Photo by coda

I came across a great synchroblog happening today and I want to bring your attention to it.   I would love to add my two cents, but I have too much on my plate today to take part.  However, I did notice that several of my friends are taking part.

Lon (Toronto) has posted “10 Thoughts for Starters” at Solar Crash

Here is another one I like.  This is Brian McLaren’s contribution to the conversation.

You can see all the other blogs taking part here.

Also, here is a video from Ooze.tv that I watched just yesterday, “Loving Your Gay Neighbour – Part 1“

And, just found this . . . “Is it actually possible to live a gay lifestyle and follow Christ?” http://drewmarshall.ca/listen2009.html (Look for May 23)

And, totally unrelated . . . it’s my birthday today!  If you want to wish me birthday wished, why don’t you subscribe to this blog.  If I could get even just a few more subscribers, I would have over 40 subscribers and that would be a great birthday present!

See the sidebar for subscription links!

A woman in Sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying in childbirth . . . in North America it’s 1 in 3,700!

Just passing on some good information.  I came across this the other day and thought many of you would be interested in the Micah Challenge.

From the website:

The Problem-Global Poverty Today, in the midst of unprecedented global wealth, over 1 billion people live in abject poverty on less than $1 a day. 50,000 people die each day from preventable, poverty-related diseases. 800 million people are going hungry in a bountiful creation. Poverty is a major threat to life, security, and sustainable development, and it is unnecessary. Solutions are known and global resources are more than adequate to end extreme poverty. for a complete summary

We call on the Government of Canada to:

Make global poverty reduction a high priority in Canada’s International Policy The Micah Challenge calls for poverty reduction to become a clearly articulated priority in Canada’s international policy and, specifically, for urgent and meaningful policy change in three areas: more and better aid, trade justice and debt relief.

If you are interested in helping the poor (and if you are a Jesus follower, than you probably are very much interested), go to the Micah Challenge Canada website and spend a few minutes learning how to take action!

Would you call yourself “Born Again”? Why do you do that when the phrase is only found once in the entire Bible? Is there more harm than benefit to calling yourself “Born Again”? For some reason, I have not used the term to describe myself or my faith for a number of years now.  I just didn’t feel comfortable using the term to describe myself, but I didn’t have any particular reason.  But now I do!  And it all thanks to Brian Walsh.

It’s the long weekend here in Canada, so enjoy this wonderful interview with Paul Young, author of The Shack.

Also, for those of you who don’t know The Hour is not a Christian program.  It is a late night talk show covering  politics, the arts, entertainment, the environment, human rights, sports and more.  Here is the interview:

Why am I posting this here at Irreligious Canuck?  Because here are three things Paul said that I liked:

1. When George asked Paul if he is a Christian, Paul replied, “Tell me what one is and I will tell you if I am one of those . . .  because I am a Canadian not a Republican.”
2. “Rules won’t heal you.  They WILL give you power and give you a way to judge others that aren’t as good at it as you are.”
3. “It took me 50 years to wipe the face of my father off the face of God.”

Paul said he grew up in a religious environment and he followed all the rules.  But it didn’t bring any healing.  Religion is all about pleasing God; it doesn’t matter what religion it is, you just need to know what the rules are.  The Shack is a metaphor that stands for the heart of the human being.

How about you?  What stuck out for you in this interview?

Also see “What is Church Part I” here.

Some forms of church don’t last centuries or decades or even years.  They are very ephemeral (short-term) forms of church.  Such as you and me, here at this table.

Brian McLaren

Well, I don’t know about you but I am ready for new forms of church!

This is the second part of a four part series from 100 Huntley Street focussing on the question, “What is Church?”  It is 9 minutes long, but please take time to watch this video and interact with us about church.  It will be 9 minutes you will not regret!

The Church is not a religious community of worshippers of Christ but is Christ Himself who has taken form among men. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Another timely quote by a hero of the faith.  Christ in us!  THAT is church.

Do you have any thoughts on the expressions of church you saw in this video?

For me, the cafe/church in Hamilton sounds like a wonderful community.  Since it is not far from here, I think I will go check it out.  (Unfortunately, the one in Houston called Ekklesia is a little too far away for me to drop in – but I would love to see visit that one as well!)

[help] “What is Church Part I” Click here! [/help]

If you liked this, you may also be interested in a Canadian Perspective on the Upcoming Evangelical Collapse in America.

George Barna says the main reason people stop going to church is because church is not relevant to their lives.   But, what about north of the American border?

Is Canada in the same boat?

According to Reginald Bibby, religion in Canada is anything but dead.

62% of Canadians believe Jesus died for their sins, but only . . .

17% go to church regularly and more than half of Canadians go to church once a year or never at all.

These statistics beg the question . . .

Why?

This the first part of a four part series on “What is Church?” by 100 Huntley Street.  It is only 6:45 long.  Please watch this clip as it is an important topic for all of us . . . yes, even more important than watching 24 (or, since it is only 6:45, you can watch during the many commercial breaks in your favourite TV show!)

Leonard Sweet said, “The church is the place where people ought to feel most free to be themselves and most accountable to one another.” You can see other responses to that question from people on the street in the above video.

How would YOU answer the question, “What is church?”  Leave your answer below.

This mini-series will continue tomorrow with “What is Church?” Part II and a look at Emerging Churches in Canada and USA.  Please consider subscribing to keep up with the conversation here!

[tip] If you enjoyed this post, you will probably also like the interview with Bruxy Cavey here. [/tip]

“What is Church? Part II – Emerging” is here.

Doing church upstairs while a porno is being shot downstairs.

Combining social justice, community and the arts in the third poorest neighbourhood in Canada.

Connecting with others through urban farming while adding sustainability to your community.

Creating space for people who normally would not be allowed to have space in church.

What is God doing on the fringes of Canadian culture?

Just wanting to pass on some useful information . . .

I recently met with Rad Zdero at a training session for house church leaders in Hamilton, Ontario.  Rad gradauted from McMaster University and later earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Queens’ University, has been involved in cell and house church planting for many years, and is the co-founder of House Church Canada.

In January, Internet Monk posted a series about The Coming Evangelical Collapse in America (***please link here to see the original posts!***) It has since been talked about all over the blogosphere and elsewhere.  I would love for you to read what he says so please follow the link above!

However, for all my Canadian readers, we need to remember these posts are about the church in the USA which is quite different than the church in Canada (believe it or not!).  We, in Canada, often think that our Christian culture is the same as in the States and we read books by American publishers forgetting that they were written from from a different perspective.  It is not easy to find the kinds of statistics and commentaries about the Canadian church.

And this is why I am linking to a friend of mine at Eclectic Christian where some of his posts give statistical information and reviews of Canadian Christians and churches.

Also Michael Bell has done a great job looking at statistics that help to expand on what Internet Monk was saying.  Please, please read his posts at Internet Monk here and part two here.

One of his comments is as follows:

If you want to know what America is going to look like in forty years, and how Evangelicals will be treated, look at Canada today. . .

. . . If my statistical analysis up to this point has been correct, then Evangelical numbers in the USA in forty years will be very similar to Evangelical numbers in Canada today. Much of what Michael has said about the way Evangelicals will be treated in the USA is already true in Canada.

So, please read these posts as they will prove to be very informative and helpful as we all aim to follow Jesus in our own contexts and what that looks like for the church in North America.

Also please refer to Michael Bell’s Ancecdotal Look at Canada in reference to the aforementioned Evangelical Collapse.