THIS IS NOT A SELF PORTRAIT, I REPEAT NOT A SELF PORTRAIT. Saw this on Andrew Jones' blog (tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com or something) and just nicked it. Amazing. I'm guessing it's real. 

Mark Twain

What a kooky guy! I love his famous quote "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated" but I didn't know he also said this; "If Christ came back, the one thing he wouldn't be is a Christian". Interesting concept. I read this quote in the context of an interview (transcript) on Larry King live between a few evangelists named in the top 25 in the world (ie. in America). Everyone has had an experience where someone else's Christian faith/lifestyle has embarrassed their own Christian identity. Where does it leave me when I read this article and come to a philosophical place in direct opposition to one of the top 25 boys? So much evangelism in our time is 'ends justifies the means' style. At any cost the word is preached in order to save souls. If you ask any average Joe what he thinks about "born again Christians who preach the word" you get a good picture of 'the cost'. For example, in this interview one evangelist says that environmental issues aren't important because the earth was made for us - not us for the environment. Joe knows that's not true. I don't believe it either. The view that "this world is going to be destroyed in the flamey end anyway" sets up a immoral belief system that can justify any behaviour. The end cannot hold more weight than present 'means'. Tension must hold the two in equal parts to create significance and meaning. I think I should stop writing until I think more about this. In the meantime, don't disregard my present and tell me that 'everything will be alright'. I'm still in the 'means' and I'm not there yet!!

It was never a formula

I've told Michael about my other love. I have nothing to hide. I have very little guilt. His name is Don Miller and the author of Blue Like Jazz. If I was someone (beginning with O) it would definately get a gold sticker on the cover and I'd talk about it on my afternoon chat show. I just picked up a copy of his new book called "Searching for God Knows What" and I'm in love all over again. He writes down like my heart thinks.

He talks about the essence of Christianity.....the difference between the "ideas and the narrative" of the gospel. We print tracts and evangelise around language like 'we are sinners', 'sin separates us' and 'Christ died to absolve the gap'. These are the Truthful ideas of the gospel. Don Miller argues that Scripture doesn't talk in this non-relational, propositional style and that we've lost the communication of mystery and romance in the person of Christ. We've even got evangelistic tools that almost bypass a mention of Him as someone to engage with. Anyway, just read the book, especially chapter 10.

Job

...and I (Rachel) got a job. Adminstrator for National Church Life Survey. My office is in the floor above Michael so during the day I can morse code him messages through the floor. Yay!

Sunday Blah-Blah-Blah

Another weekend, another Sunday to church shop. We've been around these parts for a few months now and are looking for a community of Christ-followers who are in love with Him.

We've been to a few places where I've come away thinking that was Baptist Blah-Blah-Blah. There was not much indication (to us) that those participating wanted to be there but they certainly knew how to 'do it'. Watching them going through the motions made everything sound like blah-blah-blah to me. Another week we went more pente but I made a decision after the service that I didn't want to go to a church where the worship leader wore boob-busting blouses and appeared to be Dirty Dancing with Jesus!

It's hard and Michael and I have talked about the tension in the process we're going through. In one sense we should be able to worship Christ in any environment. However we are looking for a place in which we're both quite comfortable. So, we sit in seeker-sensitive-seating and exercise all aspects of our judgement on fellow Christ-followers we have never met. Who are we to deliberately walk in 3 minutes late and then critically analyse every sermon, seat and server? At the same time, we WANT to be in church but we're finding it hard to settle there.

Another Day at The Office

What does one girl do when she is trapped inside a domestic dwelling all day with nothing to challenge her desire to flick between Oprah and one day cricket? She forces herself to wrestle with technology and follow the three step process to establish a blog. And this is where the adventure begins.

Some people reckon this is the happiest day of your life. We had such a great day but every day since has been better. That's our story.