disillusioned

There are times I get really discouraged with the way things are, fed up that people don’t meet my expectations, or just plain angry at brands or products that don’t live up to their claims.

loss

Truth is, if I were in any one of these scenarios that these friends are in at this point in time, I would think that all this talk of ‘God meant it for good,’ and ‘God knows what he’s doing’ is a load of coswallup! I would probably go so far as to ban any well-intentioned, predestinarian Christian from stepping within 1000 metres of my house. I would be angry, upset, in pain and inner turmoil.

worship?

So we worship a God who blesses us, calls us by name, gives us what we want, grants us peace, and shares with us the beauty of his creation. Oh yeah, and sends his son to dies for us so we won’t have to worry about hell.

too easy

As I sit at my computer today, I am amazed how easy it is for me to write a few words and–instantly–publish them to the web for anyone anywhere to read.

It’s scary. Networking sites such as myspace, twitter and facebook allow people to interact with one another in real time, sending messages, photos, videos, music, and any other conceivable piece of media.

It’s all too easy.

Years ago it would require me to write either longhand or on a typewriter what I wanted to say, then post it to the person or people I wanted to read it. Or, if I had training or a writing gift, I could become a journalist and my essays and stories would be published in a newpaper, or an author whose books would be printed and sold all over the country.

Now I can do the same from the comfort of my own home with a few keyboard strokes and a mouseclick.

OK. You know what I mean. In fact, you’ve probably heard it all before, or maybe just accept the age of the networked home computer or mobile phone as the way it is (Maybe you never used or even have seen a typewriter). This is all very basic information to you.

I understand this. But I also have to say that, although it is very basic, this simple fact of instant access and communication brings to me a sense of personal responsibility and accountability.

Sure, I could publish anonymous messages to people I don’t know and they possibly would never discover who I am. I could . . . but that would be irresponsible. I could say all sorts of things inline knowing that no one will come banging at my door with a gun to do me in (that’s if I don’t live in China!) . . . but that too would be irresponsible.

So I say things and they are from me and everyone knows where they originated. I have friends who read my posts, my tweets, and are my facebook friends. This keeps me accountable to speak well-thought out words. If I don’t, they will let me know.

I will post things from time to time that are reactive to what I see around me and, possibly not well thought through. This is the nature of instant access to these tools. If I do, I’m sorry and I don’t mean to offend. I may make generalisations which aren’t accurate, or statements about a group of people that are a personal opinion rather than fact. Rather than hide behind a label like “I-call-it-like-I-see-it” or “tough-luck-if-they-don’t-like-it,” I take responsibility for my words and apologise if I offend anyone.

BUT if I offend someone because of something I hold with conviction, something I strongly believe in and would die for, I’m sorry–but I won’t apologise. Some things are worth standing for, and some words are worth saying regardless of the outcome.

These are some things you may read about in my posts and these are things for which I unaplogetically stand:

• The unconditional love of God for all of his creation, regardless of their perceived worth, status, or orientation.
• The equality of all people and their right to enjoy the same rights as each other with justice and dignity.
• The oneness of the people of this planet which is greater than the diversity in race, religion, culture, status, political leanings, or moral understandings.
• The responsibility we who share this planet have to be caretakers of all life and wise stewards of its resources.
• The rights of all to converse, discuss, debate, believe, or question, to embrace what I hold to, or not, provided it is all done in decency and respect of each person’s unique perspective.

While I do not apologise for what I believe, I accept responsibility for the way I convey these principles.

I apologise in advance for times when I will make an error in judgement, or stray from my own values. I apologise for not always being the one who is loving and gracious, and generous. I apologise for my human frailty in advance because I know I will have lapses of judgement. Please forgive these moments and, through them, understand that I am who you are and you are who I am, and we share this humanity in all its glory and brokenness together.

i wonder

I wonder
If the Church took
All the time
All the money
All the energy
All the thought and planning
All the personnel
That went into the preparation
Of a single Sunday morning service
And invested it in their community by
Helping the poor
Encouraging the weary
Lifting up the fallen
Binding the wounds
And supporting the weak
What incredible things would happen
And what impact would result for the fulfilling of our mission.

It would mean a more simple way
Of doing church
But a more real and meaningful way
Of being the church
And I can’t help but think
It would not only be more of what Jesus intended it to be
But would be more attractive to it’s neighbours.

hits and misses

You can tell it is Christian music because (for the most part) it is formula-driven, cliché-overloaded, and often sounds like a soppy love song. Beyond that, the musical quality tends to be poor—boring and predictable riffs, one- or two-note stretches of melody which, apart from the chords backing it up, would warrant instant ‘switch off’ for me, and singers who wouldn’t make it in the secular music industry.