I have officially moved out of my first ever proper office and into my second ever proper office (and yes I am going to starting blogging again as if I haven't neglected it for the past century...oh wait). Anyway, I did have an office at Highland Church in West Milton, OH when I was there for a year, but it didn't even have internet access and I was barely there so that doesn't really count in my mind.
My first proper office was at 30 Regent Place, Rugby, England. It was a dear old place (emphasis on 'old'). A room that was far too large for my needs and my ego, but very much appreciated nonetheless. My desk sat on the far end (it was kind of a long, skinny room) near one of two windows. A couple of bookcases were nearby, a semi-circle table was along the wall midway and three filing cabinets were at the other end near the door. Oh, and I can't forget...the other window. (Don't you feel like you're actually there with such literary picture painting?)
I spent many an hour there studying, designing, planning, sermon preparing, praying, emailing, phoning, chatting, counseling, etc. It was my office as our family went from two to four. It was my office for my first real job. And though this post is a tad silly, I did genuinely appreciate it.
In almost every way (apart from space) my new office is newer and nicer and very much a gift from God just at the right time (as is the whole of the building it is in). But I feel I must not let this moment pass without bidding farewell to the faithful friend that was my first-proper-office.
Thanks God...for making me thankful.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Parenting: The Unexamined Factor
Yes! The people most responsible for the behaviour and development of kids are...their parents. So says Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. I caught the title "'Parents to blame' for problems in UK schools" on guardian.co.uk this week and I could not help but read. Comments on the article seemed to be in favour of the notion.
This is, of course, in response to growing difficultly in UK school systems with anti-social behaviour, etc. I have no statistical support to give here, but from experience I can affirm the notion that more and more kids seem to be unhinged from a healthy relationship with authority and social relating. But my point here is not to detail "how bad things are" with the youth of our generation (we are by no means the first to deal with rebellious children). I am more interested in why kids go the way they go...whether positvely or negatively.
I have thought for some time now that disproportionate attention is given to the tweaking and re-engineering of educational structures, classroom procedures and teacher and school regulations. When things are not going well...when kids seem uninterested, unable to relate well with teachers and fellow classmates...when bullying is on the rise...we often want a reform of the educational and classroom system. I'm not suggesting that educational approaches should not be scrutinized and improved upon over time. What I am suggesting is that we often skip over the most obvious factor in child behaviour and development.
I cannot ignore the church in this area. I sense that much pressure is put on our children and youth workers to entertain and engage with kids that are increasingly inattentive. When things don't seem to be going so well, it is a newer, more dynamic curriculum or leader we call for. Rarely do we ask if more emphases should be placed on discipling parents in their parenting. I believe this is an enormously underdeveloped area in Christian formation in churches.
(In case you haven't guessed by my semi-rant) I am a firm believer that the fundamental avenue for heathly child development is parent and family dynamics. I feel I cannot state that strongly enough. The role of a father and mother in a child's life could not be more significant and has infinitely more impact on development and growth than any school, teacher, or system could ever have. If parents increasingly seek to delegate their responsibilities to teachers and schools, it would not be surprising that negative results occur.
It cannot be overlooked the fundamental importance of family in scripture. That in the very existence of God the relationship of Father and Son is so prominent shows that the parent/child dynamic is not a human construct, nor is it a marginal factor. As we start to re/embrace the responsibility of parenthood and family relationships as integral to the life of discipleship, I believe we can expect the work of the Spirit to form the image of the Father/Son relationship in our lives as well. I realize that many parents (including my own) have lived faithfully to Lord in raising children. Nevertheless, I believe that the pressures and trends of the broader culture require a re-addressing of these things in our time. As a young parent myself, it inspires in me a sense of holy soberiety.
This is, of course, in response to growing difficultly in UK school systems with anti-social behaviour, etc. I have no statistical support to give here, but from experience I can affirm the notion that more and more kids seem to be unhinged from a healthy relationship with authority and social relating. But my point here is not to detail "how bad things are" with the youth of our generation (we are by no means the first to deal with rebellious children). I am more interested in why kids go the way they go...whether positvely or negatively.
I have thought for some time now that disproportionate attention is given to the tweaking and re-engineering of educational structures, classroom procedures and teacher and school regulations. When things are not going well...when kids seem uninterested, unable to relate well with teachers and fellow classmates...when bullying is on the rise...we often want a reform of the educational and classroom system. I'm not suggesting that educational approaches should not be scrutinized and improved upon over time. What I am suggesting is that we often skip over the most obvious factor in child behaviour and development.
I cannot ignore the church in this area. I sense that much pressure is put on our children and youth workers to entertain and engage with kids that are increasingly inattentive. When things don't seem to be going so well, it is a newer, more dynamic curriculum or leader we call for. Rarely do we ask if more emphases should be placed on discipling parents in their parenting. I believe this is an enormously underdeveloped area in Christian formation in churches.
(In case you haven't guessed by my semi-rant) I am a firm believer that the fundamental avenue for heathly child development is parent and family dynamics. I feel I cannot state that strongly enough. The role of a father and mother in a child's life could not be more significant and has infinitely more impact on development and growth than any school, teacher, or system could ever have. If parents increasingly seek to delegate their responsibilities to teachers and schools, it would not be surprising that negative results occur.
It cannot be overlooked the fundamental importance of family in scripture. That in the very existence of God the relationship of Father and Son is so prominent shows that the parent/child dynamic is not a human construct, nor is it a marginal factor. As we start to re/embrace the responsibility of parenthood and family relationships as integral to the life of discipleship, I believe we can expect the work of the Spirit to form the image of the Father/Son relationship in our lives as well. I realize that many parents (including my own) have lived faithfully to Lord in raising children. Nevertheless, I believe that the pressures and trends of the broader culture require a re-addressing of these things in our time. As a young parent myself, it inspires in me a sense of holy soberiety.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Dissertation, here I come.
So I am starting the dissertation for my Masters in Applied Theology. I was interested in looking at the Spirit in Job, but decided that it would not exactly lend itself well to the application bit. Instead I have chosen to do 20,000 words on work/vocation in Genesis 1-5, how it has impacted in other areas of scripture and history and what resource it can supply to contemporary considerations.
I am excited and ready to dig in, though I know it will be quite a lot of work. I am amazed at how little work has been done at an academic level to look at a theology of work and particularly looking at a biblical theology of work. The New Testament's hot spot is Thessalonians, which I did consider. In the end, though, I felt that looking at Genesis would provide a more substantial, foundational input to the topic, as well as the fact that much less work has been done on it compared with Thessalonians.
I will likely post some of my findings and updates on progress on here and/or Dust and Light as we go along. The plan to finish by the end of the summer.
I am excited and ready to dig in, though I know it will be quite a lot of work. I am amazed at how little work has been done at an academic level to look at a theology of work and particularly looking at a biblical theology of work. The New Testament's hot spot is Thessalonians, which I did consider. In the end, though, I felt that looking at Genesis would provide a more substantial, foundational input to the topic, as well as the fact that much less work has been done on it compared with Thessalonians.
I will likely post some of my findings and updates on progress on here and/or Dust and Light as we go along. The plan to finish by the end of the summer.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A post at Dust & Light
Believe it or not, I've actually posted on Dust & Light. It is a reflection on the nature and origins of work based on Genesis 1-2.
Just to remind you, Dust & Light is a collaborative blog set up by myself, Aaron Rathbu(r)n and Simon Ravenscroft. It has thus far been one of those good ideas that has not really taken shape. Here's hoping that it begins to now. To help things along, head on over and leave a comment.
Just to remind you, Dust & Light is a collaborative blog set up by myself, Aaron Rathbu(r)n and Simon Ravenscroft. It has thus far been one of those good ideas that has not really taken shape. Here's hoping that it begins to now. To help things along, head on over and leave a comment.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I Preach
In addition to blogging, I also preach once or twice a month here in Rugby. It's out of the ordinary for me, but I thought I'd post a link to my most recent sermon. It's entitled "Hidden Treasure and Expensive Pearls" and you can get it here.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Joy in the Journey...
Here was my question: why is that we seem to enjoy the process of making something more than the final product?
Here's a summary of the responses I've gotten: 1) its the artist in me...God is a creative 2) as finite creatures, we will never truly 'arrive' as we continually discover our infinite God 3) its the apostolic desire to initiate new things and spread outward 4) boredom...getting bored with one project, dropping it and starting another 5) the journey is necessary to fully appreciate the destination 6) it mirrors God's progressive revelation.
Excellent thoughts. Listing them out makes me think what a worthwhile question this was to ask. So my comments are thus: Probably all of these have bearing on the subject. God certainly is creative and, being images bearers, we are also creative beings (though not quite in the same way as God...As Harold Best puts it, God is the only true abstract artist in that when He created He was not copying anything).
I am really struck by Simon's idea of never truly arriving as finite beings before an infinite God. It reminds me of the description of heaven in C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce. To the best of my recollection, heaven is depicted as a journey upward from the plains to the mountains in the light of an ever-increasing sunrise. This communicates the notion of discovery, journey and expectation...three dynamics that the human race has always hungered for. Wouldn't it be fitting that these desires are found ultimately in a humble relationship with our Creator?
Nevertheless, I can't help but wonder if we are stopping short here. Perhaps it is not that heaven is perpetual discovery, but rather a full and sustained celebration of the ultimate discovery (although perhaps one could argue that these are one in the same concept). I wonder if because, at the moment, all we know is the journey, we are unable to conceive of anything better than anticipation and searching.
Follow me here. If we, even now, have the drive to taste of the fullness of the glory of God, but are not yet able to fully satisfy that thirst, it would surely make sense that any destination (whether the completion of a website design, good book, or otherwise) would come as something of a letdown; a letdown that, rather than encouraging satisfaction and celebration, drives us back to the search, back to process, back to the journey. This would then explain my joy in the creative process, almost more than the creation itself (since moving toward something gives the impression of progress more than arriving at an undestination).
I'd better leave it at that for now. There are more of the points that certainly deserve comment in my next post. But for now, let me repeat my theory: since no destination, for the moment, is truly satisfying, the journey for us carries more feeling of promise than the arrival. But when we know fully even as we are fully known (1 Cor. 13:12), perhaps the destination will be so overwhelming that the prospect of journey will pale in comparison. But for now, we journey.
What think ye?
Here's a summary of the responses I've gotten: 1) its the artist in me...God is a creative 2) as finite creatures, we will never truly 'arrive' as we continually discover our infinite God 3) its the apostolic desire to initiate new things and spread outward 4) boredom...getting bored with one project, dropping it and starting another 5) the journey is necessary to fully appreciate the destination 6) it mirrors God's progressive revelation.
Excellent thoughts. Listing them out makes me think what a worthwhile question this was to ask. So my comments are thus: Probably all of these have bearing on the subject. God certainly is creative and, being images bearers, we are also creative beings (though not quite in the same way as God...As Harold Best puts it, God is the only true abstract artist in that when He created He was not copying anything).
I am really struck by Simon's idea of never truly arriving as finite beings before an infinite God. It reminds me of the description of heaven in C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce. To the best of my recollection, heaven is depicted as a journey upward from the plains to the mountains in the light of an ever-increasing sunrise. This communicates the notion of discovery, journey and expectation...three dynamics that the human race has always hungered for. Wouldn't it be fitting that these desires are found ultimately in a humble relationship with our Creator?
Nevertheless, I can't help but wonder if we are stopping short here. Perhaps it is not that heaven is perpetual discovery, but rather a full and sustained celebration of the ultimate discovery (although perhaps one could argue that these are one in the same concept). I wonder if because, at the moment, all we know is the journey, we are unable to conceive of anything better than anticipation and searching.
Follow me here. If we, even now, have the drive to taste of the fullness of the glory of God, but are not yet able to fully satisfy that thirst, it would surely make sense that any destination (whether the completion of a website design, good book, or otherwise) would come as something of a letdown; a letdown that, rather than encouraging satisfaction and celebration, drives us back to the search, back to process, back to the journey. This would then explain my joy in the creative process, almost more than the creation itself (since moving toward something gives the impression of progress more than arriving at an undestination).
I'd better leave it at that for now. There are more of the points that certainly deserve comment in my next post. But for now, let me repeat my theory: since no destination, for the moment, is truly satisfying, the journey for us carries more feeling of promise than the arrival. But when we know fully even as we are fully known (1 Cor. 13:12), perhaps the destination will be so overwhelming that the prospect of journey will pale in comparison. But for now, we journey.
What think ye?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A Question...
Why is it that we so often seem to get greater enjoyment from the process than from the finished product?
Case in Point: I enjoy web design. I'm a little rusty, but I'm catching up. I still enjoy it. But the thing is, I much prefer to work on a new design than to sit back and enjoy a finished website. I work. I finish a site. Then...I want to make another one. Sometimes I start into a design (which I actually like) and before I even finish I am on to a new idea.
Maybe its the perfectionist streak in me. Or maybe there is something more profound.
It seems that I (or at least characters in films I've seen) have been told that its as much about the journey as the destination. I have sometimes thought that this notion is actually antithetic to the gospel (i.e. if the destination is Jesus then it is all about the destination). But maybe there is something more grand in all of it than I have yet stumbled on to. I suspect maybe there is.
Any thoughts?
Case in Point: I enjoy web design. I'm a little rusty, but I'm catching up. I still enjoy it. But the thing is, I much prefer to work on a new design than to sit back and enjoy a finished website. I work. I finish a site. Then...I want to make another one. Sometimes I start into a design (which I actually like) and before I even finish I am on to a new idea.
Maybe its the perfectionist streak in me. Or maybe there is something more profound.
It seems that I (or at least characters in films I've seen) have been told that its as much about the journey as the destination. I have sometimes thought that this notion is actually antithetic to the gospel (i.e. if the destination is Jesus then it is all about the destination). But maybe there is something more grand in all of it than I have yet stumbled on to. I suspect maybe there is.
Any thoughts?
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