Where are the prophets? 27 September 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're thinking about...2 comments
I’m amazed in all that is going on in the world in terms of economics that very little has been said about what caused this crisis. With Wall Street in deep trouble, banks going under and huge amounts bouncing around as possible bail-outs, people need to be standing up and asking serious questions. I am glad that prophets have stood up and spoken out in the form of John Sentamu and Rowan Williams, the heads of the Church of England and the whole Anglican communion. Quoting the bbc news website:
….the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, called share traders who cashed in on falling prices “bank robbers and asset strippers”. bbc news
Rowan Williams also spoke out, both calling people to account and asking serious questions.
I think perhaps the biggest question which is yet to be asked is why this happened. Now I will probably be accused of vastly over-simplifying this and be told that there are all sorts of rules of economics that I’m ignoring, but surely this is a case of greed and blinding ourselves to the truth. Ever since capitalism came to rule the world, the promise has been the trickle down effect, which says as the top of society gets richer so this trickles down to the rest of society. BUT we need to stop listening to what our itching ears want to hear and look at the facts. Still huge problems across the world in basic health, housing and nutrition. We see chief executives living “The American Dream” with thousands of people working under them barely scrapping enough together to get by. The chief executives kid themselves that the world is a better place because of them, and therefore they deserve a little treat, after all the world owes them. But how can this be just. The honest truth is that the chasing after money has caused these problems, and the worst thing is those chasing aren’t the ones who lose out.
Rowan Williams in the same bbc article is quoted as saying
The biggest challenge in the present crisis is whether we can recover some sense of the connection between money and material reality
We need to stand up and point to a radical way. A way that says that money isn’t everything. That says the American Dream is a lie and that in it’s places offers a reality of truth and life.
As Tom Sine said in a talk I heard yesterday (more to follow on that….)
A new world is needed.
A new world is possible.
A new world is already here.
Or as Mark says in his Gospel
“The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1.14
Psalms and Sin 9 June 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're reading..., What we're thinking about...Tags: confession, Eugene Peterson, Forgiveness, Perfectionism, Sin
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I’m reading a great book by Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way. Peterson is a wordsmith and in his usual poetic style explores what following Jesus looks like by studying a number of characters in the old testament.
I’ve just finished reading his chapter on David. One of the key themes is looking at imperfection. The fact that we live imperfect lives. So often we try to counter imperfection with perfectionism. The idea that we should strive to be perfect. Peterson using the life of David suggests that this isn’t the solution. He points out the high points of David’s life and the low points of David’s life and talks about how this looks in the Christian life.
One of the most interesting things about David is that alongside these accounts of his life, there is also a record of his inner-life through the psalms. Through looking at the psalms, particularly the penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) Peterson explores a different response.
Psalm 32 particularly shows the problem of unacknowledged sin. When we fail to admit sin it eats away at us. Vs 3 and 4….
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long. For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
And what is the solutions? Vs 5
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD “—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
The solution is to choose to deal with God. God’s forgiveness is the only answer to sin. Peterson points out that if we choose not to go to God then we end up trying to deal with sin through punishment, education, moral strategy or denial. The answer isn’t resolve; “that’s the last time, I won’t do it again”. We need to confess, we need God’s forgiveness. I’ve realised that I need to get into a better ‘habit’ of confession and receiving forgiveness. I need to learn this response, confession, not the resolve and relying on myself.
Talking about psalm 38 Peterson tells us:
The Psalmist certainly takes the responsibility for the personal consequences of his or her sin. But the social dimensions are also very much involved: no illusions that if I just get “right with God” everything is going to be fine, no fantasies that if I can just convert or conquer and so get rid of my detractors I will be home and free. God is the one with whom I must deal. My inside world is not, nor will it ever be perfect. The outside world is not, nor will it ever be perfect. In all matters of sin, my business, first and foremost, is God: “make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation” (v.22).
I am unable to totally deal with my sin. I’m unable to be perfect, therefore I have to rely more heavily on the Lord. I have to put friends around me who will remind me to confess my sin and receive God’s forgiveness.
Record Profits… 15 May 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're thinking about...Tags: exploited, James 5, justice, profit
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In the last few days Sainsbury, Barclays and BT have all announced increased profits – that’s not that they’ve turned a profit but that they’ve made more than last year. When interviewed on radio one of the key people at BT said they would continue to maximise profits and look to increase their share of the international market. At the same time there workers are saying they are not being paid enough and there are on-going discussions with unions. I don’t know the details but it seems sad to me that the employees don’t seem to benefit from all their hard work. I’m sure the line is something like “they get a reasonable wage” or a “comparable wage” but I guess my question is, is it a fair wage?
The relationship between the employer and employee becomes less and less tight. There is no employer loyalty; less favourable pension schemes, smaller benefits, longer hours, greater pressures and worst of all temp workers who they can employ and turn away whenever they like. Profits are all that matter – maximise profits, minimise expenses.
It’s not just sweat shops where workers are exploited, it’s in our own towns and cities.
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. James 5.1-6
The Bible isn’t quiet about these things – it is very clear.
“The Little Way” 17 April 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're reading..., What we're thinking about...Tags: daily, little way, prayer
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I really like things that remind us to think of Jesus during the ‘normal day’; things like setting our alarms on our phones to midday to remind us to pray the Lord’s prayer. I also really like Mother Teresa’s saying “we can do no great thing, just small things with great love.” I know I always get stuck in this desire to do great things and forget about the day-to-day.
This week has been fairly quiet, and so a good opportunity to do some things I don’t normal have time for. One such thing was to take the opportunity to spend the morning on the Besom van. The Besom project receives furniture, appliances, clothes, games etc. which are in good condition from people who don’t want them any more, and hands them on to people who do. I was on the van for a couple of deliveries. It was a real privilege to be part of this small gesture of love towards a couple of people who really needed it.
This morning I was reading Richard Foster’s book, Prayer, and was challenged by another lady, Therese of Lisieux and her prayer-filler approach to life, the little way.
The little way… is deceptively simple. It is, in short, to seek out the menial job, to welcome unjust criticisms, to befriend those who annoy us, to help those who are ungrateful.
He goes on to say that the great thing about the little way is how accessible it is to everyone. It’s not some holy ritual, doesn’t require a special book, or special people, it’s just an attitude in everyday life, but one which changes us profoundly.
I think many people talk about a similar way of living, but it’s often as an evangelistic tool. If I love people it will lead them to Jesus, or it will allow me opportunities to talk about Jesus. Actually I think the key thing about the little way is it challenges our natural selfishness, it means that it really is about loving the other person, not that they might change, but that I might change.
Breathing in and out 7 April 2008
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In the midst of planning, of asking who we are we’ve been reminded of the ideas of breathing in and out. Anything living needs to breath in and out, only breathing out will suffocate it, only breathing in will mean it will, well explode I guess. Boiler Room rhythms have been likened to breathing. In the life of community we need to be breathing in (through growing in relationship with eachother and God) and breathing out (through our connections with the local area; churches, groups, schools, individuals etc.) As a boiler room we are keen to explore what these things might look like. How are we doing breathing in and breathing out? Are we doing to much of one or the other?
For the last six months the Boiler Room meal has been the main focus of the community, breathing in together as we get to know eachother better and pray together. Beyond this prayer weeks have also been fairly successful drawing a wider group of people together to pray. Our daily prayer rhythms have been a little harder and it’s this I want to explore over the coming months. One of the ideas we came up with was joining with others in prayer.
I’m keen that ideas of breathing in and out are shared – so do place a comment – I will continue to share my ideas.
A Poem from Lauren….. 19 March 2008
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Unfinished sentences,
Recycled poetry.
Following your dreams… 25 February 2008
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We were up at the City of London Boiler Room hosting the 24-7 tour a couple of weeks back. I’d had a pretty strange week, and that continued on from there. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be questions of who I was, where I was heading. Everything that a few months before had felt quite natural suddenly felt uncomfortable. That Monday was very much about reigniting dreams and dreaming bigger visions. About having a liberated imagination to see what the future might look like. I was very challenged that instead of following those things God had put on my heart, I’d done things out of other motivation. I’d allowed other things to swallow those dreams and I’d lost some of the excitement I felt for my job and for 24-7 Prayer.
It can be quite easy to put dreams on hold when “normal life” seems to take over, but I think that is exactly where our dreams need to be lived out. It’s too easy to say “If my circumstance were different” or “when I get there, then I can live out my dream” when actually it’s not easy to live out something radical. It’s not easy to live counter-culturally where ever you are. One of the things I’ve been thinking about is how do we affect where we are today. How do I affect my nieghbours? How do we affect people in the places we are, whether that’s the work-place, university, school, etc.
I’d really like us to think and pray about how we can make a difference today. How we can cause ripples of the kingdom today. How we can see lives changed today.
Any thoughts?
The Media and Society 12 February 2008
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I’ve been rather concerned over the last few weeks with the way the media have swarmed over some subjects. I think it’s been a growing problem, but there seem to have been a number of things over the last few week that I think highlights this.
The big one over the last few days has been Rowan Williams. In a slow news weekend, with 24 hour news channels, websites, podcasts and radio anything becomes news as long as you twist it enough. Rowan Williams talk has been taken out of context and everyone seems to have jumped on the band wagon to take their swing at him. He’s perhaps been a little clumsy with how he’s presented his ideas, but when all people here of a talk is a one sentence sound bite how are we supposed to have debate. I would like to think that no-one has made comment without reading his speech(es) first, but I doubt that is the case.
Yesterday with the McCartney – Mills divorce we are left with hours and hours of speculation because no-one has a blind idea what was going on – and yet it’s still news! HOW?
I want to encourage us to be a thinking community and a community that isn’t taken in. I’m reminded of Ephesians 4.14-15
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
I encourage you to check out the following websites….
I’m not saying I always agree with them or they are always right – but they do think carefully and sensibly.
I stand at the door and knock 29 January 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're thinking about.., What we've done....add a comment
Perhaps I didn’t expect for yesterday to be a normal day, but I certainly didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. We began the week of prayer, particularly focusing on the week of prayer. We left ourselves a bit short of time to get everything done, and I think there are a few other things we would have like to included in the room. We did a little better at getting the word out, but we still need to improve. I was stood in the prayer room, putting the last few things in place before the first person was due to arrive at 10am. Just before ten, some walked in through the door with a large bag on his back and a big smile. I didn’t recognise him but he soon introduced himself as Steve and that he was leading through the retreat for the chaplaincy at Royal Holloway this week. I love the idea of what he’s doing, leading through a retreat within the context of normal life, but perhaps it’s another story. He comes from a Jesuit community near Liverpool called Loyola Hall. We went for coffee and had a great conversation, finding out what he did, what the community life where he lived was like and about what we are doing here in Egham.
The day continued well, spending time in the prayer room, followed by lunch with a good friend Tom Gillum from the Community of St Jude. It was exciting to begin to exlore possibilities of connecting up over lent with some of the things the’ve got going on leading up to Easter. I love meeting up with Tom, he brings such wisdom and shares a similar desire to see community life centred on Jesus and focused with prayer built where he is.
Later in the day I had coffee with Andy Freeman from 24-7, who brings a similar heart and discernment. It was a blessing to spend some time with him talking through some of my questions to do with Boiler Room life. He then came on to the Boiler Room meal, which we had up in the prayer room. It was a real celebration of what God is doing and Andy challenged us with some reflections on Rev 3, looking at Jesus being the one who constantly knocks on the door and asks to be let in in a bigger way in to our community lives. Steve also came along and lead us in a short meditation before we ate.
As I drove Andy down to the station, he remarked on how it felt very like a family. That there was a love for each other and an openness to him coming in. I feel the same, and love having all of you as family!
