A whole generation of theological students was exptected to wade its way through Walter Wink's tomes in the Powers series.  They were challenging and insightful explorations of a central thesis roughly thus:

The powers are good

The powers are fallen

The powers can be redeemed

Being made to read Wink and Bosch at the same time was maybe a tad mean, but each of these writers' thoughts have been signficant in shaping my own.

As Walter Wink experiences the fulfilment of the promises that shaped his life, may we who remain play our own part on the ongoing redemptive work of Christ within, through and of the Powers.

A week on from Assembly, I've finally fished out my notes to recall what it was Chris Duffett said.

Here's a very brief summary...

• We have a big-hearted God
• Church exists for people who are battered, bruised and broken

Four things he observed...

1. Churches are like sex-shops or betting-shops... (hopefully that's self explanatory) we need to /be church differently
2. We need to show our big-hearted God via our own big-hearted joy
3. We need to love people
4. We need to do new things not just the same old, same old.

None of this is rocket science... but our corporate reluctance to do it might lead one to deduce otherwise!

Find out more here

Over the summer I am due to lead a set of three united evening services, and my thought is to explore some different styles or genres of Christian spirituality.  Suffice it to say there are as many variations on this theme as there are writers on it, and I have more books than enough to play with.  However, nothing that uses a three-fold pattern (typically five or more are identified).

So, I am looking for any ideas that might fit any of the following broad areas of spirituality ...

• British and/or Scottish...
• Baptist and/or (Scottish) Presbyterian...
• Urban and/or city...

Answers on a postcard, blog comment or any other way you know of reaching me would be fantastic.

This Sunday our title is "Beyond 400 - Remembering Our Future" - and is part response to the BUGB-BMS Assembly, part church meeting and totally 'Being Baptist'.  It's a bit experimental and a bit 'old-is-new' as we rediscover early Baptist praxis.  Alas, as I've prepared my reflection (i.e. short sermon) this Rolf Harris song has kept popping unbidden into my brain....

Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King
Caractacus, were just passing by.
All together, now the ladies of the harem of the court
of King Caractacus, were just passing by.
Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King
Caractacus, were just passing by.
Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King
Caractacus, were just passing by.

Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem
of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by.
All together, now the noses on the faces of the ladies
of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just
passing by.
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem
of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by.
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem
of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by.

Now the boys who put the powder on the noses on the
faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King
Caractacus, were just passing by.
[Repeat 4 times]

Now the fascinating witches who put the scintilating
stitches in the breeches of the boys who put the powder
on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of
the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by.
[Repeat 4 times]

Now if you want to take some pictures of the
fascinating witches who put the scintilating stitches in
the breeches of the boys who put the powder on the
noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the
court of King Caractacus...

...you're too late! Because they've just... passed...
by!

[From: http://www.elyrics.net ]

I blame Paul Fiddes... it was a quote from him that sparked this memory!

It's probably just me, but whenever I use the Royal Mail "Track and Trace" website I have a little chuckle... you have to be a Baptist who reads theology/church history to get what I'm on about.  Between that and FiddesPayne cake decorations...