Elementyl365

This week I made a resolution.  In the New Year, I am going to make a point of photographing every day.  I'm calling this project Elementyl365.  You'll see mainly impromptu pictures, as well as some planned projects.  Every day will bring something new.


So check out my new photoblog Elementyl365!

Images of Calvary

At His Feet by Anthony Novak

"Jesus, being without sin, took upon himself the iniquities of the world, so that all who put their trust in him will be saved from the law of sin and death. At the foot of the Cross are life, hope, and salvation for all who believe."

Artists reflect on Good Friday - here.

Upgrading the Church's Soft Skills

Touch by Larry Wilson

"The inclusive, networking skills that are at such a premium in companies like Google are D team skills in the old business world. Known there as “soft skills” (i.e., less effective), these organic, relational ways of working are seen as feminine and therefore, weak, indecisive, people-pleasing, time-consuming, and manipulative. Yes, even as mega-companies like eBay (run by a woman), Starbucks, Apple, and Google have redefined “soft” skills as essential."

Quote by Sally Morgenthaler from Climbing the Corporate Web. The whole article is worth reading!


One reader tied in the author's point to the Church, saying:

"I can't help but think that some of the skills of the "hard-soft" leadership styles you described are precisely what is needed for the organism (and organization) that is the church today..."

Good point!


The author responds:

"Yes, the Google Church. Hard to imagine. But I do think that we are on the verge of a new era in ministry. Either we honor the relational, dare I say - collaborative - nature of the one we worship (Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier) and use this window of opportunity to release God's work into many hands, OR we fossilize in our command-and-control fixation."

Sin and the Emerging Church

Original Sin

I found a great post on Emergesque regarding sin and the emerging church. The author begins by saying:

I've complained a bit in the past because I fear that in our reaction to something or another we in the emerging church don't think about or talk about or - most significantly - do as much as we should about sin (including our own - I include myself in this charge). And it bothers me that even writing that sentence makes me feel counter cultural to the emerging church ethos.

Read the rest of this very insightful post here.

I very much agree with this post, and responded by writing:

I really appreciate your insight in this article. You stated, "We in the emerging church don't think about or talk about or... do as much as we should about our own sin."I would take this one step further, and say that often we don't even define our negative choices as sin. In many cases, I think the idea of 'sin' might be removed from our theology.I think there are two reasons for this.

First, it is not always easy to determine what is sin, and what is not. The Bible cannot always guide us in this area, as many of the arguments about what is considered to be sin stem from our challenges in determining which Biblical directives are cultural, and which are timeless. For example, women in leadership and tithing.

Second, we have begun to take a more holistic, or ‘whole-person’ approach to sin. For example, homosexuality has traditionally been considered a sin. I’ve also heard it described as an ‘addiction’ by some. But when you get to know someone who is gay, and hear his or her story, it is suddenly very hard to describe that person as a ‘sinner’. If he or she has felt that way their whole life (even before they were sexually active), it can’t truly be called an addiction. And can it really be called a sin, as it seems to be part of their very nature? These are questions that are too complex for me to answer. Suddenly that person is not a sinner, but a friend who faces difficult challenges, just as I do. I believe God sees them that way as well. I think God sees the whole person, just as we are finally beginning to do.

So our very definitions of sin, and interpretations of the Bible, are in flux.

However, there are many things that can more easily be defined as sinful, such as lying, cheating, being spiritually lukewarm, etc. I think you’re right - In being such an accepting movement, we have begun to accept, and even take for granted, our own sins. And we avoid talking about them, perhaps so that everyone will feel accepted. But as you so aptly quoted, “…everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). We need to address the issues of sin, so that we can help each other toward freedom. By ignoring them, our brothers and sisters will likely end up feeling that they are alone in their battles. And they will erroneously think their leaders don’t struggle with the same problems!Your excerpt from Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor is a powerful reminder of the importance of continually striving to live a pure life. In the emerging church movement, hypocrisy is often considered to be an ‘unforgivable’ sin. So, in a way, Baxter prophesied to us when he wrote, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine…”

A Surprising Development

The Journey by Goyce Kakegamic

Just when I thought I had my next couple of months planned out...

Around Christmas, I was tossing around two ideas - a different position I wanted at work, and venturing out and gathering together a group of like-minded Christians for discussion and friendship. I didn't get the position, so I figured the timing was right to go ahead with my second idea.

Then God chuckled, and tossed something new my way. Starting next week, I am going to be the interim supervisor for our UK division. UK=midnight shift (not moving to Dublin, sadly). I will be taking on my first supervisory role with E-Care, and switching my sleeping schedule around by 12 hours. If things work out in the short term, I have been given the opportunity to potentially make it permanent.

I'm chuckling too - just the day before I was chatting with a co-worker about how I would never work such crazy hours. But as soon as it was offered to me, I went for it. It sparked my sense of challenge and adventure. The division just opened in August, so it is brand new and policy is still being developed. Those who know me well know my love for startups, whether it be church planting or in the marketplace. I will also have to be very independent and self-reliant, as there aren't too many people I can ask for help in the middle of the night. I'm looking forward to the challenge!

So the discussion group is on hold for a month or two, while I adjust to this new position. And people wonder why I don't have my next 5 years planned out??

Wish me well!

Denominational 'Branding'

Pernell Goodyear askes an interesting question in his self-titled blog:

What are people's impressions and experiences with church/denomination identification/branding?

What has your experience been? Is it healthy and normal to need to broadcast this belonging in branding form, and should I just get over the way I feel, or what? These are not rhetorical questions. Please comment.

See full post here.

This is a question I have thought about for some time, so thought my response is worth re-posting here:

I am anti-branding. I've read several comments where your readers explain how knowing you are SA might affect them for or against. The bottom line is, the logo causes people to form pre-conceived ideas which may be completely different than what your group is about.

My emergent group went through something similar when we first became official. We wanted to call ourselves "Emerge Community", as we consider ourselves a community of believers and searchers rather than a church. It took a certain amount of explanation and convincing before we were allowed to drop "Church" from our title, but we were required to include our denimination name "Foursquare". In my mind, you may as well shout WE ARE A CHURCH to the skies. Having the denomination name brands us as a church as much as if we'd included 'church' in our title. And I believe it did affect who chose to visit us.I don't advocate abanding all ties with your denomination.

I just think that visitors need a chance to see who YOU are first, without preconceived ideas.

How Far We've Come - From The Virgin Mary to Angelina Jolie

"Blessed Art Thou" by Kate Kretz

I actually found this painting thru Father Joe's blog, and it is definitely worth a re-post, along with the painter's explanation:

This painting addresses the celebrity worship cycle. The title, “Blessed Art
Thou”, is taken from a line in the Catholic prayer “Hail Mary”: “…blessed art
thou among women”. Our culture is deifying celebrities, but in the bible, it is
the meek who are blessed, so the title presents a question for the viewer to
ponder.I chose a setting where the cycle begins: psychologically oppressive
environments like this one are one of the feeding sources for the consumer,
hungry for “information” about the celebrity's private life. I am interested in
the psychological ramifications of celebrity worship, particularly as they
relate to class.Angelina Jolie was chosen as the subject because of her
unavoidable presence in the media, the world-wide anticipation of her child, her
"unattainable" beauty and the good that she is doing in the world through her
example, which adds another layer to the already complicated questions
surrounding her status.The "Virgin" and Zahara figures are loosely based on a Van Dyck Virgin painting, and the Maddox figure's pose is borrowed from a Raphael
painting.

Taken from the blog of Kate Kretz.

I find this painting very thought provoking. Many of those who commented pointed their fingers at the painter, but I think if we stop and give it the thought she is asking us to, we will learn about ourselves.

I'd like to hear what you think about this painting. Let me know!

The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us

© John August Swanson

Christmastide

Born is Christ the Lord by Deborah A. Reeder

I may not go to-night to Bethlehem,

Nor follow star-directed ways, nor tread

The paths wherein the shepherds walked, that led

To Christ, and peace, and God's good will to men.

I may not hear the Herald Angel's song

Peal through the Oriental skies, nor see

The wonder of that Heavenly company

Announce the King the world had waited long.

The manger throne I may not kneel before,

Or see how man to God is reconciled,

Through pure St. Mary's purer, holier child;

The human Christ these eyes may not adore.

I may not carry frankincense and myrrh

With adoration to the Holy One;

Nor gold have I to give the Perfect Son,

To be with those wise kings a worshipper.

Not mine the joy that Heaven sent to them,

For ages since Time swung and locked his gates,

But I may kneel without--the star still waits

To guide me on to holy Bethlehem.

Christmastide by E. Pauline Johnson Tekahoinwake

I wish you a Christmas season filled with love and fun.

My prayer for you and I is that we will take the time to be led 'back to Bethlehem' during these blessed days.

With love, Nicole

Are We Using The Poor?

Morteza Katouzian

"Philanthropy has the potential of immense good and yet it can crush the souls of the recipients when it’s mixed with the ingredients of a new-colonialism or an insistence on superiority of race and pride; the ancient injunction to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves’ will eventually produce the inevitable diabolical result of dehumanizing others."


A perspective on service that encourages us to search ourselves.

Read the full post on SoulGardeners

If We Break Faith With Those Who Die

It was very moving to watch the Rembrance Day ceremony on CBC this morning. I was especially moved by the faces of the World War II soldiers, men and women in their 80's and 90's. Two of my grandfathers fought in that war, and lived through it. One volunteered for the British Royal Air Force, and was shot down three times. The other lived his life with shrapnel in his back.

We have no difficulty remembering these great men and women for their sacrifices. My concern is for our soldiers who are currently fighting in Afghanistan. With the ongoing political debate as to whether or not Canada should continue her involvement, it is easy to forget the soldiers themselves. They fight because they know that our freedom to debate was bought with blood, and that freedom will always be bought with blood. We owe them a lot, and cannot afford to sacrifice their efforts on the altar of politics. In the immortal words of Lt. Col. John McRae:

If ye break faith with those who die,

we shall not sleep, though poppies grow

in Flanders Fields.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Ottawa, Ontario
Photo taken from Occasionally Right blog