Hi friends,
Well, it's a little too easy to write a blog that's not my own blog - but this one was too interesting to not share with you. Again, it's from Dr. John Stackhouse and I think it will spur you on to some good thoughts, on the danger of over-simplifying important things like FAITH.
Enjoy, and do follow the link 'continue reading' to get the whole picture.
Jon
Prof. John Stackhouse's Weblog Simple Is Good; Oversimple Is Bad
I recently guested on a TV show hosted by a notorious critic of the Christian faith. As we worked through his Top Ten List of Things He Doesn't Like about Christianity (not actually what he called them, but that's what they were), he chided Christians for "all that theology that complicated things." Why not, he challenged, just say, "Love your neighbour"?
Since he had been both a lawyer and a politician, I countered with this observation: "Law seems awfully complicated too, doesn't it? I mean, why not just say, 'Mind your own business. Don't steal. Keep your word'–you know, stuff like that? Could it be that the adult world is a bit complicated and so adults need complicated laws?"
Continue Reading...
http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/simple-is-good-oversimple-is-bad/
Monday, March 9, 2009
Silence
Hi everyone,
Instead of writing my own blog right now, I had in mind to share this one with you. Dr. Stackhouse is a reputed theologian, writer, musician and friend. His blog is thought provoking and this one in particular is a great read. To get the whole blog entry (it's worth it), follow the link to 'continue reading'.
God bless!
Jon Buller
Prof. John Stackhouse's Weblog And Now It's Time to Be Quiet
After all the excitement generated by my last two posts, it's time for something completely different. One correspondent sent along the following note:
"What about the disappearance of the musical language of silence? It seems to me that a problematic aspect of our modern context is over-stimulation and a resulting loss of the language of silence, which I believe is part of what has robbed much music--and the spoken word--of their power. I lead contemplative services which include a lot of music, but I feel the silence which is practised as part of that service makes it so much more powerful. It's a sign of the times when two minutes of real silence is experienced as threatening."
Continue Reading...
http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/and-now-its-time-to-be-quiet
Instead of writing my own blog right now, I had in mind to share this one with you. Dr. Stackhouse is a reputed theologian, writer, musician and friend. His blog is thought provoking and this one in particular is a great read. To get the whole blog entry (it's worth it), follow the link to 'continue reading'.
God bless!
Jon Buller
Prof. John Stackhouse's Weblog And Now It's Time to Be Quiet
After all the excitement generated by my last two posts, it's time for something completely different. One correspondent sent along the following note:
"What about the disappearance of the musical language of silence? It seems to me that a problematic aspect of our modern context is over-stimulation and a resulting loss of the language of silence, which I believe is part of what has robbed much music--and the spoken word--of their power. I lead contemplative services which include a lot of music, but I feel the silence which is practised as part of that service makes it so much more powerful. It's a sign of the times when two minutes of real silence is experienced as threatening."
Continue Reading...
http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/and-now-its-time-to-be-quiet
Monday, March 2, 2009
Go to Church
Last Sunday I was very tired. Various different circumstances, all of them good - contributed to my weary state. I am not complaining, don't get me wrong...it's just part of life - there are seasons where you rest, and there are seasons where you need to keep the gas pedal down. And there are days when you 'hit the wall'. A friend told me that will never change. But what will change (God willing) is the varying speed at which you hit the wall. The older I get, the easier it is for me to see that wall approaching! I am slowly learning...But I digress...
What I meant to say was, I didn't particularly feel like going to church last Sunday. Yes, I work at church - so normally I don't have a choice in the matter. But my job is a wonderful blessing to me, and I love doing it, so I don't need a choice in that anyways, because I enjoy it. However, on occasion I have parts of weekends with outside gigs, or have a weekend off (trying to learn to pace myself), and it's those weekends that I am tempted to stay home with a pot of coffee, with my family or just by myself. Add to that, I am an introvert (albeit an 'outgoing' one), but an introvert nonetheless and so my best excuse to not go to church I think is fairly legitimate. To recharge I just need to be alone. But even that doesn't always hold up really...I can sneak in the back a hair late, and sneak out the back a hair early and it's a win - win. I am still with people, but I am still 'under the radar'.
Anyway, I went to church with my family. And I was still really tired. But it was really good. There were no spiritual fireworks but it just felt so good to be there. Much better than my newspaper or tv would have been at home...It was the best place that I could have been.
I don't want to comment on the big picture 'seasons', desert times or even painful times when one feels 'pushed away' by the church or religion or whatever it may be - maybe that's for another blog...But what I do want to say is that in the regular course of life, you've usually got one chance in the week to be with a group of people seeking after God's presence. Once chance to recharge, to be encouraged, to sing, to listen, to pray, to offer, to be taught, together with God's people. ONE chance.
Don't miss it.
Go to church.
What I meant to say was, I didn't particularly feel like going to church last Sunday. Yes, I work at church - so normally I don't have a choice in the matter. But my job is a wonderful blessing to me, and I love doing it, so I don't need a choice in that anyways, because I enjoy it. However, on occasion I have parts of weekends with outside gigs, or have a weekend off (trying to learn to pace myself), and it's those weekends that I am tempted to stay home with a pot of coffee, with my family or just by myself. Add to that, I am an introvert (albeit an 'outgoing' one), but an introvert nonetheless and so my best excuse to not go to church I think is fairly legitimate. To recharge I just need to be alone. But even that doesn't always hold up really...I can sneak in the back a hair late, and sneak out the back a hair early and it's a win - win. I am still with people, but I am still 'under the radar'.
Anyway, I went to church with my family. And I was still really tired. But it was really good. There were no spiritual fireworks but it just felt so good to be there. Much better than my newspaper or tv would have been at home...It was the best place that I could have been.
I don't want to comment on the big picture 'seasons', desert times or even painful times when one feels 'pushed away' by the church or religion or whatever it may be - maybe that's for another blog...But what I do want to say is that in the regular course of life, you've usually got one chance in the week to be with a group of people seeking after God's presence. Once chance to recharge, to be encouraged, to sing, to listen, to pray, to offer, to be taught, together with God's people. ONE chance.
Don't miss it.
Go to church.
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