Waving or Drowning?

The Divine Images Shine Through

I just walked out of a conversation with four very brave new friends here in Cape Town and straight into the daily email from Richard Rohr. Here's the money quote... perhaps it will speak to you today:

You are even brought to tears sometimes by the least of the brothers and sisters because the divine image shines through so clearly in those things that have no artificial glitter or self-evident glory. When you discover it on your own, it is like a secret revelation, and all the more beautiful.

More beautiful, indeed.

Arizona, Part II

The story continues.

How will Jesus followers in Arizona react? What would you do? What would I do?

FOR MEDIA: Rev. Wallis – president of Sojourners (the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States) – said Arizona Senate Bill 1070 is a “radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform.” Rev. Wallis is available for interviews.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 23, 2010

REV. WALLIS SAYS CHURCHES ‘WILL NOT COMPLY’ WITH NEW ARIZONA LAW

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signing Senate Bill 1070, Rev. Jim Wallis – a progressive evangelical leader, author of Rediscovering Values and president of Sojourners (the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States) – called the new law in Arizona a “social sin.” Rev. Wallis also said in a statement that the “radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform.”

On Tuesday, Rev. Wallis – along with other national and local faith and civil rights leaders – delivered more than 10,000 petitions in Phoenix to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, calling on her to veto SB 1070.

Full text of Rev. Wallis’ statement below:

The law signed today by Arizona Gov. Brewer is a social and racial sin, and should be denounced as such by people of faith and conscience across the nation. It is not just about Arizona, but about all of us, and about what kind of country we want to be. It is not only mean-spirited – it will be ineffective and will only serve to further divide communities in Arizona, making everyone more fearful and less safe. This radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform. Enforcement without reform of the system is merely cruel. Enforcement without compassion is immoral. Enforcement that breaks up families is unacceptable. This law will make it illegal to love your neighbor in Arizona, and will force us to disobey Jesus and his gospel. We will not comply.

Jim Wallis is the founder and president of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States focused on the biblical call to social justice. Wallis is also author of the New York Times bestsellers God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It and The Great Awakening: Seven Ways To Change The World, Reviving Faith & Politics. His latest book is Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street.

Sojourners' mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. Visit www.sojo.net, and www.GodsPolitics.com.

Foreigners Out!

"The pizzas you eat come from Italy, your numerical system from the Arabs, your script from the Romans, your toys from Hong Kong, your electronic equipment from Japan, your clothes from Taiwan, your wealth from trade with the rest of the world. And then you shout 'Foreigners out!'?"
~ A church sign in Offenbach, Germany
(via Ekklesia)

"U.S.’s Toughest Immigration Law Is Signed in Arizona" (New York Times)

Arizona - Where They'd Like to Make it Illegal to Love Your Neighbour

Click the image above for an interview of Jim Wallis, or read Jim's column Arizona's Immigration Bill Is a Social and Racial Sin

Getting Ready For Africa

It looks like the volcano gods have been appeased, or at least distracted, and my trip should be a go.

Monday I'm on a red-eye from Vancouver to Heathrow. Tuesday I have a few hours in London, then another red-eye to Cape Town. I'll be there for a few days hanging out with my new friend Dr. Spiwo Xapile, who pastors at the JL Zwane Church & Centre. (I've written about him before.) On Monday May 3 Spiwo and I both have a long day of travel (Cape Town to Johannesburg to Nairobi to Mombasa) to attend the Amahoro Gathering.

These are particularly interesting times in the church, what with all the flap over "emerging this" and "submerging that". Amahoro is a gathering of African friends who are thinking differently about church. I hesitate to use the word "emerging" because I think we've exported enough of our baggage to Africa, but if the label fits...

As I've said many times now, I suspect that Africa will play a role in saving the west, and not the other way around. My African friends bring me great hope.

I'll be in Mombasa for the Gathering and a couple days of board meetings, then back in Vancouver on May 10.

I Pledge Allegiance to the Emperor

A quick thought for your consideration:

As I contemplate Brian McLaren's ideas on the shape of the biblical narrative, and after being present for the first sermon in a new series from Bruxy Cavey at The Meeting House, something is becoming increasingly clear to me.

It's becoming apparent that what many of us have pledges ourselves to--our hearts, our minds, and in some cases our very lives--is not the way of Jesus but is in fact the religion of Constantinian Christianity. We've been looking at the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the lens of the Edict of Milan. 

To be sure, this religion has been updated (largely for the 19th century), but it is still religion, and the emperor's religion at that. And as I've pondered many times here, I believe that Jesus actually came to put an end to religion. 

Thoughts?

I'm Sorry Anna Nicole

This is Jonathan Waltons, speaking for many of us:

(h/t to Idelette and Trisha)

Ashes to Ashes

On a sort of existential level I find the whole "global air traffic brought to a grinding halt by volcanic ash" ironic. On a more practical level however I'm supposed to be heading to Cape Town then on to Mombasa, all via London Heathrow, in about a week. At the moment Air Canada has canceled all flights into Heathrow, and will make their decisions on a daily basis. We have a great travel agent that we use here at Delta House/Linwood House, and Jan and I have been in touch today.

She sent me this interesting bit for you flight geeks out there.

LONDON (AFP) – British Airways completed a test flight Sunday with chief executive Willie Walsh on board as they gauged the safety of flying through the volcanic ash cloud.

The Boeing 747 jumbo jet flew from London Heathrow Airport out over Ireland and the Atlantic Ocean for nearly three hours before returning to Cardiff, where BA has an engineering and maintenance base.

Walsh joined a four-strong team of pilots and engineers on board.

"The purpose of the flight is to collect data on the presence of ash in UK airspace," a BA spokeswoman told AFP.

BA said beforehand that the test flight would reach a height of 9,100 metres.

After landing in the Welsh capital, the jet taxied to the airline's maintenance facilities to undergo examination while data gathered during the flight was scrutinised.

The results of tests during the flight would be looked at further on Monday before any firm conclusion was drawn, a BA spokesman said.

The aircraft took off at 5:58 pm and landed at 8:41pm.

Earlier, BA announced it has cancelled all inbound and outbound London flights scheduled for Monday, due to the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.

"Following further information from the Met Office about the path of the volcanic ash affecting UK airspace and airlines, there will continue to be severe disruption to our schedule," BA said in a brief statement.

"All British Airways flights to and from London airports are cancelled on Sunday 18 and Monday 19 April."

The Anti-Semite Post Down Under

Jason Coker has picked up on my Anti-Semite post on his Pastoralia blog, and there's been some good conversation in the comments there too you might want to follow.

If that stimulates some further thoughts for you, comment there or come back to the original post here and let us know what you're thinking.

Inglorious Pastors

I'm in the Toronto area for a few days following the Evolving Church conference (had some fun Saturday night driving around town and hanging out with William Cavanaugh, J. Kameron Carter, Becky Garrison and Mark and Mel... although I don't thing Bill liked my driving) so that gave me the chance to be at The Meeting House in Oakville for the first sermon in their new series Inglorious Pastors.

If you're interested in a detailed examination of the pacifist position, this is a series you need to dial in to. Bruxy got things started very well. In week 5 or 6 (I can't remember which) His friend Greg Boyd is going to come to town to talk about God and violence. Don't miss this one.