Comments for mustard seeds http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com discovering seeds of god's tomorrow Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:19:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on new urc blog on the block by Dick Wolff http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/09/new-urc-blog-on-the-block/#comment-10506 Dick Wolff Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:11:16 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/?p=77#comment-10506 Hi! I can't find the joining-up form referred to at the bottom of the side bar, so am using this comment to publicise my very recently-launched blog, for adding to the URC blogroll. See www.blog.wolffs.info My main concern is the interface between religion and "religionless" society. Current postings, for instance, are a response to the Archbishop of Canterbury's recent lecture on 'Religion and Law' (to which a lecture this week here in Oxford by Stanley Hauerwas related). I also have a bee in my bonnet about so-called 'faith schools' - I think the Free Churches Group on CTE has sold us down the river. My background is 14 years in Industrial Mission and 10 as Mission Enabler to Wessex Synod. I'm deeply rooted in the URC and think that our ecclesiology (of which our own people are widely ignorant) is a fount of wisdom, for all its apparent failure. But then nothing fails like the best. Hi! I can’t find the joining-up form referred to at the bottom of the side bar, so am using this comment to publicise my very recently-launched blog, for adding to the URC blogroll.
See http://www.blog.wolffs.info
My main concern is the interface between religion and “religionless” society. Current postings, for instance, are a response to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent lecture on ‘Religion and Law’ (to which a lecture this week here in Oxford by Stanley Hauerwas related). I also have a bee in my bonnet about so-called ‘faith schools’ - I think the Free Churches Group on CTE has sold us down the river.
My background is 14 years in Industrial Mission and 10 as Mission Enabler to Wessex Synod. I’m deeply rooted in the URC and think that our ecclesiology (of which our own people are widely ignorant) is a fount of wisdom, for all its apparent failure. But then nothing fails like the best.

]]> Comment on what’s a vision? by Dick Wolff http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/25/whats-a-vision/#comment-10504 Dick Wolff Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:54:43 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/25/whats-a-vision/#comment-10504 We had a 'vision' about a year ago (Feb 2007) - at least, it felt like that. It came out of the blue, wasn't directly connected with anything we were doing or thinking of at the time, but just made total sense in the context. We want to adapt our church building in Oxford into residential accommodation for a community with four marks : 1) commitment to living in community 2) Christian spiritual focus (whether residents are 'signed-up Christians' or still 'seekers' 3) commitment (individually and/or/jointly) to engagement in social action/activism, through institutional church locally if possible, but if not . . 4) commitment to 'ministry of hospitality' We're getting a lot of what feels like scepticism from 'higher' URC circles (who haven't yet seen the detailed proposal) and we are being challenged to prove there's a 'market' for such a thing. "What guarantee of recruiting residents?" If anyone can help by suggesting how we might do some market research it would be appreciated. I'm thinking of circulating all student chaplains in UK and exploring CWM. Would also be glad to know of similar communities in UK. We had a ‘vision’ about a year ago (Feb 2007) - at least, it felt like that. It came out of the blue, wasn’t directly connected with anything we were doing or thinking of at the time, but just made total sense in the context. We want to adapt our church building in Oxford into residential accommodation for a community with four marks :
1) commitment to living in community
2) Christian spiritual focus (whether residents are ’signed-up Christians’ or still ’seekers’
3) commitment (individually and/or/jointly) to engagement in social action/activism, through institutional church locally if possible, but if not . .
4) commitment to ‘ministry of hospitality’
We’re getting a lot of what feels like scepticism from ‘higher’ URC circles (who haven’t yet seen the detailed proposal) and we are being challenged to prove there’s a ‘market’ for such a thing. “What guarantee of recruiting residents?”
If anyone can help by suggesting how we might do some market research it would be appreciated. I’m thinking of circulating all student chaplains in UK and exploring CWM.
Would also be glad to know of similar communities in UK.

]]> Comment on infectious visions by Eric http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/20/infectious-visions/#comment-7467 Eric Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:35:22 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/20/infectious-visions/#comment-7467 <strong>Eric...</strong> Definitely, the most sensible thing i have seen in a long time.... Eric…

Definitely, the most sensible thing i have seen in a long time….

]]> Comment on urc blogring! by Richard http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/13/urc-blogring/#comment-3056 Richard Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:12:37 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/11/13/urc-blogring/#comment-3056 Hi, There I was just about to knock up a list of URC blogs and it turns out you have done so already. I have just signed up on the blogring. Pleased to have found the site. Richard Hi,

There I was just about to knock up a list of URC blogs and it turns out you have done so already. I have just signed up on the blogring. Pleased to have found the site.

Richard

]]> Comment on what are you reading? by Loffers http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2558 Loffers Fri, 18 May 2007 21:19:29 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2558 Found both these books very useful. McLaren writes really well and has a generous spirit. Volf has a real depth to his theology and helps you look at even some fundamentals from a new perspective. Check out my book recommendations for other books I've found helpful (in the Books section of 'Loffers Lair'). Loffers Found both these books very useful. McLaren writes really well and has a generous spirit. Volf has a real depth to his theology and helps you look at even some fundamentals from a new perspective.

Check out my book recommendations for other books I’ve found helpful (in the Books section of ‘Loffers Lair’).

Loffers

]]> Comment on what are you reading? by Monte http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2315 Monte Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:16:40 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2315 Hello Lawrence, I enjoyed this one, too. It seems to me that his generous spirit captures a sense of confidence in God's presence and work that evangelicalism has often lacked. We have opposed so much because we have been afraid. McLaren seems to actually believe that God is God enough to take care of things, and that it isn't up to me to straighten everyone out. And in that courage, I am emboldened to admit that there's plenty to be straightened out in my own outlook. "Perfect love casts out fear." Hello Lawrence, I enjoyed this one, too. It seems to me that his generous spirit captures a sense of confidence in God’s presence and work that evangelicalism has often lacked. We have opposed so much because we have been afraid.
McLaren seems to actually believe that God is God enough to take care of things, and that it isn’t up to me to straighten everyone out.
And in that courage, I am emboldened to admit that there’s plenty to be straightened out in my own outlook.
“Perfect love casts out fear.”

]]> Comment on what are you reading? by Alastair http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2074 Alastair Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:45:36 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2074 and now it's reappeared, but at least you have lots of comments now and now it’s reappeared, but at least you have lots of comments now

]]> Comment on what are you reading? by Alastair http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2073 Alastair Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:45:07 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-2073 hmmm left a long comment on this which seems to have disappeared may have to try and remember what i said so i can rewrite it hmmm

left a long comment on this which seems to have disappeared

may have to try and remember what i said so i can rewrite it

]]> Comment on what are you reading? by Alastair http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-1919 Alastair Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:31:44 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-1919 Lawrence - hi, long time no see, thanks to Brian's link on his blog I found this. I recently read 'a generous orthodoxy' and liked what he said, but then we always like the stuff that (as you said) we agree with! I think that his content isn't as radical as he thinks it is, at least in a UK context, but that he puts quite well lots of ideas that have been floating around in the Church for some while and makes a coherent argument for it. I like it! And unlike Mr Holmes, I like the style, though perhaps it is a little self important whilst proclaiming humility. As for Miroslav Volf, its one of those books that I bought a while back and keep meaning to read, but am stuck on some heavy Theological tome at the mo... Lawrence - hi, long time no see, thanks to Brian’s link on his blog I found this. I recently read ‘a generous orthodoxy’ and liked what he said, but then we always like the stuff that (as you said) we agree with! I think that his content isn’t as radical as he thinks it is, at least in a UK context, but that he puts quite well lots of ideas that have been floating around in the Church for some while and makes a coherent argument for it.

I like it! And unlike Mr Holmes, I like the style, though perhaps it is a little self important whilst proclaiming humility.

As for Miroslav Volf, its one of those books that I bought a while back and keep meaning to read, but am stuck on some heavy Theological tome at the mo…

]]> Comment on what are you reading? by Brian Holmes http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-1767 Brian Holmes Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:05:54 +0000 http://mustardseeds.wolsblog.com/2006/12/08/what-are-you-reading/#comment-1767 Hi Lawrence, just to let you know that I, too, am reading 'A Generous Orthodoxy' and am about halfway through. At present, I have to say that his writing style is grating on me so much, I can't really focus on what he's saying too much, although I really liked the coverage of the 7 Jesus' he has met: very informative and useful. When you say "I like what he's saying – but mainly because he agrees with me!" I think that you have hit the nail on the head. In some ways, my feeling is that his greatest innovation and contribution is having the guts to say it and to take the flack from the conservative evangelicals. Anyway, I shall keep on reading it and then try to revisit it to be a bit more positive, especially as everybody is raving about it. Hi Lawrence, just to let you know that I, too, am reading ‘A Generous Orthodoxy’ and am about halfway through.

At present, I have to say that his writing style is grating on me so much, I can’t really focus on what he’s saying too much, although I really liked the coverage of the 7 Jesus’ he has met: very informative and useful.

When you say “I like what he’s saying – but mainly because he agrees with me!” I think that you have hit the nail on the head. In some ways, my feeling is that his greatest innovation and contribution is having the guts to say it and to take the flack from the conservative evangelicals.

Anyway, I shall keep on reading it and then try to revisit it to be a bit more positive, especially as everybody is raving about it.

]]>