Soliton

A few of us will be making the trip up to Belfast to take part in the Soliton discussions happening up there. The event will actually go on from Feb 1st-4th but I think we're only going to be able to make the day trip on Thursday. Anyone interested in a lift up there from Dublin, send us an email.

Who are We and Where are We Going?

Those who have been involved with The Journey at the core level know that we have no idea what we're doing. In fact there's even skepticism as to whether we can call what we do church. Well, last Sunday the questions of identity arose again and will be carried on next Sunday for those wanting to join us in discussion. Here are some of the questions on the table:

What are some rhythms which might be useful/beneficial for us as a community?  

Of course any rhythms we actually practice will grow out of the things which we hold dear, which are valuable to us.  What would you say are some core values we currently hold? 

Should we aim to create a community in which to bring others into or should we aim to bring Jesus into communities that already exist? Is there a difference in the approaches?

Borg on John 3:16

Beliefnet.com has a great video piece with Marcus Borg who helps us rethink our understanding of John 3:16. He asserts that John wasn't talking about some future time when we might attain eternal life but that John was asserting that we can have eternal life now. In other words, this verse isn't about getting to heaven, it's about heaven getting here.

100th Post and a New Feel

Well I've gone and upgraded the website again. We are using a new version of blogger so it only seemed natural. Oh, and this is the 100th post. Feels like a milestone.

Matt

Resonate

We gathered again this Sunday morning but instead of our regular brunch and Bible chat we listened to a talk given my Mike Frost somewhere in Canada. Marilyn had found it online at resonate.ca. There are in fact 13 talks by Frost there as well as others (N.T. Wright, McLaren, etc.).

Christmas in Glasthule

A few of us from The Journey joined up with members of DEC and Serve the City this Christmas to remind others (and ourselves) that Christ cares little for consumerism and much for people. So, we bought mass amounts of luxury and basic food items (we had your sugar, your tea, your jellies, your can 'o beans, your After Eights, etc.) packed them into re-usable shopping bags, tied a ribbon on the end and distributed them to a community in Glasthule. I had a great time. In fact I think my son Eoin (2) summed it up best when we were driving back home. I asked him if he had a fun time and he replied with excitement, "YA, FUNNNN!"

I think that when we start to re-orient our lives (i.e. our actions, our desires, our feelings, our relationships, etc.) to the way that Jesus lived - we start to see the World as God intended it - and that is FUNNNN. It gives you a joy, a joy that I believe is contagious.

Check out some pics of the day. You'l see pictures of Eoin putting Brandon and myself to shame with his mad guitar playing skills.

Matt

Operation Christmas Child 2006

Once again this year we went to neighbours and friends and collected many shoeboxes full of goodies for children in countries in Eastern Europe and in Southern Africa as part of he Operation Christmas Child appeal.

In the following weeks we invited people to join us in Operation Christmas Child's warehouse in Sandyford Industrial Estate to check, sort, pack or stack many of the thousands of boxes which had come in from all over Dublin. Afterwards we went out for a milkshake at the local Eddie Rockets or McDonalds where we could talk about the experience and get to know each other a little better.

It was great to see the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the willingness to give their time to make it possible for many children in poor communities to receive a gift at Christmas. This reflects the gift that God gave the world over 2000 years ago. This gift was Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, who was born in Bethlehem in humble circumstances. He would ultimately give His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind and thereby make it possible for us to enter into God's presence for eternity. We simply have to accept God's gift, just like the children accept the gifts offered to them through the Operation Christmas Child initiative.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NLT)

Bono

I remember talking to Andrew Jones one time and he suggested that Bono was the Pope of the emerging/missional movement. Not sure Bono would see himself that way but his personal commitment to see the AIDS crises met and unjust debt cancelled in Africa is challenging the church to be who they say they are. And what's more, many are listening. All this from a rock star? Bono said in an interview that it's simply a sign of how bad things are in Africa that it takes a silly rock star to bring our attention to them. He noted that we shouldn't be listening to him, we should be listening to the professionals but in this crazy world that values celebrity he's willing to leverage whatever fame he has as currency to get people interested in Africa and to get them to get their governments interested in Africa.

I mention Bono because he spoke at the leadership summit a few of us attended from a little over a week ago (well he didn't exactly speak - he did an exclusive interview with Billy Hybels and we watched the video but since the whole thing was in video for us at the Belfast satellite, it didn't really matter. This is all besides the point). The interview was excellent. There's a rumour going around that we may get a copy but until then I thought I'd let you all hear Bono in his own words:

USA National Prayer Meeting, 2006

Bono Interview in Africa, 2006