Inspirational practical Christian spirituality with Dr Dion Forster

A new pony in the Forster stable. Has 91 000km's under the belt, but was affordable & good condition!

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:47:23 PST

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A reflection on the partnership of missional congregations conference with Pat Keifert

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:30:58 PST

This week I had the rare opportunity to attend an academic conference in my home town (Somerset West!) - the conference was the 5th anniversary conference of Churches in mission - attended by cluster Churches that belong to the missional Church movement.

First some personal background - I was humbled and deeply honoured when Dr Coennie Burger approached me a few weeks ago to join BUVTON at the University of Stellenbosch as a research associate. The University and the Institute have some plans that will unfold in the next little while, so do keep an eye on this space. It is a joy to be associated with BUVTON and with the faculty of theology at the University of Stellenbosch since this was where I first began my doctoral studies, and I have many friends in the faculty. Moreover, the faculty has been very kind to me over the years (allowing rights to the library, giving me classes to teach, and inviting me to various conferences and events).

I still hold an adjunct post in New Testament at the University of Pretoria (working as an associate to honorary Professor Jan van der Watt who is now at Nijmegen in Holland). And, I was nominated as a research Fellow for the Institute for the Study of Religion at the University of South Africa earlier this year as well.

Each of these posts caters to different interests - the value for me is that they keep me keenly connected to the academy, and the value for the various partnerships is that they get the benefit of my research output (each time I publish a scholarly article, present a conference paper, do book review for a journal, or write something in a book it adds value, and sometimes funding, for them).

So, Dr Burger and Dr Frederik Marais invited me to the abovementioned conference under the auspices of my partnership with BUVTON. I was truly thankful that it worked out that I could attend the conference since I had booked out some time for a conference that I was supposed to attend first in Argentina, but then when it moved to Hawaii (to cater for North American delegates) the cost made it impossible to go. My boss did however go, and it meant that my diary was miraculously open!

The theme of the conference was 'Living as sent ones: Congregations participating in God's Mission'. It was such an uplifting and informative time for me!

The first most significant feature of the conference was the daily pracise of 'dwelling in the word' - I had read about the method in the past, but the simplicity of it had never appealed to me. However, experiencing, and participating with others, in this spiritual discipline was truly a transformative personal experience! Here is a brief explanation of the approach:

Church Innovations has the habit of text dwelling. That is, whenever we meet, as a staff, as a work team, as a training group, we spend the first 20-30 minutes, sometimes more, dwelling within a particular scriptural passage. For us, most of the time, the text is Luke 10:1-12. It is a text of mission, of being sent out with the most basic of instructions, dependent upon our receivers? hospitality....

You can have this habit, too.
Choose a passage - perhaps a lectionary text for this coming week, perhaps a passage already meaningful to your group, and read it aloud.
Sit together with the passage, in silence, or in conversation, sharing with one another where your imagination was caught or where a memory was triggered. Let the passage draw you together as a group.
Bring the passage up when you're trying to make a decision. See what it says to you then.
Close with the passage and prayer.
Bring up the passage again during the next meeting, in the same manner.
Live in the passage for several months. It will bring more and more to you as you revisit it (at Church Innovations we have been living in Luke 10 for over ten years now).

The particular text for this conference was Luke 24. As a Biblical scholar I was constantly tempted to work with the technical elements of the text (historical background, grammatical and syntactical clues, the narrative style and construction of the narrative etc.) However, the intent of this approach is to create a hospitable encounter with the power of the text, and to learn from one's own experiences, and the experiences of others. This approach takes seriously what I have discussed in two recent books I have written for (see my chapter on Biblical interpretation, spirituality and postmodernism in 'What are we thinking' by Forster and Bentley 2009, and also my chapter in 'What is a good life?' by Bentley, Kretzschmar and van Niekerk 2009). In both instances I discuss the value of approaching the text with an open recognition that we do so from a particular perspective (this is not only based on theological bias, personal experience, and socialisation, it is also influenced by our needs, our struggles and our desires).

The second, and equally wonderful aspect of the conference was the narrative approach to sharing 'stories of mission'. I guess there were about 100 or so participants at the conference. They came from as far as Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe and all over South Africa. The participants shared stories of how mission was being shaped in their context through an openness to what God is doing! This approach speaks of trust in God, rather than merely crafting a mission strategy. It speaks of harnessing the move of God's spirit by dwelling in the word and seriously dwelling in the world. These two things go hand in hand. Scripture and context.

Various inputs were encouraging and inspiring - but perhaps the most remarkable for me were some conversations with old friends (like Prof Klippies Kritzinger (more of a mentor than a personal friend), Dr Breda Ludik (a friend I have known for years in the Helderberg who is doing some incredible work in spirituality), and Prof Pat Keifert (a new friend - I had read some of his works such as 'We are here now' (2006), and most notably 'Welcoming the stranger' (1992). You can find out more about Pat here)

Pat is the founder of the movement for missional Churches. His theology and approach to being in mission (as a participation in the mission dei (mission of God)) resonates so strongly with my own perspective. Moreover, he is a stringent and supremely well read Systematic Theologian, so his thoughts are 'tight', clear and orthodox.

Dr Frederick Marais summed up Pat (and the movement's) approach to being in mission as follows - true mission involves a series of conversions:

1. From the Church to God. Ultimately the reason for being and particularly being in ministry and mission is NOT to grow the Church, or perpetuate a structure. True ministry and mission is about a sincere and deep journey with God, along God's way in the world.
2. From ideas ABOUT God to a journey WITH God! The thrust of the missional movement is not theology (as such), the greatest value comes not from knowing things ABOUT God, but rather from lovingly and faithfully journeying WITH God (i.e., Knowing God and God's ways and responding lovingly to God's guidance and instruction). This can lead one among strangers quite quickly! I came to realise how this is the case for me. I am minister in a corporate environment, I am a theologian among people who build roads, I am from a liberal theological tradition among persons who hold a much more conservative and literal approach to their faith... However, I am having to find Christ among 'the strangers' and to find friendly strangers with whom to share this journey with God in Christ.

3. From power to vulnerability. Sadly Mission and ministry are often movements of Power - an imposition of ideas and concepts and structures upon persons in order to shape them in the image of the missioner or minister's theology or tradition (from those who have to those who don't, i.e., this was exemplified by the missionaries to Africa in the 19th century who maintained that they were bringing 'light to the dark continent'). This is not the way of Jesus. The way of Jesus is to break down power with love. To enter into a transformative relationship that is sacraficial and servant hearted. This resonates so strongly with where I currently am! I have had to give up titles, a pulpit, the right to contribute my thoughts and ideas - in the corporate environment my ministry is measured by my love and service, not my ideas and intelect. This point breaks down the power of the minister or pastor. It does away with unhelpfull dichotomies between the ordained and the lay ordained (because as we were reminded, Luther and the reformers accentuated the tradition that Baptism is an ordination to the priesthood of ALL believers! Every members of the body of Christ is truly a minister in response to their baptism).
4. From the extraordinary to the ordinary! This point encourages us (like the disciples in Luke 24) to look for God with us in the ordinary things. So often the Church and the Christian faith looks for God only in the extraordinary - of course God is there. But, God is also present and powerful in the ordinary things.

Listen to this remarkable quote:

I have often maintained that the best poet is ... the baker who ... does [the] majestic and unpretentious work of kneading the dough, consigning it to the oven, baking it in golden colours and handing us our daily bread as a duty of fellowship. - Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet and 1971 Nobel Laureate in Literature (1904-1973)

Isn't that so true? Sometimes we miss the move of God because our attention is focused on the wrong things!

So, I had a chance to learn, and to share, what God is doing in other lives and in mine. It was wonderful to be able to hear the stories of how God is doing God's mission among Churches and Christians all over the world.

It was also wonderful to share how my 'servant' role is indeed the work of mission. I am looking forward to a significant partnership with BUVTON (although my input is more likely to be in the areas of systematic theology, social justice, HIV/AIDS and Wesleyan Theology), and as part of that partnership to learn much more about the partnership of missional Churches.

A picture of my therapist! 1hr and I'm well again!

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:54:44 PST

Yup, the cat is out the bag - I have been in therapy for a while now! Physical therapy! Although believe me, it does something for my state of mind (and of course my soul)!

Our medical allows us to sign up to our local gym for a very small cost. It is fantastic to be able to go to the spin classes (which I do on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5.45). When the weather is bad I also do the 'double class' on a Saturday morning. It is a great workout and I always feel much better afterwards.

The other bonus is that they have a heated children's swimming pool - so I take Courtney and Liam to swim once a week. Courts is a real star in the pool! She swims quite well already. And, for Liam it is great physical therapy. It allows me to work with him on reaching some of his developmental milestones (particularly those that have to do with hemispatial intersection of the right and left limbs. And of course it strengthens his special left arm and leg).

So, I thank God for the privilege of a healthy body and the privilege of living near a gym, and the privilege of having a medical aid that allows me to go to gym!

After a long day like today it feels like therapy!

Liturgy, life and the Church growth movement

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:25:24 PST

My friend Angus Kelly alerted me to this video of Stanley Hauerwas speaking on 'Liturgy and life' - I found it quite challenging and profound!

We live in a world where 'success' is the ultimate goal, and the measure of success seems to be so closely tied to numbers and size. In this world so many Churches aim to 'attract' people to their Church by offering them entertainment (engaging sermons, creative worship etc.) I think that these things are good! Heck, I have some of my most significant encounters with God in profound and beautiful worship. And certainly, some of my greatest awakenings have come through sermons and messages. However, these should not be the end towards which we strive! At its end all Christian worship should bring us into deep and significant communion with God!

However, Hauerwas reminds us, John van de Laar has been saying for some years, that true 'liturgy' connects us with life (it brings the sacred to bear on the secular, it stretches the congregation into the street).

Here's the video:

Let me know what your thoughts are! Oh, and please also check out John's worship resources.

When the creators become the creation - our relationship with our technolgies

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:10:54 PST

Some time ago I posted the following thoughts on technology and our relationship with it:

Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the French phenomenological philosopher, understood that human interaction upon the world is not a one way street... We don't simply act upon the world! There is a reverse action from the world upon us... For example, if you were to walk into an empty room that had nothing but an chair in it what would you do? At some point the emptyness of the room and the presence of the chair would act upon you consciously, or subconsciously, and they will cause you to sit. This illustrates how the space and the objects in the space have informed and transformed your thought processes. However, the very act of sitting (as an act of physics, where the human body and the structure of the chair encounter one another) is a mutual interaction of material realities in which each has an effect upon the other. When you sit on the chair the structure of the chair flexes and takes up strain in certain areas. Conversely the structure of the chair exercises pressure upon your body (changing the shape of your body, supporting your back, lowering the pressure on your feet etc.)

Technology thus has both 'subtle' and 'gross' interactions with its human creators - by this I mean that technology interacts both with what is unseen (thoughts, choices, dreams, hopes, aspirations, desires, fears etc.) and what is seen (our physical being, our environment, our proximity to self and others...)

When one comes to consider this complex relationship between consumers of technology, creators of technologies, and the technologies themselves one can begin to understand that the ethical considerations of what we do (and do not do) with our technologies is even MORE complex! For example, how far do we go in manipulating the human genetic code to do away with certain pathological conditions (mental illness, disease etc.)? When have we taken our use of technology too far, and when have we not taken it far enough!?

Today I came across another very interesting post on the relationship between persons and the technologies we create. Once again, I was interested by the naive view that the author had concerning our existing (and historical) relationship with the technologies we create in order to make our lives more comfortable. The author's assumption is that we are only just beginning to see a shift in power from being creators of technology to being 'recreated' by our own technologies!

The reality is of course that our technologies have impacted, and changed, us since the very first time we used them! The development of farming changed nomadic tribes to static people groups. The ability to harness the energy of animals or aspects of nature (such as wind and water) made production possible that introduced surpluses into the economy that moved societies from an agrarian economy to a trading economy... I could go on forever citing historical examples of such shifts in our behaviour as a result of the impact of our 'created technologies' upon us, their creators!

I would simply state two points once more. The first is that this affirms, for me at least, the fact that all of reality is interconnected. We act upon reality and there is always a reaction as a result. This fact should cause us to be mindful of our relationship with creation, and of course also with God our creation, with whom we are in relationship. It is not by accident that the fundamental expression of the mystery of God is the concept of 'Trinity', three persons in a relationship identity and life forming interaction (called perichoresis by the Greek philosophers who influenced and formed early Christian Confessing (Creed based) theology).

Second, I would affirm once again that the central aspect of human identity - the human brain, is a simplistic system geared towards survival.

Remember the 3 questions that every human brain asks:

Can I eat it? Will it eat me? (Survival through avoiding threat, or through gaining sustenance - which is why action movies and food advertising work so well! They reach straight to our primal brain).
Can I mate with it? Will it mate with me? (The preservation of the species in general, the furtherance of our gene pool in particular - which is of course why sex advertising works so well, and also why we find ourselves more readily attacted to persons who personify the best qualities of people like 'us' (e.g., Caucasian people tend to be more attracted to Caucasians, Hispanics to Hispanics, Orientals to Orientals... This is not always a race based bias (in the negative racial sense), it is to some extend a social and genetic predisposition that is 'hard wired' into our makeup in order to protect our gene pool within the species!)
And then of course the 'efficiency' question, have I seen this before (or do I recognize what I see, hear smell or taste?) This final question forms a recursive loop into the two questions above. If I have seen it, is it a threat or a help, will it harm me or help me?

Your response to people, situations, and just above every stimulus you encounter will result from these questions. Interestingly enough the largest portion of our decision-making competency comes from visual stimulus (I have written about this elsewhere and here on visual stimulus) - this makes sense in a survival and efficiency system! The eye is almost directly connected to the hind-brain (or old brain), which is the decision-making centre. You brain receives visual stimulus and reacts upon it many times faster than smell or sound. For example if you're walking down a pathway in the forest and see what looks like a snake you will jump without thinking! Before you even have a chance to process what you're seeing your brain tells your muscles to react...

OK, so how does this relate to technology? Well, our use of technology causes the development of new neural pathways (and the strengthening of existing neural pathways). For example, I can type on my computer keyboard without having to look at my fingers on the keys. Or, I can drive my car without having to think about exerting pressure on the clutch when I change gears. I have done it so frequently that my mind can manage these tasks without having to interrupt my regular thought processes - that efficiency!

In some sense the technology of driving a car has had a radical effect on my life! Because I can cover large distances at speed without exerting much energy I have had to devise other ways to generate fitness and maintain muscle tone (so, in my case I go to the gym for spinning classes and I cycle two or three times a week)...

But there are also other technologies that have changed my life - for example because of an inbalanced diet I have to take vitamins and supliments. Because I work more hours than I sleep I have had to learn to manage my mood and state of mind (manage stress etc.) through prayer and meditation...

In short, the technologies we have created are recreating our lives! I'd love to hear what you think!

Anyway, here's the article that got me thinking along these lines:

We make technology, but our technology also makes us. At the online science/culture journal Edge, BB pal John Brockman went deep -- very deep -- into this concept. Frank Schirrmacher is co-publisher of the national German newspaper FAZ and a very, very big thinker. Schirrmacher has raised public awareness and discussion about some of the most controversial topics in science research today, from genetic engineering to the aging population to the impacts of neuroscience. At Edge, Schirrmacher riffs on the notion of the "informavore," an organism that devours information like it's food. After posting Schirrmacher's thoughts, Brockman invited other bright folks to respond, including the likes of George Dyson, Steven Pinker, John Perry Barlow, Doug Rushkoff, and Nick Bilton. Here's a taste of Schirrmacher, from "The Age of the Infomavore":
We are apparently now in a situation where modern technology is changing the way people behave, people talk, people react, people think, and people remember. And you encounter this not only in a theoretical way, but when you meet people, when suddenly people start forgetting things, when suddenly people depend on their gadgets, and other stuff, to remember certain things. This is the beginning, its just an experience. But if you think about it and you think about your own behavior, you suddenly realize that something fundamental is going on. There is one comment on Edge which I love, which is in Daniel Dennett's response to the 2007 annual question, in which he said that we have a population explosion of ideas, but not enough brains to cover them. As we know, information is fed by attention, so we have not enough attention, not enough food for all this information. And, as we know -- this is the old Darwinian thought, the moment when Darwin started reading Malthus -- when you have a conflict between a population explosion and not enough food, then Darwinian selection starts. And Darwinian systems start to change situations. And so what interests me is that we are, because we have the Internet, now entering a phase where Darwinian structures, where Darwinian dynamics, Darwinian selection, apparently attacks ideas themselves: what to remember, what not to remember, which idea is stronger, which idea is weaker...
It's the question: what is important, what is not important, what is important to know? Is this information important? Can we still decide what is important? And it starts with this absolutely normal, everyday news. But now you encounter, at least in Europe, a lot of people who think, what in my life is important, what isn't important, what is the information of my life. And some of them say, well, it's in Facebook. And others say, well, it's on my blog. And, apparently, for many people it's very hard to say it's somewhere in my life, in my lived life.
The Age of the Informavore

The unchanging faith that is dedicated to change... And, the mystery of Christ.

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:39:29 PST

I like this quote:

Even though our faith may be 2,000 years old, our thinking is not. True progress is a balance between preserving the essence of a certain way of life and changing things that are not essential. Christianity was born a revolutionary faith, and we have preserved that ... Paradoxically, we have succeeded in not changing the faith that is itself dedicated to change
- His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Christian World.

It reminds me that we need innovative theology in the Christian faith - by innovative theology, I mean theological perspectives that are grounded in the unchanging truths of the the Gospel of Christ, yet flexible enough to find fresh expressions in varied and changing contexts.

Theology, in this vein, is not dry, dead, and static - it is deeply rooted in eternal truth, yet fundamentally relevant to current reality.

I suppose one could say, this is the mystery of the incarnation of Christ? The archetypal person, Jesus, who is the logos that is present before the creation of the world, is courageous enough to take on human form, to find a fixed expression in time and space by becoming a historical person. Yet at the same time He remains fully God (and fully human). What a wonderful, divine, mystery, one ousia with two hypostasis.

It sounds strange to say - and please believe me I do not intend it as vanity - but I have recently been re-reading my book 'Christ at the Centre'. In that book I attempt to make a strong case for the fact that there can be "no expression of the mystery of God with first having an experience of the mysterious God" (p.10). In some senses, spirituality is a precursor for good theology, and of course true transformation is the result of good theology.

I continue to live my life in order to fully experience Christ in every situation, person, and task - no matter how grand or humble.

Otium Sanctum: a Sunday afternoon cycle on the Helderberg

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:23:52 PST

In this video are Lyle Romanes, Graham Power, Greg Long, Frans (not
sure of his surname) and myself behind the camera. We did a 25 km
mountainbiker ride up to the masts on the Helderberg and then down the
single track. It was awesome! Good friends, great scenery and an bit
of 'Holy Leasure' for the week!

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A little video from Oak Valley mountainbike ride

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:25:04 PDT

Here's a little video of some of the most magnificent moutainbiking scenery and trails in the world! We did about 25km's in perfect weather with great single track and long winding farm roads! I love living in the Western Cape!

Do Chimpanzees grieve? And can we exist outside of God?

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:59:16 PDT

Some years ago I got quite caught up on reading some of the esoteric 'new scientists', such as Fritjof Capra, Rupert Sheldrake, and of course the quantum physicist David Bohm. Their understanding of the structure of reality is that everything is ultimately interconnected - some of them even when as far as saying, as Colossians 1:(16)17 says "He [Jesus / God] is before all things, and in Him all things hold together", that all of reality comes out of God's divine nature.

I certainly agree that there must be a binding reality, some may call it a binding creative force, in all of the cosmos. This is entirely in keeping with the teaching on creation that comes from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is much less 'dualistic' than the New Testament. The Hebrew world view differentiates between God and God's creation (i.e., God is supreme and wholy 'other' or different from creation), yet it does not separate God from God's creation. There is a continuum of being between the God who creates and existing things that exist because of and through God's ongoing creative action (cretio ex nihilo and of course creatio continiuum). The New Testament suffers a little more from the influence of Platonic dualism (well more precisely neo-Platonic dualism. Plato believed that physical reality was an imperfect representation of a perfection spiritual reality that existed elsewhere. Of course one reads this very clearly in Hebrews (see particularly Hebrews 10), where there is a clear distinction between earthly priests and the True Priest, the earthly tabernacle and earthly sacrifice, and the True Tabernacle and True Sacrifice. This dualism, however, must not be mistaken for a break in the continuum between God and creation.

What is certain in both the monism of the Old Testament, and the dualism of the New Testament is that nothing can exist outside of God! Think about that for a moment! God is God, everything that is created by God exists within the God who gives it the ability to exist - it can be no other way! I used to confound my first year systematic theology students with this question. Many would say that you have God and then you have creation. But, if that were the case it would mean that there is something that has a seperate existance from the One God who is the source of everything that exists. I would draw a large circle (and name it 'God') and then ask where creation is in relation to that large circle... Of course everything that exists has to exist within and because of the God who creates it and is its source of ongoing existence.

So, if you take the next logical step from that point you will have to agree that the Bible teaches us that there is a fundamental common ground for all existence - that fundamental common ground is God (the one who makes existence possible)!

I have often pondered this mystery... Of course it means (as I said some 20 years ago in an oral exam) that when I abuse another person, I am ultimately abusing God, and of course even abusing myself... The same goes for creation... When I abuse creation, I am abusing God, and abusing myself (read Psalm 24:1-2)...

It is for this reason that I am always amused, and blessed, when I read stories like the one below. I am amused because it astounds me how arrogant humans have become to think that we are the only part of God's creation that feels emotion, experiences pain, and suffers loss. But, it also blesses me when I see a few people who come to discover that we have a responsibility (I would say a Christian responsibility in accordance with 'The Great Commandment' expressed so clearly in Luke 10:27) to care for animals, the planet, and all of God's creation as we would care for ourselves.

This was such a powerful image, and a lovely article (taken from here)

Look at this photograph and just try to tell me the answer is no.
This incredible image was shot for National Geographic by Monica Szczupider, and shows chimpanzees at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon. They're observing as the body of an elder troop member named Dorothy is taken to burial. She died at 40 years of age, which is pretty old for a chimpanzee.

The photo appears in the November issue of National Geographic Magazine, in the "Visions of Earth" section. [ Thanks, Marilyn Terrell ]

A superb video - how the world is changing! New Media and Ministry!

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:53:16 PDT

I've mentioned a few times before on this blog that I believe the Christian faith will need to adapt its mechanism of engagement and communication in order to stay 'ahead of the curve' - I have amended my thoughts on both preaching and worship somewhat after reading John van de Laar's great post on the necessity of the Church and the centrality of a community in worship that reaches from the Church into everyday life. You can read his superb post here.

However, I am still of the mind that we need to make use of different tools and mechanisms for communicating the Gospel of Christ as widely and effectively as we possibly can!

This video gives some perspective on how the world is changing. The video is filled with incredible statistics about global shifts in population, language, technology and preference. I was particularly struck by how one can use media and communication technology to both reach larger numbers of people (for example, more people will read this blog post than I used to have in a service at my Church in Johannesburg), and to communicate in ways that are lasting and effective for the contemporary mindset.

The video is below, and I have copied some previous posts I made on this subject below the video. Once again, I would love to hear your feedback!

Here's the old post: taken from here

Please click here to download an MP3 recording of the Radio interview I refer to below.

I am always amazed at how I stumble and stutter once I am on air! It is quite a challenge to remain coherent and sensible when thousands of people are listening (and there's no backspace key!) Ha ha! The interview went off well (I think), and as I mention, I would love to hear your thoughts. So, here's the podcast file (13MB in MP3 format)

____
This evening (6 September 2009) I shall be doing an interview on Kate Turkington's Sunday evening talk show on 702 / Cape Talk.

I am extremely excited about this opportunity! Kate is a remarkable woman, I was so thankful to be contacted by her producer Wendy Landau, who asked if I could come on the show to talk about the use of new media (facebook, twitter, blogs, video blogs, podcasts and e-publishing) in ministry.

Let me give a little bit of background to my interests in media and ministry. Let's start with the media bit - I have been using the internet almost since its inception (I suppose that in Malcolm Gladwell's terms, see Outliers, I was born at just the right time and had a few fortunate opportunities along the way!)

I have had a website since early in 1994 (when I was a student at Rhodes University - in those days they had Unix boxes with Mosaic browsers and some of the 286 and 386 PC's had Netscape 1 installed on them!) I realized at an early stage that this medium would have both forming and formative effects.

On the forming side, the ease with which information could be shared, disseminated and published would revolutionize the way we see and think about things! There is little doubt that our capacity for understanding the complexity of the world (in terms of vast geography, economies, cultures and global interdependence) has changed in the last 15 years! Access to such a huge quantity and variety of information has formed the way we interact, the way we make choices, and of course even some practical and functional aspects of our lives (such as communication, forming relationships, and crafting our 'picture' of ourselves, others and the world).

From a formative perspective I also realised that there was an incredible opportunity to get ahead of this social and information technology in order to add value to the lives of people all over the world! Of course in the early days web sites were quite static (except for those ghastly 'animated gifs!') - by static, I mean that it was so difficult to add content that websites tended to be static repositories of information. My first website on the Rhodes University Computer Users Society server (rucus) had a bit of boigraphical information, a few essays and papers that I had written in Theology (oh, and a hidden list of links to hacking sites and methods... I was quite proficient at getting through the Novell servers at the University and had become somewhat skilled at hacking the lab machines to access the internet... Remember, those were the early days of computers!) The point is that my first website was simply, and it had to be coded in html script in a plain text editor! So adding content was very difficult!

One of the first theologians / priests that I connected with on the internet was Steve Hayes who was teaching in the Missiology Department at UNISA. I think that was around 1995-1997 - is that right Steve? Steve has always been way ahead of the curve in using new technologies to create networks and establish relationships (from the early days of dialup BBS' to the more current 'syncroblogs')

I suppose I had always seen a clear link between ministry and media (i.e., the necessity to manage how I, and others, are formed by the information we receive. As well as using the technologies at our disposal to influence, inform, and help others to form fresh, life-giving perspectives on themselves, others, God and God's world.)

Basically, I see that there are two ways in communication technologies can be used for ministry. I'm sure that there are many more, but these are the two broad uses I understand.

1. They can be used to share information, thoughts, ideas and inspiration. So, you'll see on my blog I give away three of my books for free. This is an effective and easy way to publish my books to a very wide audience and have them interact with the content. I also do videos and audio podcasts, and of course there are the shorter blog posts. These tools can be quite effective for ministries and organisations that are producing content (whether it be sermons, books, reports, videos, materials etc.) It is quite interesting to note that the Global Day of Prayer (whom I serve as part of my current ministry) has one of the most visited ministry sites on the internet, and their mobilization videos and resources are among the most downloaded and used ministry resources on the internet!

2. Then there are technologies that are particularly good at facilitating relationships and engagement (facebook is one, but even a regular blog like this with comments is another, and then there is myspace, QIK, Youtube and of course to a much lesser extent there is twitter). Interaction around thoughts, ideas, and causes has the effect of generating creative and interactive thoughts - often leading to new initiatives or fresh solutions to problems, but sometimes simply connecting people with similar ideas, values and points of view with one another. Steve's blog is a good example of people congregating around issues, ideas, and causes to both give their unique inputs, but also to critique and discuss the views of others. Facebook and Twitter are good tools to 'point' people towards issues, causes and materials that can help to enrich their lives and transform the lives of others. So, for example, some Churches use their facebook fan page, or their twitter feed, to send out information about courses, events and resources in a fast and affordable manner.

Steve is particularly good at the relationship side of new media, whereas I tend to find the information sharing aspect easier (my lifestyle, and even my personality, make it difficult to return to issues that I've 'put out there').

Next, I have a fairly simple strategic purpose for new media.

I see the microblogging and 'short form' media (twitter and friendfeed) as a first means of gaining interest, creating a 'following' and pointing persons towards content and interaction. Twitter is almost like an invitation to a party or event! If you make it worthwhile people will want to 'click through' to what you are highlighting. The key to getting followers in twitter is

1) Worthwhile content (see my post on twitter tips here) people follow people who add value to their lives and experience of the internet! Of course there are various ways of doing this. If you're a 'personality' people often find value in gaining an insight into your ordinary life (when you shop, who you hang out with, what you're thinking etc.) But, for most of us that is not the case. Our content needs to be valuable (i.e., getting people quickly and effectively to entertainment, news, or helpful resources).

2) Build relationships - this is key to following people on twitter, and getting them to take an interest in what you're contributing on the internet (and in 'real life'). I find that the people who retweet my content, or point others to what I am doing are people who I know, or have built a genuine relationship with because I am connected to them and their lives and take a real interest in who they are and what they do! In short, I need to be prepared to connect wortwhile people to my network of friends and 'followers' in order to expect the same in return from them. But, more importantly I should simply follow and build relationships with people that I want to relate to. When this is the motivation then a relationship is not forced, it is simply a relationship!

Next you need to have a 'landing space' where people can find the content you're pointing to and begin to create a relationship with you, your ideas, and with others persons who share similar ideas and thoughts. This is almost like hosting a part! In my case my blog is the landing space - I will do my best to share something of myself, some of my thoughts, and of course some useful and valuable content here. A blog takes time, commitment and some consistency. These are not all my ideas, most of them come, in large part, from Seth Godin's book "Tribes"

You need to take time to find and post content - remember - it must be worthwhile for people to visit your page (and to visit again!) I've spoken about the neuroscience of survival and efficiency elsewhere. It's a simple fact, people go to sites that are most helpful to their lives (information, entertainment, relationships, etc.)
Post as regularly as you can. People stop returning to blogs that are not updated! There are simply too many good blogs out there that add good content frequently. So, if you have a 'niche' and can post once or twice a week (better even if you can post daily) you're on your way to building a loyal community!

You can view a short video I did on New Media, Ministry and Tribes here:

So, the landing page is the place where you start to share your ideas, help to influence, support and challenge people to change their own lives and the lives of others around them.

But, that is not the end...

The final step is to 'build a conversation' - I am certainly aware of the fact that I don't have any definitive answers to some of the issues that I think about, work towards, and want to see changed. I need your thoughts, ideas, and effort. So, comments on your blog, requests for contact, and the opportunity to meet people in the 'real world' is essential!

I have had wonderful opportunities to connect with people and discuss their thoughts in relation to mine, to do presentations and talks, or contribute practically to the good work that others are doing! That, after all, should be the aim of ministry - to bring about real and tangible change.

So, here are two resources that may be of some help to you. They are both previous posts I did on Media and Ministry for Media Village in Kalk Bay, Cape Town.

Post 1 - July 2009 from here.

Last week I had the privilege of teaching some classes on new media and ministry at Media Village's School of Video Production.

Since most of the persons on the course were not theologically trained we spent the first day discussing issues related to the 'message' of ministry. In particular we talked about the message of the Kingdom of God and our responsibility to be agents of transformation in society (thus pitching the content of the message towards individuals in order to engage the individuals with the Gospel of Christ, and also empower individuals to transform systems and communities to embrace the ways of Christ).

I have recently become increasingly aware of the fact that the Church sees its mission mandate as a geographical mandate (i.e., go into all the 'world' making disciples of all nations...) However, there are 'worlds' that are not part of our regular geography - these include social networks and new social media. I'm not sure about you, but I so much more connected with many more people because of the technology of social media. I communicate with more than 1000 people each time I send out an update on my twitter feed - http://www.twitter.com/digitadion. I have over 700 followers on twitter, and since my twitter feed automatically updates my facebook profile the 460 friends I have on facebook (some of whom are also friends on twitter) receive my updates. This phenomenon shows when I look at the logs for my website! I see a huge spike in hits to my website after an interesting tweet!

The lectures themselves offered quite a lot of insight into the tools of social media (twitter, facebook, linkedin) and new media tools (which primarily are communication tools to get rich content (such as audio, video, electronic text, or still images) to large groups of persons).

My media strategy, as you shall see from the video below, is quite simple:

1. Build a wide range of relationships. This is where twitter and facebook come in. The intention of these relationships is the create opportunities to interact around common interests and concerns, and particularly to drive traffic to my content! I cannot emphasize this last point strongly enough!

2. Having built a wide range of relationships I use various means to present rich content to my network. These include videos through youtube and qik, electronic text via my blog, and of course audio via my podcast and images via flickr.

3. When persons visit any of these sites I try to provide content for free (books, podcasts, videos etc.) that will bring about returning visits.

The long and the short of this relationship is that it creates a model for engagement around issues of the Gospel (the love of God in Christ, justice, social transformation etc.) Furthermore, the model also serves as a platform from which to launch my thoughts and ideas - I cannot tell you how many wonderful opportunities have come because my blog is rated in the top 5 in the Mail and Guardian's religion blogs section. I frequently get emails, telephone calls, do radio and television interviews and have generated many sales for my books etc. through these contacts.

The 'secret' if I can put it as such, is to give away ones content for free whenever possible. My idea is that the most valuable thing I have is not the paper on which my books is printed, rather it is the ideas, concepts and engagement that form the books - and of course my time. So, persosn can have my work for free since it eventually leads them to contact me to engage around the content. This in turn allows opportunities for me to share the Gospel of Christ and to encourage others to work with me for the transformation of society and creation!

Well, here's the video on new media / social media:

And, here's a copy of the Powerpoint Slides I used over the three 2 days. Simply click the link to download them. There is a 'reading list' in the middle of the slides that may be of some help. Please feel free to use them as you wish, if I could simply ask that you give a linkback to my blog (or site http://www.dionforster.com ) if you use them.

I'd love to hear your perspectives on how the Church, and Christians, can use social media to bring God's will to bear on society.

Post 2 24 July 2009 from here.

Here's a short interview that my friend Shane Vermooten from Media Village did with me for their series 'On the Orange Couch' at the School of Video Production in Kalk Bay in Cape Town.

In this video I discuss some of the issues related to how we can harness new media in Christian ministry. I also discuss some theological perspectives in the mission of the Church and of individual Christians in society as they relate to the Kingdom of God.

Find more videos like this on SVP 2009

Please share any thoughts and feedback!

You can find my original video, powerpoint slides, and post on new media in ministry on this link.

Post 3 30 July 2009 from here.

This is a video interview / discussion with Bill Wasik on Viral Culture & New Media @NextSpace Santa Cruz

Before you jump to the video (and you'd best have some bandwidth to spare - but it is well worth watching), I have been reading Malcolm Gladwell's book 'The outliers'. It presents some fascinating research to challenge our views of success! For example, did you know that the overwhelming number of professional hockey players were born in January (in fact most of them in the first three weeks of January!) Did you know that most of the Tycoons of Industry were born in the 1830's, and that the tycoons of the internet (Gates, Joy, Jobs etc.) were all born within a few months of each other in the 1980's?

The point that Gladwell makes from his research is that 'talent' is only a small part of success. What made all of these aforementioned people a success in their fields was that they were ahead of the curve. Think about this for example, if Gates and Jobs had been just a little bit too young they would never have got ahead of the computer revolution and lead their way into the industry. If they were a little older they would perhaps have been married with kids and so not been willing to take the risks of starting up a new enterprise, and so some other younger, hungrier, more daring persons would have done it instead... Do you see the point? Being aware of where you are in history is an important thing!

There is little doubt that communication technology is absolutely revolutionising the world! The world is not the same as it was even 10 years ago. We can connect at no cost, and in an instant, with hundreds of thousands of people all over the world using a computing device that we can put in our pocket! Text messaging, facebook and twitter are changing the ways in which conversations are structured and engaged...

What is the Church doing about it? We still employ a 20-30 minute sermon as our primary means of communicating the unchanging Gospel to an ever changing world! My goodness that is unwise!

Bill Wasik on Viral Culture & New Media @NextSpace Santa Cruz from Allan Lundell on Vimeo.

Here are some other posts (videos and lecture notes) that I prepared on New Media and Ministry... And here is an exceptional reflection and critique by Steve Hayes that consciders a different aspect of technology and its use in ministry.

I would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and insights! How can we use these tools in our ministry? Do you know of anyone who is doing it well? Do you agree with me that our generation must get 'ahead' of this curve or we may just miss the boat?

Liam the Great and Mertyl my Vespa!

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:33:24 PDT

Ah yes, I love Liam! Today we got the 'all clear' from the specialist.
There was a concern that he may have cancer or possibly TB because of
a problem with his lymph node. But, we thank God that he is well! The
swelling is as a result of a prolonged chest infection, and that we
can continue to treat!

Here is part of a video with Liam the Great and Mertyl my Vespa!

Liam loves Mertyl, and I love Liam!!!

Please join us in giving thanks for his life!

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A river crossing, mountainbike ride on Lourensford

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:18:07 PDT

Take a look at this cool river crossing on this morning's ride on
Lourensford! Great fun, great friends!

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Joy, patience and prayer... Encouragement for daily life! (Video reflection)

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:51:16 PDT

One of the common pastoral conversations I have had with people over the years relates to 'joy', 'patience' and 'prayer'. Sometimes we all struggle to 'fit into our lives' - we may feel that we would rather be doing something else, or be somewhere else. That feeling can lead to unrest and struggle.

Here's a little video that talks about joy, patience and prayer.

I'd love to hear your feedback, opinion and perspective!

Not fit for consumption...

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:35:30 PDT

Have you ever had high hopes for someone, or some event, and been disappointed that your expectation was not met? I have certainly experienced this a few times in my life. Sometimes I have placed too much hope in a person, and sometimes it has been an institution - every indicator points to the fact that things will go well, and for some reason they simply don't turn out as expected... Do you know the feeling?

Today I recorded the final episode in a series of broadcast I did for my radio program 'The Ministry and Me' on radio pulpit - for the past number of weeks we have been looking at the various Churches in the book of Revelation (especially Revelation 2 and 3) and seeing what we can learn for our own lives. The intention of the program is to help each one of us to realise that we are surrounded by endless opportunities and possibilities! Sadly, we are easily distracted by memories of the past or hopes for the future - and in this distraction we miss the opportunity of 'living in the present moment'.

Today's program looks at the last of the 7 Churches, the Church of Laodicea. This was the only one of the seven Churches that Jesus said nothing good about! Amazingly, this was the wealthiest, most industrious, and most resourced city of those mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. Somehow the Church missed their mark (first by not realising their purpose, second by placing their worth in things that weren't eternally important, and finally by not cultivating an intimate and deep relationship with Christ).

You can download the MP3 audio file here: http://www.spirituality.org.za/files/RadioPulpit/Forster14Oct09.mp3 It is 6MB and is in MP3 format.

Please consider leaving me some feedback below, or please look at the Radio Pulpit website at http://www.radiopulpit.co.za

With no desire whatsoever... The saddest state in existence...

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:49:16 PDT

This week I shall be teaching ethics for the students at the Theological faculty of Stellenbosch University - tomorrows class deals with the concept of adiaphoria - a concept that was popularized on Stoic philosophy. Basically adiaphora refers to actions and things that are neither good nor evil. Let me give you an example...

Whether I should wear black socks or white socks is neither good nor evil (unless of course I am wearing black pants... Then I should only wear white socks if I am going to a 1980's revival party! ha ha). Or, whether I have short hair or long hair is neither good nor evil. This category in ethics came to be known as adiaphora from the Greek meaning 'indifferent things'. The Stoics of course realized that there are few things that are indifferent in society. For example, whether I eat rice or bread should make no difference, except of course if the owner of the rice paddy abuses his workers, then I should rather eat bread than rice! Rice (and bread) are of course not just internal choices, they are choices that relate to very real contexts and situations outside of the individual who chooses.

So, the Stoics suggested that an ethical person would always consider supposed adiaphora (e.g., money) from the perspective of proegmena - seeking what is preferable rather than apoproegmena - seeking that is not preferable. In the case of money, it would be preferable to have enough money to meet one's needs (and of course the needs of those for whom one cares and has responsibility). However, there is a possibility, as we so often see in a contested estate of a family member, the possibility that money (an adiaphora) whilst desirable for general good (proegmena) could be undesirable since it could cause strife, division and even violence among family members who want a larger share of the estate (this would surely be an apoproegmena).

The conclusion, of the philosophers, was that one should their seek to find a state of freedom in oudetera (a Greek word that means 'neither of the two', i.e., neither that which is desirable or that which is undesirable).

Of course that is a very bland and sad state in which to exist! From a neuroscientific point of view humans are designed to respond to anticipation (we receive dopamine 'injections' into the brain when we anticipate something, or long for it). The Bible also speaks of the notion of hope - we cannot live without the great hope that is ours in Christ.

It is for this reason that Christian ethics has sought to strive for a different standard, the standard of diapheronta (that which is 'excellent' see Phil 1:19). There are a few reasons for this:

1. As Christians we have to acknowledge that there is not a single decision that could possibly fit outside of God's perfect will. God has a perfect will for the most important, and least important, decisions in our lives (well, what is important and not important is a measure of our perspective, not God's perspective after all).

2. As Christians we acknowledge not only that our decisions are subject to God's will, they are also subject to the community of humanity within which God has placed us - in truth we cannot be fully human without relating fully to other humans... This is the model of the Trinity (in the sense of the economic Trinity). The persons in the Godhead find their being, identity, and mission within their interrelated nature (the Father is Father in that the Father is a Father to the Son, and the Son is Son in that the Son is a Son to the Father... You can see where I am going with this).

3. We acknowledge that our try worth and blessing does not come from doing, but from our being. The fact that we are created in the image of God means that all humans bear the image of God and so find their true value in God, and not in what they own, do, or know. Thus there are no adiaphora when it comes to people - every person is valuable.

4. God's creation forms part of God's perfect economy. The Bible teaches us that God cares as much about the earth, and all living creatures as God cares for people (It was the Psalmist who reminds us that the ALL of the Earth is the Lords, and everything in it!)

So, I have been reminded, once again, that I am a servant... I am called to serve God, and those who God loves. It is not my task to live FOR desire (as a primary orientation for my life, like the hedonists) proegmena or avoid what is not desirable (as a primary way of living, like the pietists) apoproegmena. Rather, as a Christian I should strive for what is truly excellent, and good and loving. For in that we shall all find the blessing and peace of Christ (Eph 2:8-10).

The following quote was a good reminder that we need to hold onto community as primary orientation for our lives:

Christian discipleship requires being held in love and being held accountable. We simply cannot follow Christ apart from a community that holds us in compassion and calls us to accountability. Solitary discipleship is a misnomer. We cannot be Christian alone. - Kenneth Carder, Duke Divinity School professor and retired United Methodist bishop

I had the joy of meeting Bishop Carder on a few occassions, once at Duke Divinity school when I visited there in 2005, and then two years later at Oxford University when I met him at the Oxford Institute. He is a remarkable person with a clear understanding of what is right and wrong, and also what helps to make us right and wrong! I enjoyed listening to him speak!

If you only love those who love you...

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:22:18 PDT

It has been another busy week, and I am only about half way through it. I travelled to George on Tuesday for the city's day of prayer - it was a special event. As a theologian so much of my time and energy is spent in checking orthodoxy (what is 'true', 'correct', and Biblical). Naturally such an approach to faith must be somewhat critical (in the questioning sense). I frequently encounter wonderful people who do great things and have to work out what motivates their action, informs their belief and makes them do what they do. Of course there are also some persons that I encounter who have impure motives, misguided beliefs and who do things that divide and break down the body of Christ.

I try to approach all people and events with the same openness of heart, and to question those with whose theology I agree as rigorously as those with whom I may hold points of difference.

I have faced a great deal of innner conflict, and reprimand, from friends on both sides of the 'theological divide' - it would seem that none of us is very tolerant of persons who hold a view different from our own. Often my more liberal friends have chastised me for keeping company with conservatives, and my conservative friends have chastised me for my inclusive theological views. I am not without fault! Sometimes I lack the courage to challenge what I can see is not correct, and sometimes I am simply not clear enough of what is right in a particular instance. The following scripture passage has been a source of great inspiration and encouragement. I do try to be fully inclusive in my faith!

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return - Luke 6:32-35

Well, the George event was wonderful - every now and then I can simply 'be' a Christian person among other Christians.

It was wonderful to see close to 15 000 persons gathering in their city's stadium for prayer. In the liberal spiritual tradition we place a great deal of emphasis on actions of justice and mercy as an expression of God's will and love, yet we attempt to hold that in tension with the reality that all true Christian action must flow a deep lived encounter with God in Christ (frequently this stems from spiritual disciplines such as daily prayer, the rhythm of an age old liturgy, living together in community, intensive spiritual retreats).

I sensed that the majority of the persons at this prayer event were simply together because they have a great concern for their city and region, and they long to bring this concern before God in corporate worship and prayer. I left there encouraged. In the crowd were women, men, young people, older people, black South Africans and white South Africans, conservatives and liberals. It was a glimpse of the body of Christ.

From there I came Johannesburg where we did the Gauteng launch for Graham Power's book "Not by might nor by Power" - you can read about it here http://www.spirituality.org.za/2009/07/acts-29-story-not-by-might-nor-by-power.html

I had some meetings in Johannesburg during the day and then the book launch in the evening. It was a great event, and there too I was reminded of the diversity, yet unity, of the body of Christ.

Now I am flying back to Cape Town for a meeting at one of the Universities, and then the remainder of this week and next week will be spent with the central committee of the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization that are in Cape Town as part of the preparations for the October 2010 congress in our City.

I found this little quote very inspiring when it came to me this morning:

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name. - Thomas Merton, (from A Book of Hours)

Have a blessed day! Please spare a prayer for my family and I. We have been struggling with our son Liam's health for the past four weeks. He is such a precious little guy and he has been through a great deal of physical hardship in his short little life. His ill health places a great deal of emotional strain on us! Not to mention that it has implications on our ability to sleep, and of course financial ramifications... We appreciate the care!

Here are some images taken at the George prayer event:

Graham Power addressing the gathering.

Rev Alfred Gcalitsha, a friend from Eagle's Rising a social upliftment and transformation ministry we work with in Somerset West addressing the young people.

Rev Brian Evans from the Global Day of Prayer praying for some young people.

Two Angus' having a laugh (yup, my second name is Angus). Here uncle Angus was giving me some advice about caring for Graham.

Methodist Present Potential - new book by Angela Shier Jones

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:55:39 PDT

My friend, Rev Dr Angela Shier Jones' new book 'Methodist Present Potential' has been published! Well done Angie (and Luke Curran, who is the co-editor)!!!

The book looks amazing - it discusses the past, present, and future potential of Methodism! Among the contributors are:

Angela Shier Jones
Luke Curran
Richard Heitzenrater
Clive Marsh
Jane Craske
Jonathan Dean
Martin Ramsden
Karen Jobson
Shirlyn Toppin
Rachel Deigh...
And a guy named Dion Forster ;-) I wrote chapter 7 in the book, entitled 'A World Faith'.

Here's a bit more about the book from the publishers website:

Methodist Present Potential is for everyone concerned with the future of Methodism given the threatened demise of the Church in the 21st century.
This book is a dialogue between the present and the past ? for the sake of the future. Ten years after the publication of Methodism and the Future a new generation of scholars and church leaders reflect on the tradition that they have inherited.
The book explores the potential of Methodism's approach to: mission and evangelism, Scripture, the sacraments, race and gender, church structures and discipline, ecumenism and the world Church.

This is a huge project for me! It keeps me connected to my Methodist family across the world, and it is an incredible honour to have been asked by Angie to participate in the project. I am by far the most junior scholar in the book.

You can order it from the publisher here or if you live in the USA you can order from Amazon by clicking here.

Well done Angie, and thank you SOOO much for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this great project!

Central Methodist Mission, Bishop Paul Verryn and compassion

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:44:13 PDT

For some years I have been connected with the Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg. I first spent time there in 1992 when I was doing a pre-pastoral course in Soweto (with Paul Verryn) and we went into the city for a number of days to work with people who were living on the streets.

At that stage the Central Methodist Mission was a grand old Church building - imposing and impressive! A friend of mine, Derek Wilson, was Ordained in that Church, and it also happens to be the location of most of my early education in Biblical Greek! Paul was my Greek tutor and I spent many, many hours between the masses of people who would come to Paul's office. Declensions, parsing and people... Those are my memories of my first year of Greek!

Paul is a close friend and I declare that not as a bias, but as truth. I have benefited from his counsel and care on numerous occasions. I have always been impressed by his courage and commitment to the poor. I don't know of any other person, even the "great names", in our nation who has sacrificed as much for the sake of caring for those to whom no-one goes.

As Paul began to take in the refugees at Central mission we often met in the building (at that stage I was the Dean of the Methodist Seminary and some of our students had placements there, but Paul was also the chairperson of the Theological Education working group, so we met there once a month or so). I watched the numbers growing each time we entered the building.

Even then I could see that this was not an ideal location to house desperate people, but what was he to do!? The South African government, in an attempt to keep Mr Mugabe happy, would not acknowledge that Zimbabwe was in crisis! Back in 2006 I heard that there were over 2 million refugees from Zimbabwe in South Africa, yet because of our nation's "quiet diplomacy" with Zimbabwe less than
58 had refugee status! No, that's not a typographical error, LESS 58 persons out of 2 million. (If anyone reading the blog can confirm these numbers or help me with a reference I would be grateful).

And so, the Church did what all good Churches should do - they opened their doors to the destitute. We often hear Churches quoting the words of Jesus in Luke 4, saying that they will bring "Good news to the poor"... very few do it! I can tell you the truth, good news to a poor person is NOT a sermon! It is shelter, and food, and medical care, and hope for life! This is the WAY of Jesus...

On the day when the refugees were arrested at Central Methodist Mission our campus stopped, we held a special service that morning and our students went to the Church in solidarity with those who had been arrested. You can listen to a reflection that I did with one of our students at the time, Paul Oosthuizen, here:

http://www.spirituality.org.za/2008/01/refugees-arrested-at-central-methodist.html

A few months later I was approached by the SABC to participate in a television documentary on Paul's life. I was pleased to do so. I am not naive to the fact that he has flaws, like all of us do, but I am as certain now, as I was then, that his intentions are just, in fact he is orientated towards the kind
of Justice that is a characteristic of a true follower of Christ!

As I read the Noseweek article "Abuse or Mercy? Two sides of the horrificrefugee crisis dispute at Jozi's Central Methodist Church"; this morning I wept.

I couldn't control the tears. I wept for Paul - it is clear that he, and his Church, are doing their best with very little support from the local government. They are overwhelmed with suffering! What are they to do? I also wept for the 3500 people who have to live in the conditions described in the article - their desperation must be extreme for them to be willing to put up with the conditions that they face in that shelter.

The conclusion of the article reads:

It is all too easy to accuse Verryn, or make out that the church is somehow at fault - as many are wont to do. But while fingers are being pointed, no one has come up with alternative places of shelter - or stepped in to help alleviate the situation. Verryn appears to be doing the best he can, rarely leaving the church before 3am as he staves off a tsunami of challenges, as he attempts the impossible - to bring order to violence and chaos. Meanwhile the authorities, both government and the City of Johannesburg, are failing their mandate to protect our own children - never mind resolve the desperate plight of those forced to flee to what they imagined was a better life, only to find themselves fighting for their lives and dignity in South Africa's own 'war of the streets'. (Noseweek, October 2009, p.21).

So, tomorrow as I take up my weekly fast (Isa 58:6-9), I shall do so with the Pastor and the residents of Central Methodist Church in mind. I am encouraged by Paul, he exemplifies the injunction of the Prophet Micah "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic 6:8)

Please can I invite you to pray and fast with me? There must be a solution to this nightmare!

A gentle reminder... We need one another.

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:14:40 PDT

In my recent role I have a great deal of interaction with persons who operate in the charismata - the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I personally believe that God does still interact with humans, and that frequently that interaction does take on, what seems to us at least, as extraordinary means (of course for God all means of interaction with humanity is 'normal'). However, I regard with equal care and respect the person who through careful discernment and meticulous care (both in searching the scriptures, and in relying upon the wisdom, counsel and advice of the the Christian community) comes to the point of believing that they may have received some for of revelation from God. Some would call these 'words of knowledge' or 'prophecies'. I say that I regard this persons with equal respect, since for years I have considered very carefully those leaders in the Christian faith who have helped me to chart my path along life's journey by making equally prophetic choices as God has enabled them to see beyond what is common to most persons (I think of leaders such as Peter Storey, Paul Verryn, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Bishop Stanely Magoba). All of these persons were endowed, by virtue of their faith (even they would claim), with an ability to see beyond the political reality to a possible future. And so, they spoke with conviction and certainty of how they related their understanding of the Christian scriptures, and their understanding of the convictions that had come to them through prayer and meditation, and they encouraged us to make bold choices about how we live our lives!

At times these choices would win the scorn of society (since they were so different from the norm). However, I am convinced that it is because of the sacrifices of many of those that we have greater freedom and liberty in South Africa today!

Perhaps both of these Christian 'groups', coming from vastly different positions on the theological continuum are operating 'prophetically'

You see, at the end of the day, when we read the Christian Scriptures, the most common form of operation within the prophetic office (which we shall find in the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament) was some kind of a mix between faith, mystical revelation and an ability to understand and study 'the times' (the economy, politics, morality, and even the climate of the time). Having weighed up all these factors and sought direction from God through the Holy Spirit, as well as the counsel and support of others, they spoke and acted.

I have no problem with that kind of rigorous spiritual activity! To me it speaks of a great commitment to God, and a since and significant commitment to this world! Such spirituality can transform both individuals and society!

However, I have more recently been exposed to a flippancy and abuse of the 'prophetic' office (I do not call it a gift). The prayer movement that I serve works with people from all theological persuasions, all kinds of Churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Reformed, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Liberal, Conservative... the whole host!). However, there are always one or two persons at most gatherings who begin just about every sentence with the words "God says..." when I hear that, the hair on the back of my neck stands up! Frequently what follows after those words "God says..." is filled with self interest, a bias for one group over another (I have heard persons saying that God favours one nation over others, that God favours one denomination over others, even that God favours one minister and his ministry over the ministry of another)!

I try my best not to judge such things unfairly, but I think that we take this prophetic responsibility too lightly!

I am not a prophet - if anything, my current role is that of a servant. So, if you are a prophet and can offer me some insight, or can show me where I have it wrong, or if you are a student of the scriptures or a formally trained theologian who can give me some help or insight, I would greatly appreciate it.

Where did this post start? It started with this quote:

As one country does not bear all things, that there may be a commerce, so neither has God opened, nor will open, all to one, that there may be a traffic in knowledge between the servants of God, for the planting both of love and humility. - George Herbert, English priest and poet (1593-1633)

How true! If ever we are looking for the truth let us first turn to God, and then once we think we have heard, let us turn to God's servants. I think that knowledge is something that is discovered in faithful community! I tend to hear far too many 'prophets' who think they are the ONLY ones who have the WHOLE truth!

Qik - Finding peace and blessing in your life

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:39:38 PDT

Over the last few days I have been speaking with many friends and colleagues who have expressed a similar concern - the concern is whether they are spending their lives for something truly worthwhile! The notion of 'gain' seems to be central to so much of contemporary life, whether it is material gain (wealth), or social gain (power and acclaim), or whether it is things such a love and peace... We all seem to apply our talents, energy, and abilities in order to gain something for ourselves and others...

1 Tim 6.6 says that "Godliness with contentment is of great gain". This verse has resonated within my mind for some time - I have it set as a calendar reminder for a Thursday morning! It reminds me when the week is almost done and I am feeling a little tired and worn out, yet the tasks of the week seem no closer to completion, that there is something worthwhile that I can ask myself - has this week been an attempt at growing in Godliness, and and can I find contentment in the context and situation withing which God has placed me? If the answer to those two questions is 'yes', then I can say that I have made a gain that cannot be compared to mere wealth, acclaim, or hedonistic pleasure...

The little video above discusses my thoughts on this concept, and the concept of 'work as worship' (in relation to Col 3.23-24).

I'd love to hear your thoughts, insights and feedback!

A little affirmation! We all need it from time to time.

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:47:00 PDT

This morning I had a meeting at the University of Stellenbosch - it is truly one of my favourite places on earth! After the meeting I popped into the Theology Library (where I am fortunate to have 'privileges' since I am a local minister and was a past student). I handed back two books (both by Joerg Rieger on Christianity and Empire, which I had been using for a chapter Joerg asked me to write for one of his new books).

The library has a display section for new books, recommended books, new journals and new PhD and Masters thesis. I always take a quick look at this selection to see what is new and what is recommended (mainly in the books and journals!) It is such an incredible privilege it is to have access to a good theological library on my doorstep!

Well, today when I had a quick look I was suprised to find that two mine and Wessel's books (see http://www.wesselsplace.blogspot.com ) were on display! The two books in question (see the lower right of the photograph) are 'What are we thinking? Reflections on Church and society from Southern African Methodists' and 'Methodism in Southern Africa: A celebration of Wesleyan Mission'.

I'm certain it is vanity - but it just felt so good, like such an affirmation, to see our two books on Methodism in Southern Africa singled out for attention among all of the many, many books in the library! We all need a little affirmation from time to time!

I needed it today, and God gave me this little 'surprise gift'.

I have been feeling a little sad of late - it started with the death of my friend Barry, then my little son Liam got ill, and we have struggled to nurse him back to health for almost 3 weeks now. I can't tell you what a toll that takes on Megie and I! Because of the struggle with his lungs we don't get much sleep and Megie had to take two weeks out of the office to take care of him (of course that puts all sorts of other pressures on us!) Then, this last week was my late father's birthday - he would have been 66 years old. Remembering my dad brings back some wonderful memories - but, I do feel that I miss him. For those who have lost parents, you may know what I am talking about - it feels strange to be 'alone in the world', without that pivotal point of reference, that person to whom you can turn for advice, counsel and wisdom.

I try quite hard to take a spoon of my own medicine by focussing on the things for which I can be thankful, and believe me, I have more than my share of those! I am truly blessed! Moreover, I attempt to spend my time helping others, engaging in acts of mercy and service wherever I am able so that I can gain a correct orientation on my life. Of course I pray, I read the scriptures, and I exercise. The intention with all of these is to maintain a healthy equilibrium between my spiritual life, my physical life and my psychological state (emotions). Sometimes this is easier said than done!

Well, this little blessing has brought a smile to my face! It is good to be affirmed - I think we all need it from time to time...

Taking the gap... Making the most of who you are and where you are...

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:24:58 PDT

Do you sometimes feel dissatisfied with who you are? Perhaps you're frustrated with where you are in life? Maybe you just wish that your life was different!

These are not uncommon feelings - a great number of people struggle with these feelings. Of course there are many complex factors that can contribute to this state of mind. I would venture, however, that one fairly common cause for this malaise is a lack of meaning and purpose. When we feel like we are valuable, able to make a significant difference, we tend to be more at peace, more fulfilled. On the other hand, when we feel like we're not making much of a difference to the world around us, and that we are not value for who we are and what we can do, then we tend to be less happy, less at peace, and less settled.

Does this sound right to you?

For the past 8 weeks or so I have been doing a series of messages about the 7 Churches of Revelation 2 and 3 for my radio program 'The ministry and me' on Radio Pulpit. I have received some wonderful feedback from listeners! The purpose of the program is simple - my aim is to help every Christian to grow in their understanding that they are all ministers (of some for or another), and that with just a little bit of courage and a litle bit of focuss and intention each and every person can do great things for God!

Today I recorded the message that will be broadcast on Wednesday in two weeks time (I am pleased to say that I am a full cycle ahead!) - the message is entitled 'Taking the gap: making the most of who you are, where you are and what you do for God' We looked at the Church at Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13). This was not a powerful Church, it did not have great resources, or even massive acclaim. Yet, we are told in the text that because of their courage and faithfulness in the things that they could do (not the things they wished to do, or the things that others did...) they were remembered by Christ and that if they remained faithful in that humble and persistent ministry God would write His name on them. People would look at them and recognise that they are loved by God.

When I read that I wondered what it must be like to be recognizeably loved by God! That must be something special.

Well, maybe this sermon will have some encouragement for you. Please do drop me a line if you have any thoughts or feedback. And please also vote for the episode on the Radio Pulpit website (simply follow this link and send a mail message asking to cast your vote for 'The ministry and me').

You can download the program here (6MB MP3 file)

Thank you! God bless,

Dion

No wonder Windows works, and looks, like it does!

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:12:23 PDT

And this, my friends, is why we struggle with our Windows boxes!!! Note that I say OUR windows boxes - even though I am a Mac user I do have two Windows machines (one is my wife's computer that constantly needs TLC, the other is a work laptop - a little Acer 6292, since the day I've had it ONE thing has never worked... Sadly, it is never the same thing... Some days the wifi won't work, other days the mouse stops responding, sometimes it won't boot into vista... The list goes on and on!) Except for Windows it is an incredible little machine. If only I could put Ubuntu on it. But, it's a work machine. So, it goes off to the IT department fairly frequently. Thankfully I have my Macbook - it just works! I saw at the new Dion Wired store in Somerset West that they're selling Macbooks (brand new!) for R7999! That is comparable to a Windows notebook of the same spec!

Well, here's a video of Windows CEO, Steve Balmer at a Microsoft conference.

To see more of Microsoft CEO, Steve Balmer's antics, go here.

A man posts an interactive browser of his brain (scan).

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:01:02 PDT

I spent quite a lot of time working with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans during my doctoral research. In my case I looked at two specific things. The MRI is very helpful when one wishes to establish the location of some form of damage to the brain (a tumor, cyst, or lesion). I used this to help me understand how persons processed meaning (and of course how pathology impacted the processing of meaning in the human brain - it is a common occurrence that persons manifest heightened religious or spiritual consciousness when they have some form of abnormality in their brain). Just as an aside, note that I say abnormality in this instance and not pathology! Of course this is because being different from the norm is not only a neurological phenomenon. There are many persons who are different from the norm (whatever the 'norm' is!) because, for example, they may be an immigrant in a new country (sociology), taller than the average population (physical attributes), have extra abilities (such as exceptional sports skills) etc. Abnormality must not be confused with pathology - just because someone, or something, is not 'normal' it does not make it wrong.

Nelson Mandela is an 'abnormal' being - after 27 years in prison the average person (normal) would seek some form of retribution or revenge for their suffering. He, however, sought reconciliation! Abnormality can give us a great deal of insight into how things should be!

Other than MRI scans I also made use of magnetoencephalography - this is different from MRI scanning (well slightly different) in that it gives one the ability to view the whole brain (rather than just 'slices' of the brain) to be able to see where the electrical pulses and 'hotspots' of certain cognitive processes are located. So, for example, one could ask a person to imagine a certain event, or stimulate an emotion through showing them a picture, inducing the sense of smell, or playing a piece of music, and then see where in the brain there is electrical activity (neural activity). I am STILL working on a rewrite of my doctoral thesis - when that project is done it will present some of my research on how the brain processes religious consciousness (particularly as it relates to identity). The working title of the book is "Why you're not who you think you are: Adventures in neuroscience and theology".

Of course the human brain is only one part of the complex array of interconnected elements that makes up who we truly are - however, it is a rather important part of that complex reality! I found the following post quite interesting (if not amusing!). If you're interested to see what an MRI looks like in relation to the person who's brain was scanned then follow this link. Here's the original story from Boing Boing.

In September 2009 my doctor recommended an MRI to rule-out a couple of potential conditions. The scan came back completely normal, which was a great relief! As a kind of cathartic exercise, and inspired by Dustin Curtis's brain tour I decided to do something with the images. I spent most of a fun weekend writing this MRI explorer. I hope you enjoy playing with it! Inside Bill Moorier's Brain

For more of my posts on the brain and neuroscience please follow this link, or simply search for 'brain' or 'neuroscience' in the search box on this blog.

Where will synthetic biology lead us!? 4 legged chickens and Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology

digitaldion@gmail.com (digitaldion@gmail.com) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:33:28 PDT

I suppose it could be said that I hold quite a positive view of technology (in general). Of course there are instances, and certain technologies, which violate this general attitude. However, on the whole I have experienced the innumerable benefits of being able to communicate, travel, interact, do business, and even deepen my relationships and faith life, through the application of technology.

I have written elsewhere on this blog about the false, even naive, perspective that many persons have concerning technology (please see this post, and this one, and of course the notion of 'singularity', oh and this one as well)! In reality we are already 'enslaved' by our technologies! Simply try to go through one day without employing some form of environmental aid (a car, a telephone, a computer, even spectacles, medicine and most foods are all 'technologically' engineered for human benefit). Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the French phenomenological philosopher, understood that human interaction upon the world is not a one way street... We don't simply act upon the world! There is a reverse action from the world upon us... For example, if you were to walk into an empty room that had nothing but an chair in it what would you do? At some point the emptyness of the room and the presence of the chair would act upon you consciously, or subconsciously, and they will cause you to sit. This illustrates how the space and the objects in the space have informed and transformed your thought processes. However, the very act of sitting (as an act of physics, where the human body and the structure of the chair encounter one another) is a mutual interaction of material realities in which each has an effect upon the other. When you sit on the chair the structure of the chair flexes and takes up strain in certain areas. Conversely the structure of the chair exercises pressure upon your body (changing the shape of your body, supporting your back, lowering the pressure on your feet etc.)

Technology thus has both 'subtle' and 'gross' interactions with its human creators - by this I mean that technology interacts both with what is unseen (thoughts, choices, dreams, hopes, aspirations, desires, fears etc.) and what is seen (our physical being, our environment, our proximity to self and others...)

When one comes to consider this complex relationship between consumers of technology, creators of technologies, and the technologies themselves one can begin to understand that the ethical considerations of what we do (and do not do) with our technologies is even MORE complex! For example, how far do we go in manipulating the human genetic code to do away with certain pathological conditions (mental illness, disease etc.)? When have we taken our use of technology too far, and when have we not taken it far enough!?

It reminds me a a joke I heard recently - a man was driving in a rural chicken farming area when he passed on the motorway by a 4 legged chicken doing 130 km/h! The man was amazed and so he followed the speading bird to a farmers homestead. He knocked on the farmers door and asked him "have you see that there is a 4 legged chicken running around on your farm?" The farmer replied, "indeed, there are plenty of them here. We breed them that way. You see I like a drumstick, my wife likes one, and so do my 2 children. So, it was for that reason that we engineered chickens that have 4 legs". Astonished the enquirer asked "So, how do they taste?" "I'm not sure" replied the farmer, "I've never been able to catch one!"

I suppose that is the 'sweet spot' for technology - it must serve a useful and appropriate purpose in order for it to be considered good! Well, in my trawl of the internet I came across this interesting post on biological engineering. I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts (particularly from the perspective of Christian ethics) on the use and abuse of technologies!

In ?A Life of Its Own," Michael Specter explores the opportunities and challenges posed by the emerging field of synthetic biology. ?No scienti?c achievement has promised so much, and none has come with greater risks or clearer possibilities for deliberate abuse,? Specter writes. Synthetic biologists ?see cells as hardware, and genetic code as the software required to make them run,? he notes. ?By using gene-sequence information and synthetic DNA, they are attempting to recon?gure the metabolic pathways of cells to perform entirely new functions, such as manufacturing chemicals and drugs.? One team of biologists, led by Jay Keasling at Berkeley, has had great success with amorphadine, the precursor to the malaria medicine artemisinin: they constructed a microbe to manufacture the compound, and by 2012 they will have produced enough artemisinin that the cost for a course of treatment will drop from as much as ten dollars to less than a dollar. ?We have got to the point in human history where we simply do not have to accept what nature has given us,? Keasling tells Specter. He envisions a much larger expansion of the discipline, engineering cells to manufacture substances like biofuels.
Another scientist, Drew Endy of Stanford, has collaborated with colleagues to start the BioBricks Foundation, a nonpro?t organization formed to register and develop standard parts for assembling DNA. Endy predicts that if synthetic biology succeeds, ?our ultimate solution to the crisis of health-care costs will be to redesign ourselves so that we don?t have so many problems to deal with,? but he also acknowledges the risks inherent in the field. Synthetic biology, Endy tells Specter, is ?the coolest platform science has ever produced, but the questions it raises are the hardest to answer.? Yet he also argues that ?the potential is great enough, I believe, to convince people it?s worth the risk.? Specter writes, ?The planet is in danger, and nature needs help.? While biological engineering will never ?solve every problem we expect it to solve,? he writes, ?what worked for artemisinin can work for many of the products our species will need to survive.?

(Illustration by Joost Swarte) Where will synthetic biology lead us?

Please leave me some feedback and thoughts in the comments! Come on ethicists, philosophers, theologians, and the rest of us who use technology! What do you think?