Owner: Scream Without Raising Your Voice URL:http://swryv.wrdpress.com Join Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:13:29 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Thoughts on God, life, church and other stuff Site statistics:Click here
A-Rod does it again! 2007-04-20 00:18:46 For those of you who know nothing about baseball that will mean nothing…
To those of you who do, Alex Rodriguez is having a pretty impressive April for the Yankees. Another walk off homer to sweep the Indians before the trip to Boston.
Oh, and I’ve got him in my MLB.com fantasy team!!!
And well done to Mark Beuhrle who pitched a no hit game for the White Sox last night.
what is church? 2007-04-20 00:09:37 What makes a church? Is it a building? No. Is it people? Kind of.
The sol cafe in Edmonton, Canada, have a manifesto that is worth a look. They start with this:
This is an attempt to capture a bit of what the sol café is all about. It will not capture everything. It won’t even come close. This is not a statement of faith. This is not a statement of vision. It’s just a statement.
I like that lots. I like that they are open enough to know that they are not done becoming yet. I like that their manifesto is growing. I like that their manifesto is a community effort. I like that the talk over coffee!
I want to be part of a church like that. Anyone know any around here?
Procrastination and Peter 2007-04-19 16:52:28 I’m preaching on Sunday and I’m on a deadline because we are heading back to Keswick on Saturday so I need to be all done by tomorrow. The thing is I’m having a bout of procrastination. So what’s new I hear you cry!
The thing is I’m starting to wonder if that’s what is going on in this week’s story in John 21: 1-19. The disciples, even though they have seen Jesus twice since the resurrection, have scarpered back to Galilee and are back fishing! Jesus appears on the shore and the seven disciples there sit and eat bread and fish with Him.
Then Jesus gives Peter
a bit of a spiritual kicking! ‘Do you love me more than this lot?’ he asks Peter three times, mirroring Peter’s three denials of Jesus. By the third time Peter is hurt. Why do you keep asking? You know I do! But following each answer Peter gives Jesus gives him an instruction. Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep. It seems that Peter i Read more:Procrastination
first times 2007-04-22 18:01:56
Yesterday we met up with most of the Ryce family, Linda, Denis, Katie and Daniel, to climb a hill. It was a day of firsts; the first hill the Ryce family had climbed and the first hill our two small boys, Ben and Jack, have climbed.
We chose Latrigg, a little hill with a big view, as their introduction to hill walking.
I’m glad to report everyone loved it, although I’m sure Katie (14) would say it was ‘alright’, even though deep down she was having a great time! We all made it to the top and had a very windy picnic! I was so proud of everyone, especially the three boys aged 8,7 and 4, who ran most of the way up and down again and still had energy left!
I hope we will meet up again to climb some more hills! It’s such a great way to spend a day!
is it time? 2007-04-27 20:18:14 Is it time for Scotland to become an independent nation?
If it is why? What would we gain?
If not, why not? Would it really be chaos if we broke away from England?
Alan Johnston 2007-04-26 17:03:04 On 12 March 2007 the BBC’s Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston
was abducted.
Please sign the petition to encourage those who have Alan to release him. Click the picture of Alan on the right to go to the petition site.
Please DO NOT vote for these people! 2007-04-25 15:22:01
I’m not sure I should even blog about these people
because it gives them some free exposure but perhaps the most disturbing thing about the upcoming elections for the Scottish Parliament is the appearance of the Scottish Christian Party. I don’t get it. Who is it that they think they represent? It sure isn’t me. I value the fact that people can hold and profess these kind of opinions because that means that I also have the right to say that I find their policies disgusting and un-Christian. They DO NOT represent me or any of the Christians I know.
Here are some of their policies… (more…)
Read more:Please
Box 2007-04-24 23:24:13 The new blue box in the sidebar on the right has some stuff I’ve written in it, mostly sermons and articles. Feel free to download them but let me know what you think…
learning to read the Bible 6 2007-04-24 17:27:04 Matt and Russell consider:
6. Faithful interpretation of scripture invites and presupposes participation in the community brought into being by God’s redemptive action — the church.
Scriptural interpretation is properly an ecclesial activity whose goal is to participate in the reality of which the text speaks by bending the knee to worship the God revealed in Jesus Christ. Through scripture the church receives the good news of the inbreaking kingdom of God and, in turn, proclaims the message of reconciliation. Scripture is like a musical score that must be played or sung in order to be understood; therefore, the church interprets scripture by forming communities of prayer, service and faithful witness. The Psalms, for example, are “scores” awaiting performance by the community of faith. They school us in prayer and form in us the capacities for praise, penitence, reflection, patient endurance and resistance to evil.
So, what do you think?
meetings about meetings 2007-04-24 11:17:06 I spent most of yesterday in meetings talking about meetings. Not the sit round a table kind, but rather the hundreds of people getting together kind.
Our Synod is having a Synod Day at Perth Racecourse in June where we hope that lots of people, young and old, will join together for a day of worship, learning and fun (hopefully in the sun!). I have to admit there was a large degree of ‘that’ll never work here’ when we started the process but it looks like we will indeed have hundreds of people and, happily for me, lots of children and young people.
The other meeting was the management group for Crossover, a Christian youth festival I’ve been helping to organise for 10 years now! (feels like 100) We are well on track for 800 young people and leaders turning up and it looks like a good event. We had a bit of a chat about the future of the event as money is tight for all the agencies involved and the festival has looked pretty much the same since it start
300 years ago today… 2007-05-01 15:57:59 &hellip
; Scotland ceased to be an independent nation. In 1707 on the 1st day of May the Act of the Union came into effect uniting Scotland and England.
I wonder how much longer the Union will last? I have a feeling that my children will spend most of their lives in an independent Scotland.
learning to read the Bible again 7 2007-05-01 11:16:46 Join the discussion on what the bible is and how we should approach it with Matt and Russell.
Obama: a man worth listening to 2007-04-30 17:13:12 Barak Obama
, candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination in the USA, made this speech on Religion and Politics. It’s well worth watching.
not for sale 2007-04-30 13:24:29
On 20th May 2007 Churches across the UK will mark ‘Not For Sale Sunday’ highlighting the illegal trade in people trafficking.
Not for Sale Sunday. Is an opportunity to say that womens, childrens and mens bodies are Not for Sale. Women and Children and Men are made in the image of God, and we are called to enable that image to grow, develop, and be reflected in all our lives, for everybody, no matter their age, race, creed or gender.
1 year on 2007-04-29 18:33:04 It’s our first wedding anniversary today!
I’m married to the gorgeous woman in the picture! How lucky am I!!! I love you Avril. You have made me the happiest man alive!
God’s Politics 2007-04-29 18:24:36 I’ve uploaded this morning’s sermon to here. The elections for the Scottish Parliament take place on Thursday so I decided that politics and religion should indeed mix…
VOTE (if you live in Scotland) 2007-05-03 11:06:34 Today is election day here in Scotland
. Voter turn out is predicted to be higher than normal which is a good thing so GET OUT AND VOTE! I’ve never really understood the apathy that surrounds the political process here. It seems that millions of people will pay £1 to vote on who should play Joseph in Lloyd Weber’s new production but people can’t be bothered to go vote for the people who will decide how their children are educated and what health care they get. We have a system of proportional representation in both the elections for Parliament and for our local councils so politics in Scotland is more representative than it has ever been.
This could be an interesting day in the political life of Scotland with polls predicting an SNP (who want Scotland to have a referendum on independence from England) victory by just a few seats… I’ll keep you posted or read the feed on the RIGHT from the BBC Election coverage. But VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
communion 2007-05-02 17:46:30 On Sunday I will preside at communion for the first time. I’m a little nervous, a little excited and a little scared in case I make a mess of it!
I’m not a minister. I’m a youth worker. I do quite a bit of preaching but I have no formal theological training. The fact that I am allowed to conduct communion in the United Reformed Church speaks volumes about their real belief in what might be called ‘the priesthood of all believers’, that is that everyone who believes has a ministry.
The Church of Scotland, the denomination I grew up in, says it believes in the priesthood of all believers but retains a very definite divide between the ordained ministry of ‘word and sacrament’ (proper ministry) and all the rest.
I don’t get it. Where does Jesus say ‘Do this to remember me, but only if you have a theology degree.’? He didn’t. He said that whenever we gather around the table we should take bread and remember his
the road to predition 2007-05-06 18:49:03 The Road To Perdition was on TV last night. We discovered it while channel surfing. We have it on DVD but watched it anyway. Why?
It is probably one of the most visually beautiful pieces of cinema ever made. Directed by Sam Mendes, who also directed American Beauty, and filmed by Conrad Hall, this is surely a masterpiece.
The story is simple, Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law are fantastic, as area pre-Bond Daniel Craig and Tyler Hoechlin who plays Hank’s 12 year old son. Hanks is a hit-man, Newman the Boss and Craig his petulant and greedy son. Hanks learns too much and his wife and son are murdered. He and his boy go on the run and bid to settle the score.
This is no slick shoot ‘em up. This is a slow and deliberate movie that takes its time and makes the most of the stunning images combined with Thomas Newman’s amazing score. If you haven’t seen this film rent it or buy it.
Simply beautiful.
remember me 2007-05-06 18:36:31 Today I presided over communion for the first time. I was nervous but in the whole think things went well. As I said previously, I’m not an ordained minister, just lucky that I work for a denomination that takes its lay members seriously.
Today’s readings were great for a communion service, telling of how God decided that the church had to spread beyond the Jews and that anything God has deemed to be clean is clean. God changed the rules. The Gospel reading was the Great Commandment, love one another. I’m not sure there could have been anything more apt. And a big thanks to Pete for some help with the communion liturgy.
Out of Farce Comes History 2007-05-04 19:57:58 Today, for the first time in 50 years the Labour party has lost an election in Scotland. Today for the first time ever the Scottish National Party has won an election in Scotland. Final score 47-46. It really couldn’t be any closer. Of course the SNP has no overall majority and will now seek to form a coalition government with some of the smaller parties.
The times, as they say, they are a changing.
Read more:Farce
, History
Farce 2007-05-04 12:47:18 Yesterday Scotland voted for a new Scottish Parliament using a mix of first past the post by marking an X next to your preferred candidate and a regional list system of Proportional Representation by marking an X next to your preferred party. They were both together on one ballot paper. At the same time we voted for our local council using another ballot paper and a whole different system, Single Transferable Vote, where we were asked to rank our preference in order 1, 2, 3 and so on. This is the first time the STV system has been used.
Add into that mix the use of electronic counting machines for the first time and you have a recipe for complete disaster.
So far almost 100,000 ballots have been not accepted across the country. These are not spoiled papers where someone has chosen to deface the ballot in protest, but rather ballot papers completed incorrectly.
This is one of the closest elections in Scottish history. We don’t need electronic error and voter confusion ad Read more:Farce
If you are ever in … Glasgow 2007-05-07 18:58:25 If you are ever in Glasgow
I’d recommend a trip to the Burrell Collection housed in Pollock Park. It is home to over 9,000 items including some truly beautiful Egyptian, Islamic and Chinese artifacts. It is also home to the guy on the left, ‘The Thinker’ by Rodin and some beautiful stained glass. I’ve put some more photos in this Flickr set.
We spent a great afternoon wandering around looking at some fabulous things. And like all of Glasgow’s museums and galleries&hellip
; admission FREE!
Learning to read the Bible again 8 & 9 2007-05-09 21:52:23 Part 8 and part 9 of the discussion are now online at Matt’s site… I think Russell might have got lost in the west wing!!!
Read more:Learning
Madeleine McCann 2007-05-14 15:52:58
Please help find MadeleineMcCann
.
Madeleine, age 4, was abducted from her bed in the family holiday apartment, Praia De Luz, Algarve, Portugal on Thursday, 3rd May.
Police and all of Portugal are trying to find her. The Portuguese people, holiday makers and ex pats have been a great support to the family and continue their efforts.
You can help. Please circulate this plea to publicise Madeleine’s photo and ask for information, no matter how small to be passed on to the authorities.
Whether you are in the UK, Portugal or beyond, please forward to all your family, friends,colleagues and business associates. Someone out there will have some information that will lead to Madelaine’s return.
The internet can be a powerful tool in finding Madelaine. Let’s use it positively.
Anyone in Portugal with information about the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann can give information anonymously to:
Crimestoppers on 44 1883 731 336.
In the UK call 0800 555 111.
There is a reward of
Book Tagging 2007-05-14 11:55:32 I just got tagged by Matt…
How many books do you own?: somewhere around 300… half of them are in boxes!
Last book I read: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - I’ve had this for ages and had never quite got round to reading it. I have had a few train journeys recently so I picked it up and actually quite liked it. I’m sure it will make a decent movie.
(Reading How To Be Good by Nick Hornby now)
Five Books That Mean a Lot to Me: (In no particular order):
Dangerous Wonder by Michael Yaconelli
This is a short book about the ‘adventure of a childlike faith’. Mike Yaconelli is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. I first heard him speak at Greenbelt years ago and his enthusiasm for living out a curious and mischievous faith captured my imagination. The book is full of stories that are a bit ‘chicken soup’ but also inspiring and challenging.
The Lord Of The Rings by JRR Tolkein
It took me ages to get around to reading these. I Read more:Tagging
web2.0… and the church 2007-05-12 14:57:49 MediaSnackers explain how young people interact with the digital world
How can the church engage with a generation of young people who experience the world as media snackers? Ideas?
Read more:hellip
Brown V Cameron 2007-05-12 11:51:32 Yesterday saw two very different political images, both of which made me laugh a little.
The first was Gordon Brown
’s campaign launch to be the next Labour leader and Prime Minister where he managed to hide behind the auto cue for most of his very good speech where he set out his new agenda with some interesting ideas and some bad news for the Torys as he stole most of their agenda with policy ideas to back it up.
The second image was David Cameron
working in a shop. He’s spent a couple of days living with a Muslim family in Birmingham to get a better idea of what life is like for them. A good idea, if a little patronising. The laugh came when he couldn’t work the till while he was working in a shop and admited that his maths was bad as he tried to give a customer change from £5.
An interesting contrast… and choice.
little heroes 2007-05-17 14:23:01
Last night Avril and I were guests at 25th Edinburgh Girl’s Brigade Company’s annual display. We were treated to singing, screaming, drumming and some comedy drama. The girls were amazing!
To end the evening their chaplain Sue had created a video set to M People’s song ‘Search for the Hero’. The images were a great mix of really strong female role models like Ellen McArthur and Kelly Holmes and the girls themselves making things, competing and playing througout the last year. They are all heroes
.
As are the women who give up their time every week to work with the girls. They have amazing dedication and make such a huge difference in the lives of the kids they work with. We were proud to be their guests.
Read more:little
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