another new word: osmoregulation

osmoregulation means – “Processes by which a cell regulates its internal osmotic pressure. These may include water transport, ion accumulation or loss, synthesis of osmotically active substances such as glycerol in the alga Dunaliella, activation of membrane ATPases etc.”

Could it also be a metaphor for “in the world but not of it”? As a body (of Christ or otherwise) let’s certain things in and keeps others out it has to maintain a level of “osmotic pressure”. Maybe we more osmotic pressure in our faith communities? A dose of “holy tension” would do us good.

Try this

Grab a book… be random

In true postmodern form, try this. Most recently from Adam:

1. Grab the nearest book.

2. Open the book to page 23.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the text of the sentence as a comment on my blog.

5. Post the text of the sentence on your own blog, along with these instructions. (If you don’t have a blog, just post it in my comments for fun).

Here is Matt’s:

“Jesus had thrown himself upon the wheel of history and, though he reversed its course, he was crushed by it.”

- Tony Jones, Postmodern Youth Ministry

Here’s mine:

“It is impossible, therefore, to move from some kind of sanitized, unideological, “pure thought” to its application to events in the everyday world.”

- J. Andrew Kirk, The Mission of Theology and Theology as Mission

Nano Weapons Join the Fight Against Cancer

Wow!

"in vivo"

I learned a new word today, in vivo, it means “within a living organism”. What a wonderful word! It reminds me of what I’m reading in Hunsberger’s “The Church between Gospel and Culture” about the gospel being incarnated in the context of the living community of faith. This is exactly what we’re trying to do at VC (atleast as articulated by me) and our house church. No more of the gospel being an abstract concept or proposition that requires uncritical mental assent – rather this gospel (this good story of Christ and His Kingdom) is embodied (carefully chosen word) in our community. Want to know the gospel? Get to know us!

Insert critic— Doesn’t that make the gospel terribly relative and subjective?

Gentle reply— Yes.

Critic confounded— Where’s the objective TRUTH?!?!

Gentle reply 2— HE is still here.

Critic pondering— Doesn’t this put a lot of pressure on the people of God?

Knowing reply— Yes, that’s very true. It keeps us honest.

In vivo to you and yours

God's Story | Our Story

In House Church last night we read and discussed Acts 13 – specifically relating to Paul’s recounting of God’s story to those gathered in the synagogue. The key point we emphasized was – we, as Christ-followers, are about finding ourselves in God’s story, rather than asking God to enter into our story. It is by finding our place within God’s story that our stories take on new and deeper meaning. Our story becomes part of THE story of creation and redemption and is a good news story to the world.

With that in mind it is important to hear each other’s stories of how we find ourselves in God’s narrative. So we are writing our spiritual autobiographies and will be sharing them within small groups of 3-4 folk next week. Also, we will collect these when we’re finished and compile them into a House Church memory book.

I’m really excited about this endeavor. This may prove to be a marking point in the life of our fellowship – taking it “down” another notch into deeper community.

This is the guide we’re using to write our stories – Writing your Spiritual Autobiography (PDF)

Cool. Thanks Steve.

.:: Milford Spiritual Center ::.

Liturgy/Catholic/Emerging Church Conversation, restart

Catholicism, holiness and spirituality: A Brief History of St Ignatius. Thansk Steve. Looking forward to getting back into that liturgy/catholic/emerging church conversation from before Easter. Alan’s been posting about a life of liturgy, Pete’s livin’ it, and we’re doing Celtic morning prayers now at the Brownhouse… it’s getting good.

An exercise in self-indulgence

Technorati: Searching the World Live Web

Thomas Merton; New Seeds of Contemplation

“To live in communion, in genuine dialogue with others is absolutely necessary if man is to remain human…. There is no true solitude except interior solitude. And interior solitude is not possible for anyone who does not accept his right place in relation to other men.” Thanks Alan, I needed that.

Hell hath no fury like a pissed off parent.

Fresh Perspectives: Brand Ethics – “One mother asked how she was supposed to deal with things like Abercrombie & Fitch’s ‘group sex’ catalog and how a company can market so irresponsibly. It’s hard to answer, except to explain that consumers really do have power….”

That’s a lot of pressure on parents. What responsibility does the media/marketers have? Can you really take a laissez-faire attitude that the all-powerful consumer will make the ethical decision?