I'll have a 'Screaming Organism' please barman.

I've nearly finished reading shane claiborne's book 'The Irresistible Revolution' and am increasingly convinced, nay, more vociferously convinced that the Church has sold me short. One of the things that i've not really had a problem with has been different people's different Christian theologies:

You want a theology which is centered around movement of the Holy Spirit? Here it is...
You don't want to spend so much time lying down or laughing and shaking? Here you go...
You want one which means it's ok for you to be gay? Can do...
You want to be able to remain in judgement of homosexuality? Sure thing...
You want Jesus' ressurection to be metaphorical? Try this...
You want everyone to go to heaven? No problem...
You want heaven to just be for Christians who believe the same things you do? I got one right here that does the trick...
You want to be able to completely ignore the Old Testament? Certainly...
You want to guard a literal interpretation of scripture? Give this a whirl...

Now, i'm not saying that i wouldn't want to take issue with some of the positions represented here, i'm simply stating that these different positions are held and, in the minds of those that hold them, are legitimated. There's even the possibility of mixing together, a la Tom Cruise in 'Cocktail' stylee, some of these positions. What i do want to say though, is that no matter which theology you run with, i don't see how it is possible to remove from the gospel dramatic caring for the poor and love of enemies. Somehow it seems that, for the most part, we've turned these ideas into saying 'hello' to the poor who come to us (fairly few, since church is a broadly middle class pursuit) and vaguely putting up with people at church who we don't get on with so well.

What i'm saying is that whichever theological cocktail we go for, umbrellas and all, if there isn't the 'ice' of bold intervention where we see injustice, and desperate, drastic love of real enemies, all we're left with is a tepid drink worthy only of being spat out. (familiar?)

If the Church is the body of Christ, why do we merely doff our caps at exploitation and war, and put a pound in the box marked 'poverty'? Why aren't we an organism, screaming at the top of our lungs and working our fingers to the bone to usher in the kingdom of God?

Know what i mean?

Field of Dreams

I've not seen this film (the title of the post) since I was about 13 years old. I remember at the time not being particularly interested in it, but going along with the suggestion of watching it, only to be completely charmed by it. I watched this film again last night (and very timely it was too). It's absolutely fantastic, completely magical and profoundly spiritual. It's about chasing ghosts or mystical messages in a way that is both exciting and intensely frustrating, whilst at the same time not fully realising all that's been achieved, or how far you've come in this pursuit already. It also speaks of Heaven being this place and the completion of dreams, it talks of faith, of sacrifice of material wealth, of family and finally, of the deep spirituality of sport.

If you've not seen it: get hold of it. If it's been a while since you've watched it: revisit it!

Glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur!

As yet, I've failed to mention spurs aquiring of a top 5 finish for the second year running. Could this be the cusp of usurping a mediocre and inconsistent state of being that Tottenham have nurtured for way too long now? Just maybe. If they offer Berbatov the greatest contract they've ever offered anyone. Just maybe.

Biblical interpretation

I've been having conversations of late, with my brother, regards the minefield of biblical interpretation. Here's a funny, if a little offensive, case in point. One of the things Bart Campolo has been talking about recently has been how he goes about assessing, from his experience and the world around him, what God is like and then takes that as a means for interpreting the God of the Bible. At the end of the day, isn't that all we have?

Approach with caution if you're easily offended, of a nervous disposition, a small child or have a tiny sense of humour.

10 things i've learnt this week

1. Apparently spider-man 3 sucks. This is a real shame since i was really looking forward to the filmic telling of the venom story.

2. I need to crack on with my writing of assignments. I promised myself i'd be in a better position this semester than i was this time last semester. Another broken promise.

3. I've spent alot of time in recent years unlearning things i previously 'knew' about my faith. I'd got to a point where i thought i didn't know plenty, this week though i've learnt that i know even less than that. you follow?

4. Patios are a bugger to get up, but even worse to re-lay!

5. When i'm all geared up to play football and that opportunity is stolen from me at the 11th hour by a circus arranging itself all over my pitch without due notice, don't provoke me further lest you feel the full force of my wrath.

6. There are some people who manage taxi ranks who perhaps ought not, since they are prone to delivering swift and brutal shoeings to drunk customers on saturday nights. However, being involved in a situation like this can be overshadowed mere minutes later, by the power of conversation and engagement with grief, emotional pain and loss.

7. All the hip-hop i used to listen to as a kid is now very, very hard to come by. i believe that a sample though, is winging it's way to me as i type. shhh, don't tell my wife.

8. I've missed bbqs even more than i thought.

9. A simple way to test wether or not God is on your side, is to drop a sealed yoghurt on a hard floor. If the pot splits open and spills it's toffee flavoured, dairy natured contents everywhere, you're out of favour. Alternatively, you could try skewering beef onto a fondu fork, the moment the fork passes through the beef you have to try and stop the fork following through into the palm of your hand. If you don't manage to stop it, this also means God is not with you. The stigmata like injuries may help you convince those around you however, that he in fact is.

10. Handing over decision making regards your future to those around you, is about as much fun as a barrel of severed limbs.