Update on the past few months

Hi everyone,

Sorry that I have been so quiet over the past few months.  Things have been busy, as they have been for everyone I'm sure.

I am going to update you on a few of my current thoughts:

1) Spiritual Disciplines:

I preached a sermon on Spiritual Disciplines this morning, using Prezi the PowerPoint killer.  Feel free to browse it at: http://prezi.com/qvf0ycgkcn_1/

I am convinced that the vast tradition of the early church's experience and practice of the craft of Spiritual Disciplines holds the key to a deeper, more rounded, more socially congruent corporate community.  My comments are: "Spiritual Disciplines are the tools whereby are inner worlds are settled, quietened, healed and ordered by God, so that our outer worlds can take shape and congruency.  And shaped and congruent outer worlds, like individual birds flying in formation, become how we act out our corporate calling".  If you would like the full sermon, please mail me.


I would like Melville Junction to take this journey with me, and so intend to arrange a retreat with the Jesuit Institute in Johannesburg (http://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/en) as well as a shorter day-long event at Brenthurst Gardens (http://www.brenthurstgardens.co.za/welcome.php?section=walksandactivities).  Again, if interested, please let me know.

2) Topics for the SA church to get its teeth into:

I have a high view of the local church, perhaps a bit too high, given that many have not had the most pleasant church-type experiences.  But I do believe that the local church is the best vehicle for putting flesh onto the bones of God's redemptive plan of putting the world to rights.  I have been trying to put a series of booklets together, in conjunction with MJ's resident Theologian-in-the-House, Paul Warby, which we intend will be used to spark the imagination of the SA church.

The topics we are tackling are shown in the attached mindmap below.  We hope to introduce a fresh angle into these debates, going beyond the stale old 'social gospel vs spiritual gospel' narrative, often disguised as a thin 'faith vs works' or 'grace vs law' argument.  To steal a quote from Rob Bell, when it comes to such reformationist dichotomies (which we import into scripture), the right answer is 'group hug'.  Let's please all move on...

So, the topics at hand are (please right-click, save it, and zoom in on it):

3) The environment

With Copenhagen behind us, unsurprisingly nothing too noteworthy has been achieved.  The Economist summarised the choices the world is facing (in the light of clear lack of scientific consensus following the leaked East Anglia emails) as a decision whether to devote 1% - 2% of GDP to mitigate climate change over the next 41 years (i.e. until 2050) (in the same manner you purchase insurance hoping to never have to use it); or of course, to do nothing and take the chance that catastrophic environmental changes take place... leaving well, the world as we can probably never imagine it.

I opt for the first option.  To this end, I have changed by fuel guzzling Merc C280 for a Golf 1.9 TDi (to much scorn in the executive parking lot), and make every effort to use my Eezi Bike (the electrical wonder which in a promotional venture, managed 3000 km in Namibia for the total cost of R15) to commute the 20km round trip between home and work.

I'm no eco saint, but surely this has to help, even if it simply changes our awareness of our consumption patterns; and the bad habits we generally have.  Next stop: solar heating and rain water harvesting for the Briggsies, followed by less flying.

4) 2010 and beyond

The best thing about 2009, from a work point of view, is that it is almost over.  While much corporate unpleasantness has passed, the experience has provided all of us with a chance to deconstruct the corporate narratives of life-sacrificing work practices, excessive and unchecked consumption, and a belief that 'this is all there is too it'.  May we bank these lessons and never forget them.

So to 2010.  Let's grab it with all the gusto we can muster.  The Briggsies will be in Seattle for most of June 2010, so if anyone wants to rent a house in Parkview... ;-)