
Reactive ... responding to situtations after they occur.
Proactive ... trying to change situations through action.
If you had to write a report for the western church and 'our' response to poverty, to starvation, to malnutrition, to dehydration, to injustice ... which prefix would you use?
Would you say the same of Jesus? If not, can the western church claim to be 'Christ followers?'
I've answered that for me ... it makes me feel uncomfortable, makes me feel angry, makes me feel ashamed.
I'm shaken ... but I guess the more important question is ... will I be stirred?
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