by emma | Nov 17, 2006 | Faith, Words
“We often ask God to show up. We pray prayers of rescue. Perhaps God would ask us to be that rescue, to be His body, to move for things that matter. He is not invisible when we come alive. I might be simple but more and more, I believe God works in love, speaks in love, is revealed in our love. I have seen that this week and honestly, it has been simple: Take a broken girl, treat her like a famous princess, give her the best seats in the house. Buy her coffee and cigarettes for the coming down, books and bathroom things for the days ahead. Tell her something true when all she’s known are lies. Tell her God loves her. Tell her about forgiveness, the possibility of freedom, tell her she was made to dance in white dresses. All these things are true.
We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don’t get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won’t solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way. We were made to be lovers bold in broken places, pouring ourselves out again and again until we’re called home.”
Sorry for the long quote, but it is impacting me. I very briefly highlighted this story a few months ago when I was introduced to it by a friend in Chicago, but I’ve been thinking about it a bit again lately. Check out the story here.
I think sometimes we can get so easily discouraged and wonder why things aren’t changing or aren’t turning out the way we hoped. But that is part of the paradox of the Christian life, of this journey of following Jesus – things wont always turn out how we hoped. But we still have a responsibility and a calling to act, to do something… otherwise how will anything ever change? And really, it’s not that hard is it? Buy the homeless guy a cup of coffee. Talk to the Big Issue seller you walk past everyday. Be willing to be interrupted.
I guess it links back into my post about life-giving, hope-filled communities.
by emma | Nov 16, 2006 | Books
Time for a review…
For me, there are two key, stand-out ideas/thoughts that I am meditating on currently.
“But maybe faith has less to do with gaining knowledge and more to do with causing wonder. Maybe a relationship with God doesn’t simplify our lives. Maybe it complicates our lives in ways that they should be complicated.”
It’s true. Being a Christian is not going to make your life easier. If you got sold that lie when you gave Jesus control, I’m sorry, but it’s just not true. The call of Jesus goes the other direction – its about making our lives more difficult, more complicated. It’s choosing to give ourselves away, be more generous and disciplined and loving and free. More ourselves. And people are complicated. That’s why when our churches grow, it gets more complicated.
So what if instead of fretting about how complicated something is, we simply allow ourselves to wonder about the greatness of a God who has it all under control?
“One of our greatest spiritual shortcomings is low expectations. We don’t expect much from God because we aren’t asking for much.”
This one… wow this one is really impacting me. I’ve kind of made a pact with God that I don’t want to pray anything I don’t mean anymore. I find it so easy to just pray and waffle and not even really know what I’ve said at the end. I don’t want that. I want to know his power in my prayers. I want to pray expectantly… waiting and believing God will answer.
No more lip-service. Chase your lions!
More:
Buy the book.
Read Mark’s blog.
by emma | Nov 15, 2006 | Books, Everything Else
I’m in Glasgow again. I know… I’m hard to track down some days.
Yesterday I was at a promotional/pastor/talking/meeting thing with Rob Bell (author of Velvet Elvis – which of course you’ve all read by now – and creator/innovator of the Nooma teaching DVD series).
We started by watching the latest Nooma, Breathe, which has just been released Stateside, dont think it’s out here yet. Then Rob spoke very brielfy on who he is, what he does, etc. Then it was thrown open to a question time.
There were several points I loved/was impacted by:
* The Hebrew mind is completely comfortable with tension, with the idea that two things can be true at the same time.
* Someone asked him about his teaching, and he said that he doesn’t teach anything that hasn’t already been brewing deep inside him for months or even years.
* “Some people simply aren’t going to be able to make the journey.”
Rob also shared something they did one Easter weekend, which I thought was an amazing idea. Instead of having a Good Friday service, they had a ‘Bad Friday’ service – a day of mourning, real sadness and rawness and emotion, which leaves the tension unresolved until the Easter Sunday service, when they blow the roof off with praise! How great an idea is that, how much more powerful would it make Easter feel to me or you?
by emma | Nov 13, 2006 | Faith
Communities that give hope, give life.
That is on my mind right now. I am in Ireland. Today I went to my church here, Causeway Coast Vineyard. I think the more I am away and seeing other churches, the more I realise how much I love and am blessed by CCV.
Now I am throwing myself into Glasgow Westend Vineyard. A wonderful place. I’m excited about getting more involved, getting to know people better, getting to know God better through it and through people.
I’m convinced that church is at it’s best when it’s giving itself away.
(I’m pretty sure I’ve stolen that statement from someone else, but their name evades me currently!) When the church gives itself away. Cares for the hurting and dirty and dying. When we forgo our wants and desires and instead go after the lost. When we make caring for them a priority. Proclaiming freedom to the captives and healing to the hurting.
Those are communities that give hope. Hope that there is a better way. Hope that there will be a better day. Hope that what God promised, he will bring about. Hope that all is not lost, all is not in vain.
Yes, hope.
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously”
[Jesus, Matthew 10]
by emma | Nov 10, 2006 | Faith, Words
A cry.
A cry lies within us in the depth of a place which we cannot touch.
Waiting to escape the enclosed gates of our expression.
Something is happening inside of us, beyond what we can articulate.
So we respond. We respond to You; we respond to You Jesus.
In Your pure light I have come out of the shadows of darkness.
You alone are the one that can satisfy.
Seeping every vacant space inside of me: reality.
In You, in me in You. I try to imagine forever.
And at a certain point my brain stops, but that’s You–forever being, forever existing, forever knowing You.
Before there was anyone, anything, and You–and after everything there is no more: You.
My thoughts can’t even fully comprehend You,
so whatever praise my thoughts begin, my spirit has to complete.
And every time I take in a breath, I discover You.
That the same breath I’m breathing originated inside of You.
So I breathe You in. Because You take me in Jesus.
In Your pure light I have come out of the shadows of darkness.
You alone satisfy.
Seeping into every vacant space inside of me–try to imagine forever.
That’s You: forever being, forever existing, forever knowing You.
Before there was anyone, anything, You. After everything there was is no more: You.
And every time I take in a breath…
And every time I take in a breath, I discover You.
I breathe You in, because You take me in.
We breathe You in, because You take us in…
To be still and breathe that You are God.
Spoken Word, written by Amena Brown
by emma | Nov 10, 2006 | Everything Else
I am tired.
I was going to post now. But I have realised how tired I am. So now I’m not.
Tomorrow I shall return to Ireland for the first time in about 2 months. I’m curious as to how I will feel.
Goodnight.
by emma | Nov 7, 2006 | Everything Else
The report is done!
I’m listening to “Elusive” by Scott Matthews currently. I really love this song! I’m not sure why, just really nice acoustic song with great lyrics.
“She’s elusive and I’m awake,
You’re finally real, there’s nothing fake.
A mystery now to me and you,
Open my eyes and I’m next to you.
She said my destiny lies in the hands that set me free.”
I think I am beginning to understand mystery more (I know that is an oxymoron, but hopefully you know what I mean!). Why it is important and the likes.
“Like the sun at noonday, mysticism explains everything else by the blaze of its own victorious invisibility.”
GK Chesterton
by emma | Nov 6, 2006 | Uni
I am currently working hard trying to write a report for computer science, having designed and evaluated a new wiki. It’s hard going! Heading down to the uni library after tea to encourage myself to work more efficiently! On a little aside, the library is open to 2am… is anyone there at 2am at this time of the year??
I made it to church last night (yes, after the crazy, lack-of-sleep CU houseparty), and I’m so glad I did. Vineyard has quite a different feel about it in the evenings. I can’t quite put my finger on it. It reminded me of a quote from Mark Batterson’s new book,
That is what worship does. It changes the spiritual atmosphere. It charges the spiritual atmosphere.
by emma | Nov 5, 2006 | Uni
Was away with Glasgow Uni CU this weekend on the houseparty. We heading to Auchengillan Outdoor Centre, not too far outside of Glasgow, for a bit of teaching, relaxation, and general banter! I had a great time hanging out and getting to know people better. Much fun.
Some of us decided it would be good to see sunrise this morning… that is the view for the hill. We set off up a hill to watch the sun rise and took communion together. It was beautiful. I loved it. God is mighty.
Creation is beautiful. Take care of it.
by emma | Nov 1, 2006 | Faith
If you are generous with the hungry
and you start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
Isaiah 58:10
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