Open Pilgrimage

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Walking with others in a journey of spiritual discovery can be disconcerting!

I just finished singing in a concert with a dedicated community choir.  As good a choir as many of the choirs I have sung with over the years.  Our conductor took his cue from the written music – crescendos, pianissimo, timing, harmonies, etc.  Between the original writer of the music, and the interpretation of the conductor, we painted a beautiful aural picture.

That picture was invented by the writer and filtered through the conductor.

Many of us nowadays want to be the writer and make up truth and beauty all on our own.  When I watch those types of people, I often find sadness in my observations.  Our usual propensity is to move towards selfishness – which always ends badly.  The melody is distorted and creates anguish, sorrow and destruction.

Now, if we take another tack, we start with truth and beauty as authored by the creator of truth and beauty.  The melody line is not up for grabs – although there can be great embellishments which highlight the beauty of the notes.  Then we put our own little twists on the recommended harmonies and emphases.

An open pilgrimage starts with the same author and melody.  After that the theatre in which I perform may be slightly larger than yours.  The harmonies may sound slightly different and the rhythmical flow takes us into different streams of beauty.

We may not always be in concert together (thus the disconcerting part).  But our concerts are all to the glory of the same author.

Peer review in an internet age

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For decades, and even centuries, knowledge and information were considered trustworthy through a process called peer review.

A scientist would push through research and development and come to a conclusion.  That conclusion was then forwarded to others knowledgeable in the field.  These reviewers would then consider the findings and pronounce their judgment.  Whole journals would then be called upon to publish these findings for the larger community. 

If your findings could not be substantiated – or, heaven forbid, some reviewers just didn’t like you – your work was dead in the water (which would not be great if you were talking about propulsion of a sea-faring craft!!).

With the internet, we are placed in a whole new world.

Peer review can quite literally happen on your Facebook or LinkedIn page.  Verification might end up being rather scanty and scary, but you could claim victory if enough of your comments were favourable. 

So, my question is, how do we differentiate various opinions?  Are new quality review channels arising?  Or are the old channels still applicable?  Are these tried and tested channels able to accommodate a strong internet presence and quick response rates?

Christmas Banquet Prayer

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I was asked to give a grace for the Christmas Banquet at one of our local senior’s residences.  This is what I wrote and spoke.

God, our Father:  the father of every good and perfect gift,

We thank you:

For the gift of friends and family who encourage and support us.

For the gift of food that nourishes our bodies

For the gift of willing and loving helpers who care for us

For the gift of Christmas, the baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  AMEN

Approaches to Evangelism

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My denomination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, has navigated the desire for nations to come to Christ for years.  Since 1887, various approaches have been tried.

We were on the cutting edge of making sure that national churches were true to themselves.  They needed to be able to finance themselves, to have their own leaders and to even seek to grow themselves outside of themselves (mission was particularly the aim).

In striving to do missions we wanted to take the evangel (good news) everywhere.  That meant adapting to various cultures and languages.

We have done well. 

And now that concern is back at home with us.  For many years the Western church has evangelized with strong logic, winsome language and personal virtue.  With the influx of new cultures to our shores, we are confronted with those who seek spiritual dominion, emotional freedom and being unchained from shame and dishonor. 

This approach scares those who have lived in an ordered world.  We are not ready for evangelism that is filled with healing and emotion and deliverances. 

These two approaches highlight a current Canadian denominational conundrum.  Are we willing to live under the big tent which allows both the Western and the Majority world to live together? 

Getting personal – does the Westerner mind a brother being slain in the Spirit, who is standing next to him?   Can a woman of faith in the Spirit live with a man of order, both of whom dispute the others’ managerial styles?