"Self takes precedence over commitment"

We run from those promises and covenants that humans have made to each other for thousands of years because they frighten us to death. Many today fear such commitment-based social institutions because self now takes precedence over commitment. As the worldview of hyperconsumerism has taken hold of our imaginations, everything has become shopping. We must not become entangled in commitments, because they could limit our options on finding something better. This constant search for something better means that the supershoppers of hyperconsumerism are still waiting for a better deal after the mall has closed and then are forced to return home empty-handed. Or we find ourselves always on the move, searching for a home that shifts and shimmies over the horizon. We keep up this restlessness as our fears of not being stimulated take over.

The key to life, we are told, is to keep holding out for that perfect bargain. But the less we commit, the more we become passive. We never make a move; instead, we simply stand and watch life go by. Our fear of commitment has turned us into passive consumers.”

(from the Blog of Mark Sayers)

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself"?

From Tolstoy

Some interesting stuff from Jonny Baker's blog re worship

graham kendrick kicked off with a few thoughts. i jotted a few headlines from each speaker so some of graham's were

* when you look around when you are leading, not many people are singing. why?
* what began at the grassroots as a movement in worship is now more driven by the culture industries and that creates issues for worship in local contexts.
* the worship movement around modern worship songs has come from the 60s. a lot of what we see is still based on that and it has strengths and weaknesses. a weakness is that one personality fronts it.
* because the movement was recovering heart and feelings in worship, after a few decades have other things got lost?
* there is a tension between festivals (big experiences in worship) and how worship gets experienced in local churches. we have to understand these are different. worship leaders are the gatekeepers who should ensure this tension is handled.
* in song based worship we have lost the sense of story or journey through the whole of worship. need to recover it.
* 3.5 min pop song genre (where the modern worship song has its roots) has its weaknesses
* we have an issue around event dependence vs lifestyle
* psalms are a key to rediscover for a daily prayer and worship life
* tension between old and new. we are in danger of historical amnesia (i.e. we want the latest newest songs) at a time when culture is desperate for things with weight and roots.

mark earey, who i didn't really know, lectures at queens in birmingham in liturgy. his main critique was in response to the question 'where is jesus?' he suggested that the default for many is that jesus is encountered in singing in worship. so do we expect to meet jesus anywhere else? maybe that's our problem! he also raised questions about the use of technology in worship suggesting that the current cultural transition may have the depth of change about it that the shift to print did.

joel edwards, director of the evangelical alliance was excellent - i like him a lot. he brought a perspective from a pentecostal background. a few comments of his really stayed with me.

* worship has often been too cosy - a retreat from alienation rather than an engagement with pain.
* there is a new ecumenism where denominational ties and so on are not such a big deal.
* i thirst for something new. i am mostly bored. worship is narrow and predictible. is god vaguely bored too?

Again .. Tom Sine "The New Conspirators"

when Jesus began teaching he made it clear that his new empire would be unlike any empire the world had ever seen. it came on a donkey's back. it's imperial council was comprised of a handful of unemployed fishermen, a couple of IRS agents, a prostitute and some hangers on. Jesus demonstrated how to wield his imperial power by washing feet, telling stories and playing with kids. Jesus' empire is based on the absurd values that the last should be first, losers are winners, and the most influential in the empire should clean the toilets. members of the empire are instructed to love their enemies, forgive their friends, always give twice as much as people ask of them and never pursue power or position. Jesus insisted that those who are part of his empire shouldn't worry about finances, but simply trust god. the resources to run this empire were basins, towels, and leftover lunches. this empire also developed a reputation for constant partying - almost always with the wrong kind of people.

seriously is this any way to run an empire? imagine what would happen if you ran a political, economic or religious institution with these bizarre values. clearly it wouldn't have much of a future. these values might even get the leader assassinated...