I have spoke to several people this week whose commitment to being part of this community amazes me.
There’s a woman who takes three buses to attend one of the midweek programs at our church. And she brings children along with her.
Three woman that I have spoken with recently have to battle their way through the difficulties of the morning to get themselves ready for a 10 am service.
Another person just does not have the support to make that time in the morning but devotedly listens to the live-streaming on the web.
And I am sure that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the inconveniences that individuals overcome and the sacrifices that people make to connect and contribute to this community of Emmanuel.
All I can say is, Wow! That is inspiring!
Peter
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Thinking And Acting Outside The Box
Don’t we love to think of ourselves as unique, free thinking individuals who make our own decisions?
Bill Bishop, not the fighter pilot one, wrote The Big Sort, a book on how we pick our neighbourhoods. Bishop says that we have a tendency to choose to live among those who are politically ‘like us.’ By choosing politically like-minded parts of the country or city, we become a little less likely to encounter other points of view.
Knowing how power works, it should be no surprise to us that the political machinery is well aware of their constituencies and who is living in their neighburhoods. Not only do they know where we live, they know how to design their message to appeal to our self-interest.
Here again, Christians and all those who care for their neighbours, need to be ‘as wise as serpents and a harmless as doves.” Those who do think of the needs of those who are different from us, have a greater responsibility to speak and act for the common good.
Peter
Bill Bishop, not the fighter pilot one, wrote The Big Sort, a book on how we pick our neighbourhoods. Bishop says that we have a tendency to choose to live among those who are politically ‘like us.’ By choosing politically like-minded parts of the country or city, we become a little less likely to encounter other points of view.
Knowing how power works, it should be no surprise to us that the political machinery is well aware of their constituencies and who is living in their neighburhoods. Not only do they know where we live, they know how to design their message to appeal to our self-interest.
Here again, Christians and all those who care for their neighbours, need to be ‘as wise as serpents and a harmless as doves.” Those who do think of the needs of those who are different from us, have a greater responsibility to speak and act for the common good.
Peter
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Right Battle
I was on a study leave event this weekend and I heard a story about Dietrich Bonhoeffer that I had never heard before. Apparently there was a time when a number of the German pastors were present at a meeting with some important Nazi officials.
The highest ranking Nazi rose to his feet and shouted out, “Heil Hitler.” Bonheoffer and others pastors who were resisting the Nazi regime stood up and joined the salute.
One pastor remained seated. Bonhoeffer leaned over and said, “Stand up you fool. This is not the time. This is not worth dying for.”
Bonhoeffer as we know did die for his faith but this was not to be the time or place or issue. Which raises the question , what is the issue that is worth going to the wall for? If we decide to make a stand, then let it be for an issue we can look back on and feel good about. Let it be carefully considered rather than a reaction.
On our journey of transformation, we are all in the process of learning what this means. How as a community do we move together? How do we make truthful and loving decisions? We are all learners and we are all teachers in this process.
Peter
The highest ranking Nazi rose to his feet and shouted out, “Heil Hitler.” Bonheoffer and others pastors who were resisting the Nazi regime stood up and joined the salute.
One pastor remained seated. Bonhoeffer leaned over and said, “Stand up you fool. This is not the time. This is not worth dying for.”
Bonhoeffer as we know did die for his faith but this was not to be the time or place or issue. Which raises the question , what is the issue that is worth going to the wall for? If we decide to make a stand, then let it be for an issue we can look back on and feel good about. Let it be carefully considered rather than a reaction.
On our journey of transformation, we are all in the process of learning what this means. How as a community do we move together? How do we make truthful and loving decisions? We are all learners and we are all teachers in this process.
Peter
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