Vulnerable Faith Devotional Thoughts: Chapter 7 Shalom

Chapter 7 Shalom

After today, I only have 2 sections left: the conclusion and Patrick’c breastplate. I have enjoyed this journey thoroughly.

Time to begin. The incarnation of Christ transforms hearts and communities. This is what missional is. Its the living shalom that is Christ, Christ in us—in me. Be the little Christ and live and love and make friends and listen and act justly and love mercy. “That is the mission of birthing and restoring shalom to the world is in Christ, by Christ, and for the honour of Christ.” Peace/shalom is “Physical/material well being, social/relational harmony, and morality/ethics.” That last one is the least emphasized in the Bible. Western culture, my culture (sort of) skews what I “hear” as I read the Bible. I think Sola Scriptura is a fallacy because it is impossible—culture, language, and so much more affect our interpretation of meaning. Or at the very least "I do not think it means what you think it means." Must think and pray about this more.

Present salvation—shalom, is a big deal. Bigger than our get out of jail free card. It is huge. It is eternal but we/I often place the emphasis on eternal to the FUTURE and not PRESENT!

Love feast— must learn more. “The meal is our communion.” I do this as part of the tribe, the mission organization, I belong to (that belongs to me) but I thought it was just our thing. Need to hear the whole story. Communion is full of joy and hope and peace. Its transformational. As a matter of fact, I am off to have a Victoria Day brunch with some great tribe friends right now.

Jesus help me.

Comments

The Colonial Gaze in Film: re-wathching Roland Joffé's "The Mission"

I thought I was so smart coming up with this idea after learning about the male gaze several years ago. Let us refresh our minds and re-examine the wiki defining "In feminist theory , the male gaze is the act of depicting women and the world , in the visual arts and in literature , from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that presents and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_gaze. Last accessed July 22, 2021). There is an abundance of quality explanations and explorations on this topic from a variety of points of academic rigour. I personally will be using Mollie Bowman as a guide and model and inspiration. I need direction. Of course I will not be the first one to apply this technique to the ideas of a colonial gaze. This will be the first time that I have re-watched a film while critically reflect...

Decolonizing Food

This year, I switched from a propane BBQ to charcoal grilling. I chose it because it is slow and it is an event. First, I build a little fire using twigs and paper I have gathered. Then I add my wood charcoal chunks. Finally, I spend the rest of the day cooking vegetables and meat. It gives me time to teach my kids, to thank the food itself, to talk with Creator and the other creatures that flit through our backyard space. Time and space and place. Relationship and gratitude. My great grandfather trapped and showed us about cleaning and skinning. I have hunted and fished but not done so lately. Though our family has been practicing foraging or gathering. We grow grapes and harvest those. We gather dandelion greens and plantain. We make syrups and jellies from many of the edible flowers in our urban space. We even try to gather fruit from urban trees that is not being eaten by others. I would like to try an urban sugar bush project. You never take the first or the last. Y...

A Decolonization Recipe (Part 2): Reading Lists

Here is the thing, I have read a lot of books on this journey. It is important to once again, situate my context of knowing and learning. I am settler-Acadian. I grew up along the Wolastoq and now live in Mi'kma'ki, the part now currently known as Nova Scotia. I am a treaty person with the Peace and Friendship Treaties of 1725 forward. This journey is impossible without reading. I spent a lot of years reading almost exclusively from the voice of straight, white, men. I needed to spend a long time listening to different voices... decentering whiteness. Read indigenous authors. Read women authors. In an effort for manageability, I have put some of these books in different pots. It doesn't mean they should always stay there. Also, this is not an exhaustive list. I am not sure if I could pinpoint the reason I chose these other than they are my regular "you may want to start with some of these" books when I am asked about reading lists. I haven't even mentioned th...

The Heart Grows

Search This Blog