The Invisible Sun: October 2004

From 24/7 Prayer

“God Bless Ibiza”

Miracle Channel, Friday, October 29th at 11.59PM(MTN)

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What happens when a bunch of clean living Christians hit the notorious party island of Ibiza for a summer of love – Jesus style?

God Bless Ibiza follows a team of passionate young Christian clubbers spending the summer in Ibiza trying to make the gospel relevant amidst the hedonistic excess of Europe’s clubbing capital. "Being Jesus" in Ibiza means cleaning beaches, praying for people outside bars and clubs, giving free DJ lessons and running parties in the notorious West End.

A couple of days ago I read this post from Scott. In part it reads:

There have been many fads and gimmicks that have "helped" Christians but in the end the church is still in decline across North America. Does anyone remember how inspired they were coming back from Promise Keeper conferences, or how cell groups were going to transform church community? How about "Evangelism Explosion" or spiritual gift tests, the Passion, WWJD bracelets or the Prayer of Jabez. If we take a step back and look at all the activity and so little fruit yet we continually get sucked in. More and more so it is profit driven companies that push us to consume what they sell regardless of it's true spiritual value.

Compare that with a conversation I had with some friends last night. We discussed John Donne's sonnet #14:

Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand,o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn and make me new,
I, like an usurped town, to another due,
Labor to admit you, but O, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and provves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed into your enemy,
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again;
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor chaste, except you ravish me.

The contrast between what we generally read on this continent and what people thought about and drew from in the past is too much to ignore. As Scott said, there are people who learn and grow spiritually from "Purpose Driven Life" or whatever, but I think there's more to chew on in this sonnet than most books on the Christian market these days.

Song List from the new U2 cd (due out Nov. 23)

Vertigo (3:13)
Miracle Drug (3:54)
Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own (5:05)
Love and Peace or Else (4:48)
City of Blinding Lights (5:46)
All Because of You (3:33)
A Man and A Woman (4:27)
Crumbs from Your Table (4:59)
One Step Closer (3:47)
Original of the Species (4:34)
Yahweh (4:22

The Sox Came Back

Way to go BOSTON!!

My buddy Mike, Sandy, and Emma

Mike, you're the best.

The Week in Review (for what it's worth)

The last week for me has been a bit nuts. Besides the snow, I went to the Sting/Annie Lennox concert last Wednesday. The consensus (which I would agree with) is that Sting was good, but Annie was better. She had the crowd in the palm of her hand. and we all loved her. Dominic Miller - Sting's guitar player - did a short set off the top, and he was wonderful. He did Bach's "Air on a G-String", which was a highlight for me.
On the weekend our church had their annual retreat. There were high and low points; I always have a tough time judging these things. Some good teaching, and I had the chance to lead a bit of worship on Sat. night, which I hadn't done in almost 4 years.

Lots of snow in Saskatoon this last weekend. I like lots of snow/blizzards. It seems to slow people down somewhat, and I think we all can stand to slow down a bit. Big weather doesn't play any favourites; the rich poor, happy, and sad are all forced to drive slower and make choices about whether they are even going to go out or stay at home.