Shalom

“The goal here isn’t simply to not sin. Our purpose is to increase the shalom in this world…”

I’ve been thinking about this a bit. It’s so easy to fall into this trap, isn’t it? As a Christian, I can so easily focus in on simply not sinning. But to go beyond that, to do more than just not do bad, but to actively do good… I’m reminded of a quote I once heard, about how all that it takes for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing. In other words, apathy allows evil to flourish. That’s what I take from it I guess.

But what does that actually look like in practice? How do I go about bringing peace to my world? Any ideas? Hmm. I’ll get back to you.

Velvet Elvis

“Because God has spoken, and everything else is commentary.”

So Ally lent me his Velvet Elvis book to have a read at, and wow. Rob Bell is a very gifted guy. I’m loving his insights into faith right now. The quote above is stuck in my mind, so I’m gonna be taking some time to figure out its impact on how I live.

The basic premise of Velvet Elvis is that faith is dynamic, not static. That we are constantly ‘repainting’ faith, because we are trying to understand better how to follow Jesus and what that looks like in action. It is understanding that methods change, that the principles (for example, church doctrines) we live by are someone’s interpretation of the Bible, and therefore could be wrong (i’m not saying they always are, but that they could be), and so they may change over time, as we understand the Bible more.

I guess thats why I love communities that let me ask questions. Because often the things I read in the Bible throw up more questions than answers. And so I question. For example, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Fairly simple statement, right? But… How do you define love? What if my definition of love is different from someone else’s definition? Who decides who is wrong and who is right? And who says their decision is the right one? And what does it mean for God to be love?

You see what I mean? Thats why I’m excited about this book. Thanks for letting me quesition. Thanks for joining me on the journey. Let’s keep adding to the commentary.

After all, the Bible was meant for community.

Woohoo!

So I have finally joined the realms of WordPress… what d’ya think?

It would also appear that I have a done something funny to the front page here, hm not sure how that happened, but I’m sure you’ll forgive me if it looks a bit silly!!

Off to get me some tea…

The Weight of Small Things

“The great things that we long for and search for are found
among the small things we may ignore or even discard.”

Simple truths are often the most hard-hitting, aren’t they?

An Exercise in Praise

“I don’t like being predictable, but I am a compulsive enjoyer of life and beauty. What began as an exercise in praise has resulted in a life of continuous astonishment. I look for the flower breaking through the rock. I stop to appreciate the beauty and artistry of every sunset I have the opportunity to experience. Life is an adventure to be explored and excavated for its endless unexpected suprises and treasures. There is so much to enjoy. How could even one moment be lived without overflowing gratitude?

When we recognise that life is a gift and we are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, when we fill every moment with praise for God’s goodness and thanks for His generosity, we find wholeness, and our hearts increase in their capacity to experience and give love.”

[Uprising – Erwin McManus]
I couldn’t help but share this quote today, because I think I’m starting to undestand it better!