I ran across this interesting set of 2008 Summer Olympics photos posted on Flickr. You gotta love the ones that capture Chinese cuisine and culture.
HT: Flickr Blog
Technorati Tags: Flickr, Summer Olympics, Beijing Summer Olympics
The Beijing Olympics have opened amidst controversy, protest and criticism. Not everyone is excited about supporting a government known for it's poor (oppressive) human rights record, it's controversial stance on Tibetan independence, and it's willingness to sell guns to Darfur.
But the games go on...
[Click on photo for larger versions.]
You, you are the one we address,
always you,
only you… who has given us life,
who waits for us to answer.
We, toward you, speak and remain tongue-tied,
for we lack words that are honest enough,
and dangerous enough,
and fierce enough to match you.
We do not speak first, but after our mothers and fathers,
who knew cadences of honesty about our troubles,
who knew cadences of danger about your presence,
who knew cadences of fierceness to fit our rage and loss.
So we speak to you words that we have always spoken:
words of praise and adoration:
…into your gates with thanksgiving
into your courts with praise…
words of confession and remorse:
…against you and only you have we sinned…
words of thanks and astonishment:
…you have turned our mourning into dancing…
words of rage unabated:
…dash their heads against the rocks.
So many words we need to speak
to you from whom no secret can be hid,
you beyond us, you with us, you for us,
you with ears bent close to our lips,
You…and our woes turned toward you, always you, only you,
yet again you.
Amen.
I don't know what to make of this.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. This is undoubtedly the most unusual worship experience I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot of edgy/weird stuff).
Did he say:
"We know that we can’t receive anything from anyone until we have honor in our hearts for them."
Huh?
HT: Scotteriology
Tags: worship, Christian worship
[Click on photo for larger versions.]
Joe Johnson has posted an eye-opening set of mega church photos. The thing that struck me was the centrality of media, production value, professional equipment et al.
Is that what worship has all boiled down to-- nice props and quality digital equipment?
It's really got me thinking.
To view this photo set click on projects, then click on the Mega Church subset.
[Click on photo for larger versions.]
I was drawn to this unique "rave card" publicizing a new church start called Tapestry. While browsing their site, I ran across their three primary dreams as follows:
* Tapestry dreams of being Holistic.
We believe that the Gospel impacts every area of a person’s life and culture. We reject unfounded categories that divide the world into uniquely sacred or purely secular. GOD is redeeming all of creation through JESUS.
* Tapestry dreams of being Missional.
We believe that the church exists for the world and not for herself - she is to introduce and usher in the Kingdom of GOD into every part of this world.
* Tapestry dreams of being focused on Community.
We believe that salvation brings people together as a reflection of a triune GOD: FATHER, SON and SPIRIT. Saved from sin by faith through grace, the people of GOD are able to live in unity as was intended by GOD in the beginning.
Interesting stuff.
[Click on photo for larger versions.]
The perfect church has:
+Couches and comfortable chairs instead of pews
+ Upbeat live music instead of music devoid of passion
+ Authentic, caring people instead of people who are merely present out of obligation or habit
+ Engaging talks instead of the traditional three-point sermon
+ A variety of ways to experience God, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach
+ Opportunities for meaningful service instead of mind-numbing, dead-end obligations
+ A concern for the lost, the lonely, the marginalized instead of embracing a club (member's only) mentality
+ A desire to embody the teaching and values of Jesus in everyday life, instead of a "what's in it for me" mentality
+ A commitment to transform the world with God's love, instead of . . .
I'm sure I could add at least another 50 items or so, but will stop there. If you have others that you'd like to add, feel free to post them in the comments section. I would enjoy hearing from you.
[Click on graphic for larger version.]
I'm not exactly sure when I first experienced communion by intinction, but its become my preferred method.
If you're unfamiliar with intinction, it's the practice of partially dipping a small piece of bread into the common communion cup. I don't mean to be sacrilegious, but it's like dipping an Oreo in a cold glass of milk.
Some might argue that self-intinction (dipping it yourself) transforms communion into something you "take" rather than something you "receive," but I'm not a big stickler on that point. The main point, as far as I can tell, is remembering Jesus.
I like intinction because it involves using real bread to soak up the wine (those nasty cardboard crackers just won't do), you don't have to fiddle with those cumbersome communion "shot glasses," and there's just something appealing-- at least to me-- about receiving the bread the juice simultaneously.
If you'd like to read up on intinction, here's a brief article you might enjoy.
[Click on photograph for larger version.]
I couldn't resist posting this cat photo from Flickr. Cool stuff.
Changing the subject. . .
Just saw the new X-Files movie. Don't waste your 8 bucks; it's all about a psychic pedophile priest. No aliens. Yikes, nuff said.
Instead, kick up your feet and enjoy a tall glass of iced tea.
pax,
meb
HT: Flickr (interestingness)
