Well, I may as well be blogging...
Things I've been thinking about lately:
Time: words like relentless, 'tired', the un-proverbial ticking clock - of PhD work. Seeing less and less of friends. The balance of people to see, space, thinking, working... All on my mind.
Love: the nature of hearts expanding in love and not shrinking.
Generosity and Hospitality: what does it mean to live hopefully with space?
Books: yikes. I have so many to read.
PhD: why? oh why? oh why am I doing this?
Friends: new ones and old ones, and how great they are. [Had the BEST American Thanksgiving meal with some new ones last night. Delicious food, great conversation, and fun to have hours over a meal.]
Controversies: 3 (one I didn't know about, two I did)
I. the question of discipline in community, and rhythms of life - point of controversy (for some): that I don't attend morning prayers at the college I work in. SHAME ON ME.
I've been thinking about this, and I don't know if my thinking is good/bad/ugly. I used to go to them. But they were, hmm, not very good, SO I got frustrated, and found that I wasn't really praying, I was just getting het up. So, God and I talked about it, and I felt at the time that maybe I needed to not go - and pray earlier/elsewhere/other times instead, and have a right attitude. That way, when I get to my 8.45 class, I am, well, 'good' in spirit. However, I DO recognise an inherent problem in this. I think discipline in community is important. Of course, I also don't see NTC as my PRIMARY community, but ... anyway, I am thinking about it.
Incidentally, we were talking about the ancient practices of faith at church last week. That discipline, was both a blessing and a challenge. We are talking about how we can join together in fasting, praying, scripture mediation and practices of justice. I am looking forward to this Sunday.
Controversy II: The question of planting a church... or not... or yes... or not... This is an INTERNAL controversy. I think that reproduction is healthy. very. I think too that organic places grow organically. That such growth needs regular pruning, shaping and cultivation. I also think that it is entirely possible for churches to grow too big (A la Roxburgh: jungle and swamp)... so, the question of "what next for Longsight?" is a good one. But, it has me endlessly restless, and thinking, thinking. We have so many places around Manchester, that perhaps 'planting' or 'reproducing' is what we should be doing - but the question of ethos comes into it... identity...
Then... III. apparently our [well, okay, my] penchant for tinkering/bastardising words has caused some controversy on World of Sven - I'll leave it for there, but I read the comments, and would (pastorally and theologically) stand by what we've done :-)
Anyway, back to grading!
Time: words like relentless, 'tired', the un-proverbial ticking clock - of PhD work. Seeing less and less of friends. The balance of people to see, space, thinking, working... All on my mind.
Love: the nature of hearts expanding in love and not shrinking.
Generosity and Hospitality: what does it mean to live hopefully with space?
Books: yikes. I have so many to read.
PhD: why? oh why? oh why am I doing this?
Friends: new ones and old ones, and how great they are. [Had the BEST American Thanksgiving meal with some new ones last night. Delicious food, great conversation, and fun to have hours over a meal.]
Controversies: 3 (one I didn't know about, two I did)
I. the question of discipline in community, and rhythms of life - point of controversy (for some): that I don't attend morning prayers at the college I work in. SHAME ON ME.
I've been thinking about this, and I don't know if my thinking is good/bad/ugly. I used to go to them. But they were, hmm, not very good, SO I got frustrated, and found that I wasn't really praying, I was just getting het up. So, God and I talked about it, and I felt at the time that maybe I needed to not go - and pray earlier/elsewhere/other times instead, and have a right attitude. That way, when I get to my 8.45 class, I am, well, 'good' in spirit. However, I DO recognise an inherent problem in this. I think discipline in community is important. Of course, I also don't see NTC as my PRIMARY community, but ... anyway, I am thinking about it.
Incidentally, we were talking about the ancient practices of faith at church last week. That discipline, was both a blessing and a challenge. We are talking about how we can join together in fasting, praying, scripture mediation and practices of justice. I am looking forward to this Sunday.
Controversy II: The question of planting a church... or not... or yes... or not... This is an INTERNAL controversy. I think that reproduction is healthy. very. I think too that organic places grow organically. That such growth needs regular pruning, shaping and cultivation. I also think that it is entirely possible for churches to grow too big (A la Roxburgh: jungle and swamp)... so, the question of "what next for Longsight?" is a good one. But, it has me endlessly restless, and thinking, thinking. We have so many places around Manchester, that perhaps 'planting' or 'reproducing' is what we should be doing - but the question of ethos comes into it... identity...
Then... III. apparently our [well, okay, my] penchant for tinkering/bastardising words has caused some controversy on World of Sven - I'll leave it for there, but I read the comments, and would (pastorally and theologically) stand by what we've done :-)
Anyway, back to grading!
posted by erdreid at 20:23
4 comments
