Before I introduce this post, a contrite apology to regular readers and fellow bloggers, who have noticed a slacking in the number of posts of late. In truth, I am having to readjust my life plan at the mo. Work/life balance has been challenging to say the least. I am in the throes of planning an imminent church plant in South Suffolk with Vineyard Churches UK, which is no small thing, and it is taking quite a lot of my time up. And work has been pretty hectic too. Still, getting back on track, so fear not.
Okay, pathetic whingeing excuses over, let's move on...
I came across this quote from Bono, singer of U2, yesterday and thought it was worth sharing. Bono started a relief and development charity called Data and obviously does a lot of upfront stuff with it. What is interesting is his spiritual/theological views on poverty.
"The poor are where God lives.
God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is where the opportunity is lost and lives are shattered. God is with the mother who has infected her child with the virus that will take both their lives. God is under the rubble and the cries we hear during war time. God, my friends, is with the poor. And God is with us, if we are with them.
This is not a burden. This is an adventure. Don’t let anyone tell you it cannot be done. We can be the generation that ends extreme poverty."
I love Bono's optimism, but more than that he is full of Christ-like hope for humankind. Though I am sure he would blush with such a remark. I am also pretty darn sure that his theology does not come from MTV, but from first hand experience. However, I doubt whether he will be called upon to do anything for Comic Relief this year. We'll leave that charidee PR for the celebs, me thinks.
Maybe the most pertinent thing about his comments is that he but all says we half expect to find God in our local church services on Sunday morning, not through the predicament of others. Maybe this is the institutional and intellectual side of us coming out. Surely God is to be found and experienced outside our walls in the praxis of our faith. Or in Vineyard speak, by "doin' the stuff".
To read the full address.
A charidee worth supporting. Chink! Chink!
ASD
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