Easter Scripture

In song…

Matthew 28:1 | Mark 16:1 | Luke 24:1 | John 20:1

 

TWS Passion Play

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the intersection of Technology & the Ecclesia? If I haven’t, let it be known that it makes me want to GET ON MY FACE (surrender/sacrifice/pray) and be a better disciple.

The Trinity Church (@ Wall Street), is tweeting the passion play on this Good Friday. It is really blessing my life to see these different perspectives of people, narrated as Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was taking place. You can follow it too… @twspassionplay! I almost wish that I had taken off to go to church! Maybe I’ll go tonight.

 To read all of the tweets: A Twittered Passion Play.

 

Healing

Wounds heal. Some heal better than others. People often choose to assist their bodies in the healing process.

There are some wounds that have healed. I didn’t choose to assist in their healing process but over time the wounds have closed. I suppose the new skin isn’t as resilient as it could have been if I opted for assistance.

I just want to move on. I am definitely not interested in new people ‘who care’, trying to open old wounds to facilitate better healing. I’d like to bypass that pain.

 

Skyfire for Symbian

(not my phone)

It took me longer to get from Dulles Airport home than it did to get from ATL to IAD (Dulles Airport Code). When the plane began its final descent I realized that I had gotten a ride to the airport, so my car wouldn’t be a shuttle a way. It would actually be a bus, train and bus away; parked where I live. Seeing that I had some time to kill as I waited and commuted, I played with my Nokia e71 .

I was elated to see that there were applications to download, for the longest time the Downloads section was EMPTY. I busied myself with reading the descriptions and I stumbled upon Skyfire. Skyfire boasts the ability to bring a computer browsing experience to a mobile device and it is now available for Symbian s60.

Upon initial review I was impressed. The homepage allows me to view the status of various feeds and social networks. This was a definite pro seeing that I had neglected Facebook after its most recent overhaul but have fallen in LOVE with the Twitter community. On the other hand, the bookmarks section is a nuisance as it is on my Nokia e71. I don’t want DEFAULT bookmarks ANYWHERE, especially ones that I CANNOT delete. Luckily, it seems that I will be able to delete the pre-installed from Skyfire.

I am not sure if I like to see every web page on my phone as I would on my computer (fitting it to my tiny screen and needing to zoom my way in) but it might be a feature that I become accustomed to and cannot live without. Skyfire is also able to view any media type within the browser (Flash and video included). Navigation is relatively easy, with the ‘Menu’ and ‘Back’ buttons programmed to actual phone buttons and not just areas within the screen.

Since my phone was about to die, I haven’t played with this new app extensively and I have read reviews that the browser is slow. I am willing to keep it for its status feeding start page if nothing else. Might even get rid of Twibble! (Right now I am using Twibble as my mobile Twitter client and Spaz as my desktop clients (on Mac and Windows) I might have to pair everything on Twibble to know its true capacity).

If you have Windows Mobile or a Symbian device give it a go!

 

Ecclesia

The church is more than a place of worship. I do believe that the church is worship. I know that it is more than a worship service. Overtime the multiple meanings of the word ‘church’ seem to have confined too many ‘churches’ in defining their purpose by only one of its meanings.

Most would deduce that the original meaning of the Greek word ‘ecclesia’ (or ekklesia, the original word from which ‘church’ was translated in the New Testament and in the Old Testament via the Septuagint) is a reference to a ‘community’, not a place. In early church history, references are made to ‘The Church @ _____ (insert geographic area),’ suggesting a group of Christ followers within a certain area. Throughout the history of Christianity the word usage has varied and evolved. Couple this confusion (for lack of a less negatively connotative term) with the concept of our ‘bodies being a temple’ of God and well we have scores of concepts and notions being addressed under the umbrella of one term.

Today there are ‘churches’ everywhere that have ‘church’ once or twice a week and have therefore qualified as being a ‘church’. Or so it seems. I might be off base here, but its not sitting right with me! The following is a more or less related excerpt from a paper that I had to write concerning my ‘Theology of Worship’:

A corporate understanding of worship cannot be accomplished without acknowledging the tenant of personal worship that God requires as we offer our lives as living sacrifices. It is the worship that we intimately live in relationship with God and man, through faith and obedience that lays the foundation for corporate expressions of worship. The act of worship through a service at an appointed time and place, outlined by the presence or absence of a predefined order and the Holy Spirit, organizes our collective approach but does not nullify the necessity for our individual responsibility. Often times, within the communities that comprise the ecclesia this service also functions to introduce non-believers to Christ and to mobilize believers for discipleship and service.

I know this post was a ramble… trying to write through some thoughts.

 

Confession Apparel on Amtrak

Amtrak Apparel

Cafe Car on the train is perfect for productivity.
Large flat surface for notebooks/books/laptop & coffee.
Outlets. Room for luggage overhead, in the booth or under the table.

Sinner T-Shirt

Perfect wardrobe accessory for paper writing & sermon preparation.
T-Shirt purchased from Nakedpastor.

Now what I desperately need is good Bible software!
NRSV + Strong’s Concordance + Bible Dictionary
Because when you haven’t finished your HW or exegesis, bags get heavy w/ books QUICK!

 

A Punk for Pain

“The difference btwn where you are & where God wants you to be is the pain youre avoiding” -Craig Groeschel #catalystoneday

 

The Diagram

The Red Excluded

Sitting at the MacBook in a post work day, pre paper writing and freelance beasting mode; tv off, roomie is ghost, serenaded by Pandora. The concept of reflection is fresh on my heart from a vivid photographic exploration of self that I stumbled on through Facebook. Reflection then coupled with relationships and I began to think about portions of our person that we share with other people.

There are certain personal revelations, affirmations, failures and dreams that are only shared with one person and other aspects with another. Some things are common knowledge while other things are not shared at all. Yet, all is known by God.

I wonder which things I lock in that others (individually or collectively) could benefit from knowing. I question those things that I shared with people that should have been private conversations between God and I. I regret that as often as I decide (as far as circumstance provides the privilege), I decide without consulting God. I know that if I had allowed him to direct my choices, I’d be less bound by the fear of what I don’t share, less ashamed for what I have shared and more truthful to what is common knowledge.

I pray that what’s in my heart will align with perception and that even those who are closest will witness love.

 

Twitter Prompts Purpose

I NEVER know how to qualify the vocational niche of extending the community and ministry of the church onto the web. Hmmm, that statement is actually getting closer but it leaves out my passion for visual media (graphic design, video sermons etc. that doesn’t fall into the web category). Subsequently, when ‘drilled’ I ramble passionately.

At a Board of Examiners meeting I often steered their questions concerning vocation towards the aforementioned qualifications. I was trying to prove that just because I am not called to pastor, and just because I am not living where my membership is based (insert portions of the AMEZ Discipline that discuss membership and the path from calling to ordination) doesn’t mean that I will not function within the life of the church. Perhaps not in the life of ‘one’ local church but I plan on equipping many local churches.

I plan on serving with excellence, conviction and passion. I’m a long way off but that’s the plan. Daily I surround myself with people that work within this vocation and produce amazing things for their employers (via twitter/blogs etc.).

Banging this out into the blogosphere is the result of the following tweets.

@

Question - Screen Capture Spaz

Answer - Screen Capture Spaz

Why black churches in mainstream denominations? Partially because it is my background but ultimately because I know there is a need.

 

How Are You?

My standard response to the opening inquiry is, ‘Very well and you?’ Unfortunately, there are times when the person asking has already shared with me their state of being and my, ‘and you?’ comes across indifferent and redundant.

By theOtherdrBen's.

Furthermore, I almost ALWAYS respond the same way whether or not I am doing, ‘very well.’ The majority of the time I the question is not sincere and merely serves as cordial salutations.

Today, I answered ‘very well.’ I meant it. Friday was hectic, tomorrow makes me anxious, my life is still unsettled but today, I answered truthfully.