I thought since people may read this blog, I should say a bit about me.
Why honestly living it?
Simply put, I am sharing my journey with you.
So who am I?
I am a mum with 2 young children, who is professionally trained in youth and community work. I am currently working in mission. I try to balance being a mum with practically demonstrating God's love to those around me....what most Christians endeavour to do - it just so happens that I am currently with Youth With A Mission Scotland.
I like things in simple language. I value truth and honesty. I don't claim to be one who has it all sown up. My heart and vision to be transformed into the people God wants them to be.
As a community worker, I have a passion for good practice. I believe that when we develop a new project, people should be able to see that it is run well with good policy and practice because God wants the best for us - we should do our best for Him.
We should be an example to others of how to do things well.
This is a blog of my journey in balancing all these aspects of me, so that I can hopefully be the salt and light in my community. Seeking an ever deeper relationship and intimacy with my God.
Sunday 22 March 2009
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Biblical Worldview continued
One of our YWAM Stirling statements is that we want to engage with individuals and communities with a biblical world view. I am currently trying to unpack that a little. What does it mean to have a biblical worldview?
People who know me, know that I am not one to use theology terminology, so its focuses in community and church - seeing it from where I am at - now. So I don't claim to have arrived. (I am not sure I ever will!)
I have looked at Mark d Roberts blog series on Biblical worldview the matter and he explains things in a way I understand...
Two things that Mark has written stick out at the mom
"1. There is one transcendent, sovereign, all-powerful God who created all things.
People who know me, know that I am not one to use theology terminology, so its focuses in community and church - seeing it from where I am at - now. So I don't claim to have arrived. (I am not sure I ever will!)
I have looked at Mark d Roberts blog series on Biblical worldview the matter and he explains things in a way I understand...
Two things that Mark has written stick out at the mom
"1. There is one transcendent, sovereign, all-powerful God who created all things.
2. Matter matters, because God created heaven and earth and saw that all things he created are very good."
What God created was good. Sin has got in the way.
God created us to be relational- with Him and others. The earth He created was good and is His.
Yes it is important to be in a Christian community to be built up, equipped and discipled but it is equally important that we show and share God's love practically to those who don't know God.
That should start where you are - local. If God calls you globally, then go.
My passion and vision is my city - at least at the moment. I want to see God move in Stirling, I want to see church partnerships and people earnestly seeking God....and finding Him.Monday 9 March 2009
Biblical Worldview.
Whether we know it or not , we all have a world view. A world view is developed by our beliefs, values and framework of how we interpret and understand our world. It also relates to how we relate or interact in it.
Jesus lived in this world. He interacted with the people. He did not set himself apart in order to look down on people. He did not follow the rituals of the Pharisees.
He spoke directly to the people.
He connected with people where they were at in their daily life.
We all have things that have influenced our thoughts and values.
I am coming from the context of a Christian community worker, who is currently working in a mission organisation.
As a community worker, I know people within my field that would say that I can not be anti - discriminatory and Christian as I have set values. However we all have a worldview, regardless of whether it is religious or not. In my eyes that argument can not hold up. In professional practice I can see I respect the right to seld determination as I believe God gave us freewill.
I believe in accepting people where they are at. As a Christian of over 20 years, I do not claim to be "sorted". (Far from it.)
Some people think that because I work for a mission we are going to Bible bash left, right and centre. Many funders will not fund religious organisations, since they do not want to be seen promoting one particular religion over another - so they just avoid it with a Barge pole.
The truth is no matter how you wrap it up, human beings have a spiritual dimension, I believe God created us that way to have relationship. If that aspect is not filled, people have a void and a lack of purpose. (In my humble opinion.)
People often have this misconception that Christianity is a set of restrictive rules and exclusive. The reality is that God is not judgemental. (We are far more likely to be judgemental.) God is open and inclusive to all.
Engaging in your community as a Christian /missionary is about practically showing God's love to the community, allowing people an opportunity to experience God in their every day life.
We may have a habit of building walls in the church, defining our boundary and territory. If we do that we are being exclusive. Jesus was inclusive. He spent his time with people who were socially unacceptable in that time. There are countless passages where Jesus socialised in the "wrong" circles. (The lepers, tax collectors, shepherds, women, prostitutes... and I could go on)
I have not got it right and I have so much more to learn. I am not versed up and know about apologetics and theology....but I know what God has done for me. All I can do is try to share what I know of God.....and I am always going to have "L" plates on.
Jesus lived in this world. He interacted with the people. He did not set himself apart in order to look down on people. He did not follow the rituals of the Pharisees.
He spoke directly to the people.
He connected with people where they were at in their daily life.
We all have things that have influenced our thoughts and values.
I am coming from the context of a Christian community worker, who is currently working in a mission organisation.
As a community worker, I know people within my field that would say that I can not be anti - discriminatory and Christian as I have set values. However we all have a worldview, regardless of whether it is religious or not. In my eyes that argument can not hold up. In professional practice I can see I respect the right to seld determination as I believe God gave us freewill.
I believe in accepting people where they are at. As a Christian of over 20 years, I do not claim to be "sorted". (Far from it.)
Some people think that because I work for a mission we are going to Bible bash left, right and centre. Many funders will not fund religious organisations, since they do not want to be seen promoting one particular religion over another - so they just avoid it with a Barge pole.
The truth is no matter how you wrap it up, human beings have a spiritual dimension, I believe God created us that way to have relationship. If that aspect is not filled, people have a void and a lack of purpose. (In my humble opinion.)
People often have this misconception that Christianity is a set of restrictive rules and exclusive. The reality is that God is not judgemental. (We are far more likely to be judgemental.) God is open and inclusive to all.
Engaging in your community as a Christian /missionary is about practically showing God's love to the community, allowing people an opportunity to experience God in their every day life.
We may have a habit of building walls in the church, defining our boundary and territory. If we do that we are being exclusive. Jesus was inclusive. He spent his time with people who were socially unacceptable in that time. There are countless passages where Jesus socialised in the "wrong" circles. (The lepers, tax collectors, shepherds, women, prostitutes... and I could go on)
I have not got it right and I have so much more to learn. I am not versed up and know about apologetics and theology....but I know what God has done for me. All I can do is try to share what I know of God.....and I am always going to have "L" plates on.
Friday 6 March 2009
Where and What is your community?
Most of us at one time or another have engaged in a conversation at some point where the notion of community has come up. We have all heard statements like "It was not like that in our day", "We have lost our community spirit". The notion of neighbours talking over the fence and watching out for each other is regarded as nostalgia, since our lifestyles are more fast paced and individualistic.
Perhaps my first question then is "What does the term community mean to you?"
I am not going to go into a long detailed explanation of the varying concepts of community in this blog. Further reading on this can be done here
http://www.infed.org/community/community.htm
In short the term community can relate to a geographic place or neighbourhood , a community of interest e.g . a church community or sport or hobby group. The third notion of community comes from communion. Communion can have deep profound attachments such as an encounter with God or it can equally have looser attachments.
Of course now there is also the notion of online communities and social networks, which can either be linked to a community of interestor a loose communion concept.
For me, probably the strongest links I have to community is my church and to the city of my birth, Stirling. Of course there are other areas and communities to which I belong, however in terms of where I get a sense of identity those are certainly the strongest for me.
What does that mean for my mission field?
It means that one type of community is where I have my support and nurture i.e. the church and communion in terms in my relationship with God. However other notions of community are my mission field i.e. a place and other community of interests.
When we look at community in these wider senses, in my opinion community is not dead, as God created us to be relational. Human beings will always form relationships and have fellowship with others and God.
Perhaps my first question then is "What does the term community mean to you?"
I am not going to go into a long detailed explanation of the varying concepts of community in this blog. Further reading on this can be done here
http://www.infed.org/community/community.htm
In short the term community can relate to a geographic place or neighbourhood , a community of interest e.g . a church community or sport or hobby group. The third notion of community comes from communion. Communion can have deep profound attachments such as an encounter with God or it can equally have looser attachments.
Of course now there is also the notion of online communities and social networks, which can either be linked to a community of interestor a loose communion concept.
For me, probably the strongest links I have to community is my church and to the city of my birth, Stirling. Of course there are other areas and communities to which I belong, however in terms of where I get a sense of identity those are certainly the strongest for me.
What does that mean for my mission field?
It means that one type of community is where I have my support and nurture i.e. the church and communion in terms in my relationship with God. However other notions of community are my mission field i.e. a place and other community of interests.
When we look at community in these wider senses, in my opinion community is not dead, as God created us to be relational. Human beings will always form relationships and have fellowship with others and God.
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