Archive for November, 2009
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
The first session this morning was with Glenn Smith. My guess is that this academic surprised with his passion, but left some wondering how the theology works out on the ground.
Glenn opened by asking two questions: who isthis God we serve? Why does he love place – neighborhoods? Glenn then presented three horizons for a missional encounter: text, city, and neighborhood.
Glenn began talking about the church engaging Scripture by asking, “are we really listening?” In terms of our engaging the city he suggested that we need to be reflecting on worldview, culture, and the social imaginary (Taylor). Glenn further noted that we need to be thinking about place AND space- the internal world through which we filter and read our experience.
From here Glenn offered some stats on Canadian cities, in particular distiguishing them from the American experience.
Finally Glenn noted the third horizon – neighbourhood. Here he noted four agendas. I won’t summarize these, but note istead that engaging our neighbourhoods will require that we embody the good news of God’s reign. It will also mean that we not neglect the trancendent nature of God, and that we become learners, discerning the movement of God among ordinary people in ordinary places.
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Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Within minutes of arrival, I met Martin Lamb – he can be found upstairs at the Gospel for Asia booth. Martin is infectious – not with H1N1, but with his desire for reaching Asia. He has been with the organisation somewhere in the 10 year range, but is as enthusiastic as if he had just started – and yet he is not a ‘front lines’ worker. Clearly he feels called. So the question arises – about call and role in the kingdom, and how it can be so radically different person to person. We are so often impoverished by limiting our sense of call to being a pastor, a missionary, a music worship leader … and so often it seems that if we are called otherwise that it is a call to a less fulfilling, less engaging life. Thank you Martin – for showing that call to other areas of ministry do not have to quell ones enthusiasm. And pray for Martin. He travels extensively, and so must often leave family behind – and like so many others in mission, must raise his own support. Bless you Martin, and thank you.
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Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Arrival
Hmmm… an introduction appears to be in order here. My name is Jim Robertson – I am one of the live bloggers for the Renov8 Church Planting Congress. And immediately to my left (or right – not sure as we have yet to talk theologically) is Len Hjalmerson, the other live blogger. It will be easy to tell us apart… Len is the educated one, and I’m the one who looks like a charter member of O.H.A. (Old Hippies Anonymous). So, when everyone else here is having an ‘ AHA!’ moment, if I just don’t seem to get it, well – that’d be my OHA moment. Please be patient – I will come around eventually. BTW – if you don’t follow Len’s blog… it’s time to start. (more…)
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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
I arrived Monday, but Tuesday morning still seemed to come early in Calgary. But who ordered this warm weather? I was a little shocked to find it warmer than Kelowna.
My first time in Calgary in almost two years. My first time ever at Center Street. This cavernous building is fairly recent, if I heard right, and seems counter-intuitive as the site for a missional training initiative.
But.. I think the Lord appreciates irony. (more…)
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