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BlogHere are the thoughts and news of the people in our community. Leave a comment as you wish. If you want to join the blogging ask Mark.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
  Malt Cross is One! The Malt Cross has just celebrated its first birthday. Happy Birthday!! For those of you who are not aware the Malt Cross is a collaberation of a number of christian groups in Nottingham, including the Church Army and Trent Vineyard. I am not sure exactly what the vision is other than the more I hear about it the more it sounds along similar lines to some of my Cafe Church thinking. They are building a community in the cafe and seeing it as a genuine interaction point for church. The Church Army are regarding it as a new expression of church, I understand, and through the Malt Cross are financing a 'pastor to pub/club culture'. Apparently even our very own Jade frequents the place! My brother is involved a fair bit [he did the website and graphic design stuff]. I am beginning to think that a trip up would be a good idea. Anyone fancy it?  Labels: cafe church Posted by: Mark | 1:46 pm |
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Big UK decline in Bible ownership - 22/11/04 from ekklesia Far fewer households in the UK now own Bibles than was the case fifty years ago, according to a new poll carried out by ICM Research, a survey organisation often used by Government and leading charities and businesses. In 1954 90 per cent of all adults owned a Bible, a figure now reduced to 65 per cent. Including households with children the decline is apparently from 98 per cent to 62 per cent. However, belief in the paranormal is on the increase, with 42 per cent of people claiming to believe in ghosts, a 10 per cent rise over half a century. The survey also indicates that there has been a significant growth in wealth, time available for leisure, technology use and extra-marital sexual activity. Along with prosperity has come other changes in social mores. People are much less likely to 'make and mend' than they would shortly after the last world war, preferring new goods to repaired ones. The ICM research confirms that people in Britain are much better off materially than was the case fifty years ago, but other research has shown that wealth does not mean satisfaction - with significant increases in depression and youth suicide. Those involved in Mass Observation research pioneered at the University of Sussex in the 1960s also point out that the lifestyle changes of recent decades were pioneered in the post-war years. In February 2005 the British and Irish churches are due to publish a report entitled 'Prosperity With A Purpose'. This will explores the theological and religious significance of historically unprecedented widespread affluence in some parts of the world today. you might also enjoy: Bono unhappy with song's 'God' line and an update on the EA's latest big issue Steve Chalke responds to criticism from Evangelical Alliance Posted by: Mark | 5:11 pm |
Tuesday, November 16, 2004Star Wars III - Revenge of the Sith 
I excitedly downloaded the trailer to the new Star Wars film yesterday. It is out in May next year and has the hard job of linking the pre-quels with the original 3. Did you like the prequels? Are you looing forward to the next? Awww come on you know you can't wait!! 
Posted by: Mark | 10:30 am
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Wednesday, November 03, 200410 Questions Two and a half years ago when I was first considering my move to Northampton I had lots of questions. To be honest i still have lots of questions, but I think they are slightly different now. Today I remembered a set of 10 questions that REALLY bugged me in relationship to the kind of church I was dreaming of. I still think these questions are good ones, so I thought I would share them with you! Before I do, I should say that I am convinced that questions in general are crucial to learning and to change. Many of us struggle with unanswered questions - they make us insecure and unsettled. But if we do not ask the 'right' questions we will not get the 'right' [i.e. most helpful] answers. The refusal to ask the difficult questions is also the refusal to change!! Often, as I am sure you know, the key to unlocking a situation that isn't getting anywhere is to change/rephrase the question. Why don't you try that sometime? This by the way is why I love chatting to my friend Adrian White - he is one of the best question askers in the business!! So here are mine from 2.5 years ago: 1) Where does church fit into a busy world? 2) How does church become a healer of the ill of constant speed and pressure of life not part of the problem? 3) How do we get out of the busyness of doing church and release being church? 4) How do we de-cloak the powerful message of the gospel? 5) How do we live a unified life of love together that includes being community and reaching out? 6) How do we release some energy to serve the world? 7) How do we stop commuting to church and start being church? 8) How do we truly see the body of Christ in ministry with no 'clergy/laity' divide? 9) What sort of people are our churches producing? 10) Are we able and ready to make the changes and sacrifices necessary to get there? Labels: church, mission, reflective Posted by: Mark | 2:17 pm |
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