Naming the Top

•April 13, 2013 • 3 Comments

A small wander from my usual theme, but this is a perambulation, and this something that I  really believe needs saying…

Top Dog

This week the conversation over the “Top x Christian Blogs” broke out again, with the retweeting of this post.  This is something I feel passionate about, for the sake of the “small time” and under-appreciated blogger – but the conversation became all the more salient in the light of the controversy over whether the BBC should be playing a certain song that has made it into the Top 10 charts.  Of course in “my day” this couldn’t have happened, because only songs released on a 7″ shiny black round piece of plastic could make the charts.  The fact that songs, sometimes years old, can now make it in the charts, shows the power of a click.

But what does a click mean?  In terms of blogging stats, potentially very little.  How many times have you clicked on a post, only to realise what it was, and click straight off.  A click doesn’t show that something has been read, even less understood or helpful.  This is one reason why I find the quantifying of “top” blogs so frustrating.  Anyone can get lots of hits on their blog, but does that mean it’s “good” never mind top?  And to justify top blog by the number of followers on Twitter is ridiculous – they are not the same thing.  You may as well quantify being a good blogger by the number of swimming certificates they have!  Equally a prolific blogger (or Tweeter) does not mean a good one. It is not about numbers…  (I might have ,mentioned that?!)

But what worries me even more is that we are even talking about Top Christian Bloggers.

I’m sure Jesus mentioned something about arguing who is the greatest…

Who Is the Greatest?

46 Jesus’ disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he had a child stand there beside him. 48 Then he said to his disciples, “When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me. Whichever one of you is the most humble is the greatest.”    (Luke 9:46-48 Contemporary English Version)

Being Top anything is simply not a Christian concept.  We all have value and worth.  Designating anyone “Top” detracts from that.

My real concern is for those who are not on these lists – and never will be – but are doing immensely valuable work.  They may are may not meet our need, but that does not mean they are not valuable.  To say someone is not on a top blog lists runs the danger of making them and what they do appear worthless – or of less worth than those who are always designated “Top” – which is not true.  Often these lists are more about who is in the “in” crowd, not necessarily the quality of their work.

And to start judging anything is always subjective.  What I like and need is not always what you do.  We all need different things, and at different times.  By all means share a blog that is helpful to you – but please don’t designate is as top, best, greatest.  Think about the little person you may be crushing in doing so.  And I’m not talking about egos, I’m talking about people who have a real richness to share, who can quite easily feel it’s not worth it, because what they have to say is not valuable.

Please.

Can anyone persuade me otherwise??

Posted in faith, God, Rants and Ramblings, response, theology
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Restoration

•April 11, 2013 • 2 Comments

the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition:

That’s restoration.

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21 Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John,were there, together with two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing!”

The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn’t catch a thing that night.

4 Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. 5 Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”

“No!” they answered.

6 So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.”

They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.

7 Jesus’ favourite disciple told Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. 8 The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.

9 When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. 10 Jesus told his disciples, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.

12 Jesus said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. 13 Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.

Jesus and Peter

15 When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?”

Simon Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said.

16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him.

17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”

Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don’t want to go.”

19 Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honour to God. Then he said to Peter, “Follow me!”

This is one of the most beautiful moments in the whole of Jesus’ life and work.

He appears to all the disciples, reassures them again that he is alive – but then he has a special word for Peter.  Wonderful impetuous Peter.  Always the one to do or say exactly what he was thinking, never one to hold back – yet now living with the fact that when it really mattered, he had let Jesus down.  When challenged he had denied ever having known him.  Not sure what to do any more, he had gone back to his fishing, to the place he felt secure; where he knew what was what – but where Jesus had called him from.

But Jesus comes looking for him.

Peter is given the opportunity to put it all right. Jesus could have just told him that it was ok, he was forgiven, but he goes further than that, he gives Peter the chance to say something, to respond to the questions – 3 times as he denied him 3 times – to say it, to confirm his belief and his love.

Through Jesus’ love, he becomes a restored man, he is returned to who he was – but more than that equipped for what he is going to be.

Peter is given the opportunity to put things right.  Jesus gives us that opportunity too.  If there is something gnawing away at you.  Something you know you’ve got spectacularly wrong, Jesus gives you another chance.  He comes looking for you, to talk to you, where you are, to free you.  We too are invited.  Even if we had run away, gone back to what we knew, he comes to us, gently puts his arm around us, and restores us and equips us.

We need no longer be frightened, ashamed, or feeling that their is nothing left.  Jesus takes us and calls us anew,

Follow me

Thank you Lord for second chances
and third
and fourth…

Thank you that you come to us
in our shame,
our guilt,
our fear
and give us the opportunity
to make it right
to be forgiven,
to be restored,
to be invited
to continue to follow you

I came across this beautiful song

Posted in bible, calling, faith, forgiveness, Jesus, Lectionary, Religion, theology
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This is Worthy…

•April 10, 2013 • Leave a Comment

In a week where the lectionary readings remind us of our failings and unworthiness, even though God puts that right, it’s good to pause and focus on the one who is worthy – and to come in worship

11 As I looked, I heard the voices of a lot of angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them, 12 and they were saying in a loud voice,

“The Lamb who was killed
is worthy to receive power,
riches, wisdom, strength,
honour, glory, and praise.”

13 Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying,

“Praise, honour, glory,
and strength
forever and ever
to the one who sits
on the throne
and to the Lamb!”

14 The four living creatures said “Amen,” while the elders knelt down and worshipped.

The one who was killed is worthy – we fall down and worship

Posted in bible, faith, God, Jesus, Lectionary, Religion, theology
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