chris dixons blog
Spiritual
Spiritual / Church matters
Christians may be more normal that you think
Nov 7th
Yesterday I attended a day at a church in Ripon where such subjects such as prophesy and the holy spirit were covered. I was primarily there to play keyboards, but rather than hide behind that (which I sometimes have a tendancy to do) I listend and participated in what was actually going on.
It’s no secret that I think that a lot of the time churches are freaky places and don’t actually do a very good job of communicating what it means to be a Christian in our world. I also think that sometimes (well, most of the time) a lot of christians don’t help things by being a bit.. well… abnormal.
So it was refreshing to hear the speaker, Gary Best from Vineyard in Canada speaking and being compleatly normal. He talked of his struggles in engaging with God and especially in dealing with some of the thinks regarding the holy spirit that might be likley to flip people out (falling over, laughing etc.)
There was a strong theme of community. For example, rather than expecting some kind of prophetic future predicition, or some kind of rebuke for how bad we all are, he suggested that we should spend time looking deeply at others around us and asking that we might know what to say to them in their situations.
Ever had an experence when you just know that someone is upset, or had a problem deeper than that which they are approaching you with? I know I have, and that to me is God prompting me to say something and try and assist in that situation.
How great it would and should be, gary said, if our churches were places where we could respond to the needs of the people around us and where we all could get involved in ministering to people.
He used the illustration of the seaguls in finding nemo to describe a situation where a group of people might be about to be able to experiance God but being ruined by that annoying “mine, mine, mine…” We should encourage others to engage in experiencing God and not worry if we’re not having the same experiences as they are.
Above all, I was struck by how non judgemental, normal and interesting the teaching was, and that’s something that it often missing.
Fair enough, people do poke fun (more than most faith groups I think) at Christians, and indeed there may be much to poke fun at. However, some Christians may be more normal that you think!
The shack
Nov 2nd
I’ve just finished reading The Shack.
Firstly, it’s an amazing book. Why do I say that? Well I supose that it made me cry about 4 times, not in itself amazing, but it did raise some interesting questions and I think it touched quite deep into things that I feel at an emotional level.
For those that have not read the book I won’t spoil it, except to say that it deals with probabbly a no. 1 issue for Christians, namley the question of suffering and why God doesn’t just put a stop to it all.
It also takes up a number of other interesting questions. I think that I will need to read it again, perhaps a few times and there are things in there that need to come out.
It’s not really a Christian book, and I’d be intersted to see how non-Christians would find it. One thing that I struggle with is that sometimes I’m embarassed about Church and the way that people labelling themselves as “Christian” think and act. It’s not their fault sometimes, but the Church just really, really doesnt help.
I think that my current fave quote from Rob Bell sums it up. “A lot of people confuse relegion with God… and walk away from both”
This book gets towards some of the really deep, relationship questions and the nature of love and that’s perhaps why there was a face based fluid adjustment.
Gifted Response?
Sep 4th
I’ve been listening to a Matt Redman song recently called “Gifted response”
For a youtube version click here
That guy looks a bit wierd, but you get the picture. Anyhow, I spoke with a mate and he’s worried about the words. e.g. Is it a gifted response.
This is a gifted response
Father we cannot come to You by our own merit
We will come in the name of Your son
As He glorifies You
And in the power of Your spirit
So what’s it all about?
God pod
Apr 27th
A mate recommended the above podcast to me, and I’ve been catching up on it. Interesting if you like your theological discussion. Not if not.
On itunes or from here.
Aura..
Apr 26th
I’ve been doing a lot of reading, including the excellent travels by Michael Crichton. He has some interesting views including a very scientific explaination of auras.
I figure if they are there then I’ll be able to see them with a bit of training. And if not, nothing lost. I feel that many of my christian friends might see this as a bit dodgy, but I’m treating it as an experiment.
First technique is to get some reading material, so I’ve got this.
And now I’m training my eyes which is going well.
I’ll let you know. Can all that christian art be wrong?
I’ve also got future plans for spoon bending 
Songs suitable for 14 year olds, focusing on environment?
Apr 26th
I’m playing for encounter on Sunday which is targetted at 14 year olds. Rather than 100% Christian songs I thought it would be nice to do a pop song. Problem, dont know what 14 year olds know. I thought of MJ’s earth song or heal the world, but someone pointed out that they wont know that! Help…
Verse of the day..
Apr 21st
Check out my new “Verse of the day” feature. It uses an excellent plugin which takes XML bible verse feeds allowing it to display a different verse each day! Cool…
If you are a wordpress buff, then find it here.
Also, I am trying a new three column layout for a bit. Comment on if you like it or not. It’s different, and I can’t decide if it’s better. I’m just looking for a fresh new look
the ark
Apr 15th
check this out.
I have always been interested in finding the ark, and came across this interesting article.
Travels
Apr 11th
I have been re-reading a book called Travels by Michael Chrichton, he’s the guy that wrote jurrasic park and sphere. Travels is a facual book about his life experiences and it’s really interesting. He’s a scientist which makes me trust what he says, and he’s not afraid to try new things. He talks in several chapters about psychic readings and things, and seems pretty convinced that there is something in it. Only in terms of people knowing your past. For a christian, I’m always careful about things like this, but if there is something in it, then how does it work and where does it connect to the spiritual realm that I believe in. God clearly has revealed supernatural information to others about me in the past, so should I be supprised that others can access this kind of information.
Anyhow, it’s a real good read. Check it out at amazon
Happy Passover.
Apr 11th
I am going to be playing keyboard tomorrow night at a passover celebration, at St Thomas Lancaster, which is church of England. If that seems a bit strange then perhaps it is, but it’s certainly fun. I get to play loads of um-pa um-pa type music and eat food which is all good (except for the traditional horseraddish… yuk).
Tonight I went bowling at Morecambe SuperBowl, and scored 174, which sounds good but was frustrating as it’s 2 behind my best ever, and my last shot was only a 6. Ah well, it’s just nice to find some time for things like this!
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