sustain:if:able kiwi

the wanton pleasure of idle wondering

I fly to Auckland for the day tomorrow (Saturday), catching a 6:30 am flight, returning at 8:30 pm. I am part of the Virtual Theology Colloquium 2005;

Purpose: to gather a group of Trans-Tasman scholars to explore and discuss themes related to doing theology in the context of an electronic world: the implications for these disciplines of the cultural and epistemological changes being brought by electronic media (hypertext, digital technologies, electronic publishing, mobile telephony and the internet) and their cultural formations and applications.

I have titled my paper – P2P theology: the potential of everyday practices, as enscribed in virtual internet communities

I am presenting some research analysing attempts at community on the internet, specifically open source theology, blogs and grid blogs, assessing their potential in enabling a P2P theology. In so doing I am arguing that theology today is best viewed not in terms of historical beliefs, but in everyday practices.

Part of this week has been in preparation, and it has reminded me again of how much I enjoy research. So much of my life has an essential praxis; a preparing to preach or teach or write or speak at a seminar. While invariably much of my research does end up as praxis, there is something profoundly re-creative – excessive, wanton even – about taking time to follow the research muse and chase down questions for the sheer sake of idle wondering.

growth questions

We are ringing people around church at the moment, asking them;

In what ways do you see people your age grow/develop/change for the better?

Are their any other ways people your age can grow/develop/change for the better?

Age range?

G X E = spiritual growth

While debate still rages over the extent to which we as humans are shaped by our gene pool (G) and/or our environment (E); many people now suggest we are a mix of both.

So apply this with regard to spiritual growth;
G = (a mix of our “made in the image of God” + “being transformed into the image of Christ through the power of the Spirit.”)

E = (our communities; disciplines; growth coaching; practices; spaces).

Churches can’t do much about G; but they can do a lot about E. How to maximise our churches and relationships as E-growth-zones?

teaching this semester

postmodern lenten resources: It’s pilgrimage with Jesus, Jim, but not as we know it

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of 40 days walking with Christ toward Easter. Lent often disappears behind a religious cloak. It needs to be re-habiliated into the culture.

I have started Faith Odyssesy: A Journey Through Lent, by Richard Burridge.

(The UK cover, above, looks heaps better than the US cover as shown on Amazon)

Burridge’s book offers a daily reading through the eyes of Science Fiction and popular culture. “It’s pilgrimage with Jesus, Jim, but not as we know it.”

a wierd joy

Just got my first email from someone;
who I have never met,
who has brought my book,
who found it helpful,
and who was asking me mission questions – how to connect with their poorer, multi-ethnic community.

It is such a joy for me to know that the result of reading my book was thinking about mission and finding God in spaces new and other. Yeeha!

International traveller

relationality
ripped adrift
brain slurred and tired

self stays and self goes
where is earth? who is person?

blog link
clicks to human

ethnocentricity enorbed
mine
yours
ours

slow bass beat, as
rhythm, of
God, self, other

in accented space

san diego

enjoying
– the fact that the bar man asked for my ID!
– taking a picture of the first person who I saw brought my book
– meeting blog and email names
– American hospitality