I've always quite liked Jars of Clay, they are sincere.
So when the following video and information popped into my inbox, I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.
Sometimes music videos tell stories. This video tells the story of a band's journey to get our own hands dirty. Someone once defined the role of an artist as the act of looking at the world and describing it...not just as the world is... but also as it should be.
There is only so much looking and describing a band can do when faced with injustices, and tragedies... and also the heroic stories of those who rise above their fears and overcome insurmountable obstacles. Two Hands is a song about overcoming our own fears and finding reasons to care about others even when we don't feel equipped to do so.
This video shows our work in Africa with Blood:Water Mission. We hope it inspires you, and allows you to dream about how you can use your two hands to love and serve those around you.
And when you are done watching the video... check out BloodWaterMission.com AND come visit us out on the Creation Festival: The Tour this Fall!
Dan Haseltine
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
A king's legacy: Jackson and Solomon
Google crashed when Michael Jackson died.
The most successful recording artist of all time, a popstar whose Thriller album sold over 109 million copies (far and away the bestselling album ever – more than double its closest rival), a singer who pulled a greater audience for his Superbowl halftime show than the Superbowl itself, and a man whose death has rocked the world.
There are parallels between Jackson the king of pop and Solomon the king of wisdom. Both knew the luxuries of excess. Both had experienced money and fame and both of them found it ultimately empty.
Had Jackson’s father passed on godly advice instead of abuse to his son, the story may have read differently. The first few chapters of Proverbs read as a father passing on wisdom to a son.
Solomon’s words could have been lyrics to a song that train us as listeners to see the world differently, to value God’s wisdom more than gold, to resist immediate gratification for the path of godliness, to not rely on purely human reasoning but to trust our path in life to God.
It is by adopting these principles that we preserve down through the generations the Christian way to handle the same challenges of self-identity, financial mishandling, integrity, lostness, and longing for intimacy that Michael Jackson is finally and fatally free from.
Krish Kandiah
http://krishk.wordpress.com
The most successful recording artist of all time, a popstar whose Thriller album sold over 109 million copies (far and away the bestselling album ever – more than double its closest rival), a singer who pulled a greater audience for his Superbowl halftime show than the Superbowl itself, and a man whose death has rocked the world.
There are parallels between Jackson the king of pop and Solomon the king of wisdom. Both knew the luxuries of excess. Both had experienced money and fame and both of them found it ultimately empty.
- Solomon’s story is found in the books of 1 Kings and Ecclesiastes.
- Jackson’s story is writ large in the media this week.
- Jackson’s legacy to the next generation is his songs.
- Solomon’s legacy to the next generation is his proverbs.
Had Jackson’s father passed on godly advice instead of abuse to his son, the story may have read differently. The first few chapters of Proverbs read as a father passing on wisdom to a son.
Solomon’s words could have been lyrics to a song that train us as listeners to see the world differently, to value God’s wisdom more than gold, to resist immediate gratification for the path of godliness, to not rely on purely human reasoning but to trust our path in life to God.
It is by adopting these principles that we preserve down through the generations the Christian way to handle the same challenges of self-identity, financial mishandling, integrity, lostness, and longing for intimacy that Michael Jackson is finally and fatally free from.
Krish Kandiah
http://krishk.wordpress.com
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Child sacrifice 101
The story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19), has always left a bitter taste in my mouth. Whatever way I look at it, I can't link a God of love to the God who demands this shocking show of faith from Abraham.
This passage is today's WordLive and the writers have looked at the issue in their own unique styles. There are some really good points made and the I'd encourage you all to have a good read through.
I wonder whether my view of God is perhaps one-sided. Like all of us we tend to limit God because of our own finite imaginations. Am I in danger of limiting what I understand in the phrase 'God of love'?
Our relationship with God grows best when we are challenged. This passage certainly challenges me. How about you?
WordLive Genesis 22:1-19
Darren
Monday, 22 June 2009
Inside or outside?
Being a foreigner in another country can be difficult, to say the least. When things get tough, you’re not necessarily the most popular person around.
On Sunday the BBC’s Tehran correspondent John Leyne was given just 24 hours to leave Iran. This came in the wake of huge demonstrations after the disputed presidential election. Iran has accused the BBC of meddling in its affairs.
Unofficial opposition to foreigners can be pretty unpleasant too. It reared its head in Belfast last week when 110 Romanians had to flee their homes and seek safety. This came after several days of racist incidents.
A local church gave them refuge, then later they were moved to another safe location by the council. Two teenagers – aged 15 and 16 – have been charged with intimidation.
The fear of difference often underlies these situations. It can produce unintended and bizarre consequences, as in the case of Phyllip Cadwaller. When he went to Blackburn Cathedral to light a candle for his mother, who died four years ago, he was ejected, and searched by police.
At the time of his visit, the BBC were broadcasting a live programme about Anne Frank. A previous service broadcast from the cathedral had been sabotaged. Unfortunately, Phyllip has a shaven head and a tattoo. Cathedral officials – who later apologised – were afraid that he was a BNP supporter wanting to disrupt the service.
Being in a minority can cause problems, whether it’s because of your nationality or your appearance. The issues faced by Abraham and his family were by no means unique. And being in the minority has been the experience of many, if not most Christians over the centuries.
Emlyn Williams
On Sunday the BBC’s Tehran correspondent John Leyne was given just 24 hours to leave Iran. This came in the wake of huge demonstrations after the disputed presidential election. Iran has accused the BBC of meddling in its affairs.
Unofficial opposition to foreigners can be pretty unpleasant too. It reared its head in Belfast last week when 110 Romanians had to flee their homes and seek safety. This came after several days of racist incidents.
A local church gave them refuge, then later they were moved to another safe location by the council. Two teenagers – aged 15 and 16 – have been charged with intimidation.
The fear of difference often underlies these situations. It can produce unintended and bizarre consequences, as in the case of Phyllip Cadwaller. When he went to Blackburn Cathedral to light a candle for his mother, who died four years ago, he was ejected, and searched by police.
At the time of his visit, the BBC were broadcasting a live programme about Anne Frank. A previous service broadcast from the cathedral had been sabotaged. Unfortunately, Phyllip has a shaven head and a tattoo. Cathedral officials – who later apologised – were afraid that he was a BNP supporter wanting to disrupt the service.
Being in a minority can cause problems, whether it’s because of your nationality or your appearance. The issues faced by Abraham and his family were by no means unique. And being in the minority has been the experience of many, if not most Christians over the centuries.
Emlyn Williams
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Promises, promises
Promises are great as long as they are kept. Unfortunately, it seems that the G8 group of industrial nations’ pledge to double aid to Africa by the end of 2010, is one which might not be.
According to campaign group One, with aid up by only 50 per cent by the end of 2009, keeping the promise will be a tall order. That’s not good news for Africa.
Airlines are more optimistic however. They have promised to cut greenhouse emissions annually for the next 11 years.
But they have also promised to bring in a cap on emissions from 2020. Even if demand increases, emissions won’t. Let’s hope they succeed.
Promises, integrity and loyalty are all pretty much of a piece, and are personal not just corporate. When they appear to be in doubt it can be pretty painful.
That’s what one government minister found and it led to her resignation. Caroline Flint MP told GMTV that she left her job because her loyalty had been questioned.
Family relationships, however, highlight the importance and fragility of promises more than almost anything else. This week’s readings about Abraham and Lot make that quite clear.
For Mercy, a 4-year-old in Malawi, a legal fight over adoption has now been resolved. Madonna has promised to give her a new life in the US.
Whatever we think about the case, we can only hope that the promises really will be kept. In that event, Mercy will prove to be even more than a name.
Emlyn Williams
According to campaign group One, with aid up by only 50 per cent by the end of 2009, keeping the promise will be a tall order. That’s not good news for Africa.
Airlines are more optimistic however. They have promised to cut greenhouse emissions annually for the next 11 years.
But they have also promised to bring in a cap on emissions from 2020. Even if demand increases, emissions won’t. Let’s hope they succeed.
Promises, integrity and loyalty are all pretty much of a piece, and are personal not just corporate. When they appear to be in doubt it can be pretty painful.
That’s what one government minister found and it led to her resignation. Caroline Flint MP told GMTV that she left her job because her loyalty had been questioned.
Family relationships, however, highlight the importance and fragility of promises more than almost anything else. This week’s readings about Abraham and Lot make that quite clear.
For Mercy, a 4-year-old in Malawi, a legal fight over adoption has now been resolved. Madonna has promised to give her a new life in the US.
Whatever we think about the case, we can only hope that the promises really will be kept. In that event, Mercy will prove to be even more than a name.
Emlyn Williams
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Scheduled downtime
Our Internet servers are being moved to a new home in Slough. This is part of a planned move by our hosting company, who are migrating away from their present central London sites.
This means WordLive will be unavailable from around 1am to 6am on Sunday 14 June (GMT) while they're moving.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible
This means WordLive will be unavailable from around 1am to 6am on Sunday 14 June (GMT) while they're moving.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible
Monday, 8 June 2009
Captive audiences, hostages and history
No one wants to be taken hostage. Yet it is happening all the time. Sometimes the outcome for the hostage is good, sometimes not.
Just this past week Lea Laping Patrisa, a hostage in the Philippines, escaped barefoot from her al-Qaeda-linked captors. Sadly, a British tourist taken hostage last January in Mali in north-west Africa was not so fortunate. It seems that Edwin Dyer has been beheaded by his captors, who are also linked with al-Qaeda.
Nevertheless, stories of captivity can also be a great inspiration. Irishman Brian Keenan was a hostage in Lebanon from 1986 to 1990. On last week’s Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4, Piers Morgan chose Keenan’s book An Evil Cradling as his selection to read in his supposed isolation on an island.
Evil though hostage-taking is, it is often driven by a sense of injustice on the part of the captors. In a visit to Egypt, President Obama tried to reach out to Muslims feeling that injustice. Time will tell whether it is an effective strategy, although one militant website called him the ‘wise enemy’.
Justice, however, is two-sided and Obama’s speech recognised that the treatment of Israel is also crucial to a lasting peace. The possession of land is not just an issue of power and prestige. For those who have suffered, it is also a question of security.
The world of Genesis and Abram may seem remote from us. Yet this week’s readings contain the seeds of the issues in these news items. Whoever said ‘history is bunk’ was very wrong.
Emlyn Williams
Just this past week Lea Laping Patrisa, a hostage in the Philippines, escaped barefoot from her al-Qaeda-linked captors. Sadly, a British tourist taken hostage last January in Mali in north-west Africa was not so fortunate. It seems that Edwin Dyer has been beheaded by his captors, who are also linked with al-Qaeda.
Nevertheless, stories of captivity can also be a great inspiration. Irishman Brian Keenan was a hostage in Lebanon from 1986 to 1990. On last week’s Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4, Piers Morgan chose Keenan’s book An Evil Cradling as his selection to read in his supposed isolation on an island.
Evil though hostage-taking is, it is often driven by a sense of injustice on the part of the captors. In a visit to Egypt, President Obama tried to reach out to Muslims feeling that injustice. Time will tell whether it is an effective strategy, although one militant website called him the ‘wise enemy’.
Justice, however, is two-sided and Obama’s speech recognised that the treatment of Israel is also crucial to a lasting peace. The possession of land is not just an issue of power and prestige. For those who have suffered, it is also a question of security.
The world of Genesis and Abram may seem remote from us. Yet this week’s readings contain the seeds of the issues in these news items. Whoever said ‘history is bunk’ was very wrong.
Emlyn Williams
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
The final irony?
Death is certainly inevitable but it often comes surrounded with irony. Last week the oldest survivor of the Titanic, 97-year-old Millvina Dean, died in a nursing home in Southampton. She was 9 weeks old when the ship sank in the icy waters of the North Atlantic with the loss of 1,517 people including her father.
But only days before, Carl Spencer, 37, regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished divers, died from an attack of the bends whilst diving in the much warmer waters of the Aegean to film a National Geographic documentary about the Titanic’s sister ship the Britannic.
Meanwhile Dr George Tiller, one of the few physicians in the US to perform late term abortions, was shot dead inside the lobby of his church whilst serving as an usher at morning service. He had survived a previous attack 16 years ago. Whilst the assumption was that his killer was – ironically – a supporter of pro-life movements, anti-abortion organisations were quick to denounce the shooting.
Every death is sad. But these are just three amongst many. Estimates of the number of civilians killed recently in the final days of the civil war in Sri Lanka range from 7,000 to 20,000.
John Donne wrote, ‘any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind’. If he was right, the impact on us all is staggering.
All of this is put in perspective by this week’s readings. Christ’s death for sin is completely inseparable from resurrection. In our suffering world his death and resurrection really do bring us hope.
Emlyn Williams
But only days before, Carl Spencer, 37, regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished divers, died from an attack of the bends whilst diving in the much warmer waters of the Aegean to film a National Geographic documentary about the Titanic’s sister ship the Britannic.
Meanwhile Dr George Tiller, one of the few physicians in the US to perform late term abortions, was shot dead inside the lobby of his church whilst serving as an usher at morning service. He had survived a previous attack 16 years ago. Whilst the assumption was that his killer was – ironically – a supporter of pro-life movements, anti-abortion organisations were quick to denounce the shooting.
Every death is sad. But these are just three amongst many. Estimates of the number of civilians killed recently in the final days of the civil war in Sri Lanka range from 7,000 to 20,000.
John Donne wrote, ‘any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind’. If he was right, the impact on us all is staggering.
All of this is put in perspective by this week’s readings. Christ’s death for sin is completely inseparable from resurrection. In our suffering world his death and resurrection really do bring us hope.
Emlyn Williams
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