James Henley

The Passion

Been out of touch with TV for a while - don't really watch it nowadays, except for a few series (mainly Skins) which I keep up to date with using 4od and iPlayer - but found The Passion randomly on the BBC iPlayer today and was pretty impressed.

It's a four episode retelling of the holy week narrative put together by the BBC and HBO - and from all the stuff they've built around it on the website and the first episode I just watched - I think it's probably some of the most relevant, provocative Christian programming the BBC have done in a very long time.

Sure, it's fairly inaccurate for those bible purists out there (think some Christian groups have spoken out against it), and there's a hint of pooey existentialism in there (Jesus says a couple of times "the kingdom of God is in your hearts", and that kind of thing). And yes, they all have silly English/Welsh/Irish accents - and Jesus is white...

But...

Jesus is presented as provocative and political, but loving and humble. He challenges, he's mysterious, and there's this general vibe that no one really know what he's really up to. It's about time the world allowed Jesus to grow up past the cute, cuddly best friend and into the revolutionary man we often miss. And I think that The Passion has discovered a little of that - I love it ;-).

Here's a link to the first episode (screened last night on BBC1) on the BBC iPlayer. Episode 2 is tonight at half 8 on BBC1, and then 3 and 4 follow on Good Friday and Easter Day.

Be interested to know what you think about it.

Stations on Equality

Last night as the Lab we looked at equality - what does it mean to live as a community where we are equal, and what does it mean to take that to the world, the community, outside as well?

Maybe post some kind of reflection on that whole idea from some of the thoughts on Sunday later in the week, but here are the three stations we used to reflect on and respond to the thoughts which Louisa shared on Equality. The stations are taken/adapted from bits and pieces on the Dream website, where there is a whole treasure trove of brilliant resources for emerging churches.

Faces
Needed: A collection of pictures of people of different races, backgrounds, sex, etc... as diverse as possible.

Look at some of the faces in the photographs.

Pick an image. Think about your emotional response to it and feel free to use this in prayer.

Does that face have equality? Is there something that has stopped them getting the equality they deserve.

Pray about it.

Place the image in the light as you commit them to God’s love and care.

Blessed
Needed: Prayer wall/floor and drawing materials

• If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
• If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are more blessed than million's of people in the world. we are hugely blessed…

… do we keep this in our perspective?

Use the prayer wall to thank God for some of the huge blessings he has given you.

Power
Needed: A large candle, and a box of tealights. Floorspace.

The large candle symbolises God. The source of all true power.

What experience have you had of the power of God? What images does it bring to mind?

Take some time to reflect on ‘power’. Call to mind images of the people and things that are seen as powerful.

Where does power touch you? People who you exercise power over or who have more power than you. Habits, desires and ambitions that are powerful in your life. Take some time to bring each to mind.

Take a tealight and light it from the large candle. Invite God to teach you his ways of dealing with power. Ways that seem upside down to a power-drunk world.

Nooma: Open | 019

You can watch the online premiere of the newest Nooma by Rob Bell on Facebook here for around the next 24 hours before it disappears into DVD form.

I think it's really good. Rob Bell just has an amazing poetry when it comes to speaking - it's like the whole video just brings you in with the rhythym of God.

Here's the link to it again: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=588666405663&oid=21600640369

Prayer Stations on Authentic Community

Here's the stuff I used last Sunday at the Lab for the Introduction to our Authentic Community series. Used four different prayer/worship/reflection stations based on the directions I see a community should/could be looking in: inwards, outwards, upwards and downwards.

Overview of some of my little speaky bit and what each direction means to me is here on the Lab website.

Outwards
Needed: Candles/tealights and lighter/matches.

“In every community there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it."

Take a moment to read this passage, and then—if you want to commit to shining your own light, then light a candle of your own as a symbol of your commitment.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Inwards
Needed: Some mask outlines on paper, and a paper shredder (this is really cool!) or bin to get rid of them in.

“There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.”

Think for a moment about any barriers you might put up to stop yourself being vulnerable - or to make yourself look good to others. Draw or write them onto the mask outline—and then when you are finished, dispose of it.

Lord, help me to let others see me as You see me, and help them to love me despite my weaknesses.

Upwards
Needed: Laptop/PC with the words to Psalm 66 in a word processing program.

Rewrite a couple of the verses from Psalm 66 on the computer. Think about how you could make them personal to you and to us.

Downwards
Needed: MegaBlocks or Lego or something...

What role do you think you fulfil in the group? What skills and gifts do you have that you could bring?

Take a moment to think about the gifts that you have and whether you are sharing them with others—and whether you would like to.

Place a building block in the wall as a symbol of your commitment to be part of the rest of the group.

There we go...